The damaging effects that charging for peripatetic music services has brought in certain parts of Scotland has been highlighted by evidence given to the Scottish Parliament.

Holyrood's Education & Skills Committee, which is currently holding an inquiry into music tuition in schools, heard estimated figures for West Lothian Council indicated that the number of primary school pupils using the service had fallen from 1,128 last November to 234 this year, and for secondary schools was down from 1,042 to 514 in the same period.

Poorer areas hit worst

In addition, West Lothian's executive councillor for education, David Dodds told MSPs that the reduction was much more pronounced in poorer areas since they started charging pupils £354 a year for the previously free service.

The number of pupils being taught through an instrumental music service has fallen by more than two thirds (more than 1,400) after charges were introduced.

Reversal of policy

However, due to pressure initiated by a campaign from parents and high profile supporters, it is understood that West Lothian Council will now consider a return to free provision following plummeting numbers.

Mr Dodds told MSPs: "Although we have introduced a standard charge, it may be an equal charge but it is not an equitable charge. In some cases that charge will be met by families who have a reasonable amount of disposable income and who are able to meet that charge.

In other cases I think the families who are facing that charge are looking to find money after they have paid for the basics — key things such as food and clothing, and for anything else they have left, every penny is accounted for."

Free return

He added: "When we set our level of charging we had assumed a maximum level of dropping off of 30%, but in fact our retention level is closer to 30%.

We would need to look at that and need to include looking at returning to some kind of form of free provision."

He went on to add that the local authority is now "at the margins of being able to provide a viable instrumental music service".

He said the council was "reluctantly forced"into charging due to "underfunding of local government"and wanted to maintain free tuition with reduced instruments — but this option was not possible.

The number of pupils being taught through an instrumental music service has fallen by more than two thirds (more than 1,400) after charges were introduced4BR

Not popular

The committee also heard from a Perth and Kinross Council member who said its recent increase in long-standing music tuition charges by 20% to £295 was not popular, but was done to preserve the quality of service and has not led to a reduction in take up.

Meanwhile, a councillor from Glasgow City Council told the committee they do not charge for the service due the benefits it brings and said a previous decision to introduce fees around a decade ago was reversed due to declining numbers.

No reversal in Ayrshire

Meanwhile, a petition to South Ayrshire Council seeking to reverse their budget decision to charge for musical instrument lessons has not been successful.

Led Ralph Riddiough, a petition was heard by the Partnerships Panel on 21st November, with the decision being that the council would not consider further action and that of all the cuts to education over the last several years, they could not recommend reversing this budget cut over any others that had been made.

Ralph told 4BR: "My regret is that my co-presenters and I failed to make a dent in what appears to be a prevailing view that learning to play a musical instrument is a luxury endeavour, not a core part of the curriculum. It seems to be viewed as a subject within the arts that is in a privileged position and therefore fair game for cuts and fees."