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Instrumental music tuition fees to be waived in next academic year


By Ali Morrison

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Tuition fees for young musicians have to be abolished.
Tuition fees for young musicians have to be abolished.

MUSIC tuition fees for youngsters are to be waived in the next academic year.

Following a funding package being introduced as part of the Scottish Government’s ‘First Steps’ document which committed to abolishing fees for instrumental music tuition in the first 100 days of the new government there will be no fees charged for the 2021/22 school session.

Ian Ross, chairman of High Life Highland (HLH), said: “Since adopting music tuition into the charity, High Life Highland has seen pupil participation in the service delivered continue to increase.

“This growth only enhances our view that the music tuition delivered by High Life Highland to schools across the region plays a vital role in terms of the learning and development of children and young people. Therefore it is positive to see that, in taking this decision, the Scottish Government is recognising the importance in developing skills to play a musical instrument.

“However, it is crucial that the music tuition service HLH delivered to the 3700 pupils on behalf of Highland Council pre-pandemic is sustained and protected throughout and beyond this current initiative. We will be working with colleagues in the authority to ensure they are supplied with all the information they need to enable them to feedback to Cosla and the Scottish Government as to any broader implication of the new policy.”

The council’s education committee chairman John Finlayson said: “Music is a major part of both our Highland and Scottish culture, and it is important that as many of our school pupils get the opportunity to learn an instrument. Therefore we will work with the board and officers of High Life Highland to ensure that music tuition continues.”


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