REPORT OF THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC GROUP: SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS
Theme 1
The value and benefits of music education and instrumental music tuition
Recommendation
SG response
1. Music Education, including the Accept.
distinctive
part
played
by
instrumental music tuition, would Scottish Government welcomes the Vision and will work with members of an Instrumental Music
benefit from a National Vision Implementation Group (IMIG) (to be established under recommendation 17) to compose and
Statement. This should be the endorse a National Vision Statement (NVS).
subject of a collective approach
linking
formal
and
informal It is anticipated that the following organisations will join IMIG, each with the necessary influence to
providers and which highlights the help deliver particular recommendations.
wider benefits of young people’s
participation in, and the learning of Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA)
a musical instrument, including Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES)
singing.
Education Scotland (ES)
Heads of Instrumental Teaching Scotland (HITS)
Scottish Association for Music Education (SAME)
National Parent Forum Scotland (NPFS)
Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)
Scottish Government (SG)
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS)
Creative Scotland (CS)
Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP)
2. The provision of instrumental
music services by all Local
Authorities is unique, highly valued
and helps deliver Curriculum for
Excellence.
The
Group
recommends that Local Authorities
should continue to deliver this
service,
notwithstanding
the
current financial challenges.
Accept.
Scottish Ministers believe that music plays a vitally important role in education, helping to shape
our sense of personal, social and cultural identity. Learning in music and the wider expressive arts
also plays a role in supporting children and young people to recognise and value the variety and
vitality of culture locally, nationally and globally.
It is widely recognised that this recommendation will be challenging for LAs to deliver in the current
financial climate. The Scottish Government will continue to work with CoSLA to assist Local
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Authorities in the continuation of this service and build on the success and quality of music in
Scotland.
3. There should be a general principle Accept.
that
pupils’
individual
circumstances should not be a IMIG will assist LAs in taking forward this recommendation, which builds on much existing
barrier to their ability to access and excellent practice. Clearly, LAs will continue to respond to local needs and circumstances when
benefit from instrumental music determining their charging policies. It is envisaged that IMIG will have a role in supporting further
tuition. Local Authorities should development under this recommendation in the period between now and December 2014.
review their charging policies and
concessionary schemes to ensure This is linked to recommendation 14 – maintaining a standard benchmarking framework.
that pupils in their area are not
prevented from learning a musical
instrument because of their
background, location, disability or
financial circumstances.
Local
Authorities should be willing to
share good practice on availability,
access to and the transparency of
their concession and charging
policies including consultation on
these matters.
4. Further to Recommendation 3, the
Group noted the limited and
variable provision of instrumental
music tuition available for pupils
with additional support needs as
well as the huge value and lifechanging impact that learning to
play a musical instrumental can
provide. The Group recommends
that Local Authorities share best
practice in their delivery of
instrumental music tuition to all
children and young people equally,
Accept.
Scottish Ministers welcome this recommendation, which is in line with the principles and practices
of Curriculum for Excellence, a curriculum for all.
The IMIG will be invited to establish a sub-group to look at improving opportunities for those pupils
who have additional support needs, including looking at opportunities for CPD for instrumental
music teachers to support their work in this area.
Ministers believe that the National Vision Statement under recommendation 1 should be clear
about the impact and benefits of instrumental music tuition for pupils who have additional support
needs.
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including approaches to specialist
training
and
continuing
professional
development
for
Instrumental staff to broaden out
and extend provision, particularly
to children with additional support
needs.
Theme 2
Charging for instrumental music tuition
5. The majority of Councils charge for Accept.
the provision of Instrumental music
tuition and a small number charge The Scottish Government also welcomes the decision by 5 Authorities to rescind charges for
for instrumental music provision tuition in connection with SQA exams. The IMIG will keep policy and practice in this area under
relating to learners’ SQA course review.
work in music examinations. The
Group
acknowledges
that
decisions on charging for services
sits with Local Authorities and
further appreciates the financial
pressures
on
Authorities,
especially at this time. The Group
notes that when it met for the first
time, 5 Local Authorities charged
for instrumental music tuition
associated with SQA exams and
wholeheartedly
welcomes
the
recent decisions by all 5 Authorities
to either rescind such charges or
review them with the aim of
ceasing the charge.
