NEW MUSIC CENTRES TO BE ESTABLISHED

[Kintyre Forum News]

NEW MUSIC CENTRES TO BE ESTABLISHED

Argyll and Bute Council is to set up five new music centres as part of a reorganisation of the provision of musical instrument provision in schools.

After school music centres will be established in Campbeltown, Lochgilphead, Oban and Dunoon, and a Saturday centre will open up in Helensburgh.

In addition, individual solutions will be devised for the area’s island communities.

The move comes following the conclusion of a Best Value Review of the Council’s arrangements for formal tuition in a range of musical instruments, which was initiated in March 2009.

That Review included a comprehensive consultation process which involved interviews with pupils and music instructors and the distribution of questionnaires to head teachers, principal teachers with responsibility for music and parents.

The process revealed significant inequality in access to tuition across Argyll and Bute and, where tuition is available, restriction in the range of tuition on offer.

It also highlighted the fact that music instructors currently spend a considerable amount of time each week travelling between schools, resulting in a reduction in the amount of tuition time available.

Councillor Isobel Strong, spokesperson for Education and Lifelong Learning, said the new music centres would address many of the concerns.

“The increase in efficiency, accessibility and inclusivity offered by these centres, coupled with the improved opportunities to form effective tuition groups and ensembles, will offer a significant enhancement to the service currently available,” she added.

At present, musical instruments are available on loan from the Council for up to two years. However, this is only accessible to 30% of pupils currently receiving tuition due to the number of instruments available.

The Council has also now agreed to charge a nominal rent for the use of its instruments. This will create additional resources to repair, replace and increase the current stock.

In addition, in order to allow for sufficient flexibility in instructor timetables, the minimum number of instrumental lessons available to pupils per year is to reduce from 30 to 26.

Councillor Strong said: “These changes will result in greater equality of access to instrumental tuition, efficiency improvements in the management and administration of the service and a sustainable solution to the continuing provision and maintenance of our stock of instruments.

“We have so many talented young people in Argyll and Bute, and these measures will ensure that as many as possible of them will be able to take up formal music tuition in the years ahead. ”

It is anticipated that the new music centres will hold open days in August 2010, and begin tuition sessions in September.

[speedygobackwards]

So how will this affect the in-school provision?
Does this mean that yet again rural children will only get access to music if their parents are able to run them in and out of the town? And many parents work so are not free to transport children around after school for any one who does not live close enough to walk.
Would like to know a lot more about this proposal although I realise that the decisions have been made so too late to change anything.

[minsyb]

I have always had an interest in music however when I was in school I was not one of the elite few who were selected to be a member of the brass band. I always found it amazing how selective the process was yet once the eldest child of a family was selected the remaining siblings followed suit! I really do hope that the establishment of these new music centres will ensure that ALL children have an opportunity to pursue a musical talent.

Compared to other Councils I think that Argyll & Bute are slightly behind with their recognition of how important music is to the curriculum and I wish this latest venture every success.

[speedygobackwards]

I would be interested to know how many pupils and from where were consulted, likewise parents. Did I miss something?

[Parsonson]

As a parent of two kids currently receiving lessons, I had no questionnaire or consultation document either. Completely agree with previous comments about rural pupils. And, as it is proposed that instructors from Campbeltown will be supporting Oban, Tarbert and Lochgilphead music centres, it is hard to see how this means less travelling time and more teaching time, isn't it?
As for brass band and elitism, Campbeltown Brass will give anyone a trial without the need to take a test. But then, they are a community band, not associated with the council, and not providing lessons in school.

[minsyb]

When I was in school there were brass and wind bands with a council paid instructor employed at CGS. I'm glad times have changed from having to do tests. I never thought the selection process was fair either.

It is not only the travelling time that is a concern,the instructors still have to plan and prepare their tuition!!

[EileenH]

I think the powers that be have decided that it is less disruption to classes to do it this way. My son will still get his tuition at the Grammar School so it won't really affect him. But it will affect the after school bands as it's the same tutor that takes them. She can't be in two places at once. If parents aren't happy about this then I think now is the time to say something before it actually happens. They could always speak to the tutor involved about it.

[speedygobackwards]

I wonder if this proposal has been really thought through for an area such as Kintyre. Somewhere like Helensburgh doesn't have such a huge area to cover so doesn't have anything like the same problems and issues. It would be really sad to see the school bands suffer, at least with the Brass Band kids on brass instruments will still have somewhere to play as part of an ensemble, but there would be nothing for the woodwind players. And I for one am often not able to transport kids and instruments around at odd times of the day, at least school band at the end of the day was possible as the kids were already there. I think we should get information about all this sooner rather than later - before it is too late to change things.

[speedygobackwards]

I also see that the council is intending to charge a rental for instruments. In principle I think this is fair enough, but are the instruments that are in use all owned by the council in the first place? I could be wrong but I think some kids use instruments that belong to Campbeltown Brass that were lent to the council to help them out with their instrument shortage.
Also, what is proposed for the piping tuition?