We Don't Need No education: How Cuts in Scottish Music Tuition Can Be Catastrophic!

When I was at high school there was music tuition; I didn’t get the tuition or qualify for it, but my point being it was still there for those who wanted it. This might be history soon as myopic, incompetent councillors have opted to get rid of it altogether, to save “their” precious little pennies. This smells of musical elitism; bordering on Virginia Woolf’s level. Because of the cuts, they are 350 fewer music instructors now than in 2007. This is disgusting to me personally as a musician and composer. I might play the electric guitar, what I know is looked down upon among elitists and I shouldn’t in their eyes be voicing my opinion. However, i feel if you play an instrument, you have a voice. It might be looked down upon, but the guitar is a fascinating instrument. They are countless disciplines and styles; infinite numbers of ways you play the instrument, it can be used in Indian music, jazz, fusion and classical. The guitar is only one instrument though. Let us look at a school orchestra, which will be in jeopardy with these cuts. Let’s ask one question, what makes all the instruments different? The sound of the instrument is what makes a child wants to pick it up in the first place. It could be a bassoon, flute, or trombone. Sound is what calls to them and what makes them want to learn how to play. It empowers them with a skill and discipline they can use in later life, they can become teachers and pass on their knowledge, or maybe they can travel the world playing the works of composers like Stravinsky and Wagner; the choice is up to them. In addition, traditional music teachers are under threat with these cuts. There will always be children who are interested in traditional music, they might find playing songs like “The Crab fish” “Wild Mountain Thyme” be more for fun for them. There is no good valid reason at all for these cuts. This will be depriving many kids of their basic right to music education. It will be all swept away until only rich and “well to do” parents can afford the luxurious service of music tuition so when their child grows up they have some musical entertainment when they all meet up once a year. The thought of that possible future makes me want to throw up. All music is for everyone, not those who view it as a leisure activity. Music is for all who want to learn it and love making music. Music is for everyone, not the elite.

Stuart Ritchie