This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Music tuition pledge hits right note
26/01/2007
Every school pupil in Scotland has been offered a year's free music tuition before they reach primary six, according to a report published by the Scottish Arts Council today.
The promise of free tuition was part of the Executive's £37.5 million Youth Music Initiative (YMI) which was launched in 2003. Every local authority has since gone on to reach the P6 target.
Music tuition included, among others; instrumental, vocal and choral instruction in styles including; jazz/blues, Scottish traditional music, rock & pop and western classical music.
Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson was in Glasgow today watching a musical event delivered by P3 - 4 pupils from Castleton Primary School.
The school children gave a series of instrumental and vocal performances, including songs from the P3 choir plus rhythm and strings groups.
Ms Ferguson said:
"I am delighted that local authorities have embraced the Youth Music Initiative with such enthusiasm, helping to achieve targets across all 32 areas.
"Musical activities boost children's confidence and raises a child's awareness and appreciation of different styles and forms of music.
"It can also help raise attainment levels and equips them with transferable skills for their future studies and employment.
"I recognise the effort that the Scottish Arts Council, local authorities, teachers, musicians and participating cultural organisations continue to invest in developing opportunities that are open to young people today.
"This report is evidence that all the hard work has delivered tangible results for our schoolchildren. Looking ahead we must stay focused on maintaining these positive results."
David McDonald the Scottish Arts Council's Youth Music Manager said:
"The commitment from local authorities, music teachers, musicians, staff and pupils has been amazing. They're the ones that are making the Youth Music Initiative such a success.
"The YMI has led to an explosion and new vibrancy in how music activities are being delivered in our schools and all of this is built upon the great work that Instrumental Music Services were already delivering.
"We've also seen exciting developments and opportunities in developing the workforce to ensure that Scotland's young people continue to have a better chance of accessing high quality music activities than ever before."
Castleton Primary School Headteacher Patricia Elborn said:
"The introduction of free music tuition has created a tremendous new opportunity for our pupils. The children really enjoy their music sessions, and are developing skills which they might never have discovered otherwise. The scheme has had a real impact in the school, and we feel that the overall learning experience we are able to provide is all the richer for it."
Background:
In 2003 the First Minister announced the establishment of the Youth Music Initiative.
The P6 target report is linked to the government's Partnership for a Better Scotland (PABS) commitment which states: 'We will encourage creativity with 12 month's free music tuition by Primary 6'.
During the first three years of YMI a total of 195 P6 target projects were offered in primary schools throughout Scotland. Tuition types and genres of music included:
Tuition type
- 62 of the 195 P6 target projects delivered vocal instruction
- 124 instrumental instruction
- 130 ensemble work
- 41 choral tuition
- 21 technology/ recording
- 81 creativity/ composition/ inventing
- 41 another type of tuition
Musical genres
- 110 of the 195 P6 target projects provided tuition in Scottish traditional music
- 87 in jazz/blues
- 98 in world music
- 88 in rock/pop
- 128 in western classical music
- 23 in another genre
The P6 Target Report was compiled by the Scottish Arts Council based on data supplied by all 32 local authorities and Jordanhill School.