This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Music strikes chord with children
25/10/2004
The opportunity for self-expression through music is a
vital part of children's development, a special conference
was told today.
At the first Conservatoires UK conference at the Royal
Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) in Glasgow,
Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said:
"Conservatoires, such as the Royal Scottish Academy of
Music and Drama, have an important role to play within
music education.
"In 2003 we announced the establishment of the Youth
Music Initiative, initially committing £17.5 million over a
three year period. It promised all school pupils one year's
free access to music tuition by the time they reached
P6.
"We recently announced a further £10 million per annum
towards its continued development through to 2007-08.
"The Initiative is designed to help remove barriers to
making and appreciating music.
"Funds are being channelled to both the formal and
informal music education sectors, developing a multitude of
music-making activities and styles for our children and
young people - many of whom would not otherwise have had
that depth of opportunity.
"We intend to further establish Scotland as a vibrant,
cosmopolitan, competitive country and an internationally
recognised creative hub. The investment we are making in
the musical education of our children can make a major
contribution to that goal, and helps the creation of a
confident, ambitious Scotland."
The RSAMD was founded in 1847 and is Scotland's
international Conservatoire. Facilities, among the best in
Europe, include concert halls, theatres, television studio
and Scotland's only opera school, the Alexander Gibson
Opera School.
This season 642 students enrolled; 406 in the School of
Music, 232 in the School of Drama and four in Research.
The RSAMD has an international student population, with
students from over 30 countries worldwide. It was the first
UK Conservatoire to implement its own degree awarding
powers.
Conservatoires UK (CUK) is a relatively new grouping of
British music conservatoires and this is its first
conference under the new CUK banner.
The Chair of CUK is Edward Gregson, Principal of the
Royal Northern College of Music, and the event is hosted by
John Wallace, Principal of the RSAMD.
In addition to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and
Drama, the members are the Royal College of Music (London),
Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester), Royal Welsh
College of Music and Drama (Cardiff), Trinity College of
Music (London), The Birmingham Conservatoire and Leeds
College of Music.