Theme 3
Collaboration on and benefits to instrumental music with other local authorities, community groups, YMI and the more effective
use of musical instruments
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6. In providing instrumental music
services in a challenging financial
climate, Local Authorities should
consider options for economies of
scale. The Group noted the varied
practice
in
Authorities’
collaboration
with
community
groups, other Local Authorities and
with national music bodies. The
Group recommends that Local
Authorities should investigate the
options for better collaboration with
other instrumental music services
and Community Groups in the
provision, purchase, repair and
sharing of instruments and in the
delivery of instrumental music
tuition.
7. Local Authorities own and provide
instruments in many different ways.
The Group noted that the audit
being carried out by the Royal
Conservatoire of Scotland of
instruments across the country
provides an excellent platform for
future repair, maintenance and
purchase policies of instruments,
consistent with teaching provision
and expertise.
The Group
recommends that Local Authorities
use the information from this
overview to derive the maximum
use, economic efficiency and
sustainability from these assets,
including maintaining the inventory
Accept.
The Scottish Government welcomes this recommendation for LAs to consider collaborative
working between instrumental music tuition services and other groups in the wider community.
Ministers recognise the role that community music groups play in the success of our young people
locally, nationally and globally.
The IMIG will encourage relevant organisations to seek opportunities to share awareness of what
each other does and build stronger links where appropriate.
Ministers recognise that it may not be logistically possible for Authorities to share musical
instruments but would like the IMIG to develop and support a mechanism to record instrument
repairers around Scotland.
Accept.
The Scottish Government recognises that certain aspects of this recommendation may be
challenging and complex to LAs. However, LAs should aim to address any realistic possibilities for
sharing, in the interests of young people in their area who would benefit from playing a musical
instrument.
Scottish Ministers would like the IMIG to investigate the feasibility of an instrument apprenticeship
scheme – including what level and type of demand exists.
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and ensuring timely repairs.
Consideration should also be given
to following this up with a baseline
study identifying supply chain
issues and markets for repair and
purchase of instruments which
could be addressed by an
instrument apprenticeship scheme.
8. The Group noted the different
awareness and knowledge of
instrumental music activities and
opportunities across the country.
To provide more consistency and
better information for communities
the
Group
suggests
that
consideration is given to the
development and maintenance of a
comprehensive user guide of
instrumental music opportunities in
Scotland.
Accept.
9. The Group noted the varied but
generally modest arrangements by
Local Authorities for sponsorship
by and partnership with the private
and voluntary sectors. The Group
recommends a far more pro-active
approach should be taken by Local
Authorities to seek external
sponsorship for instrumental music
provision, including at a regional or
national level, to bring in support
and extend opportunities for
Accept in part.
Scottish Government appreciates that this recommendation will require time to be implemented
and that there are implications in terms of maintaining such a user guide, as well as creating it in
the first place. It will be important to ensure that any new arrangement is sustainable and takes
account of existing sources of information, avoiding unnecessary replication.
Scottish Government anticipates that HITS and SAME will have key roles in taking this
recommendation forward, and that the IMIG will wish to oversee the process.
The Scottish Government accepts that it is ultimately for authorities to determine how they wish to
approach this issue, and that sponsorship will not be a viable option in all circumstances.
Ministers agree however that the IMIG should work with HITS to support any local authorities to
extend their opportunities in this regard, forging links which are beneficial and suited to local
circumstances.
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learners.
10. The Youth Music Initiative (YMI)
has been very successful in
providing opportunities for young
people across Scotland and its
success has generated increased
demand
on
local
authority
instrumental music services for
progression opportunities after the
initial YMI experience. The Group
noted that there is a need at a local
level for clarity in the demarcation
between the YMI and Instrumental
Music Services in schools. The
group recommends that the
National Vision Statement (in
Recommendation 1) should take
into account the remit and role of
the YMI and other local youth
music provision.
Theme 4
New technologies
11. The Group noted that delivering
instrumental music tuition in
remote parts of the country and
providing opportunities to learn
from top professional musicians is
challenging. Consistent with the
collaboration
agenda,
Local
Authorities should complement
individual and group instrumental
music tuition and explore the huge
opportunities arising from the use
Accept in part.
The Scottish Government recognises that the impact of the YMI has generated an increase in
those young people wanting to learn a musical instrument and that this has a strong bearing upon
the demand that instrumental music tuition services wish to meet.
The IMIG will have a role here in liaising with Creative Scotland in particular to generate a better
understanding of the YMI. SG would welcome efforts to enable the YMI and instrumental music
tuition services to operate alongside and in conjunction with one another as effectively as possible,
building on success so far.
Accept.
The Scottish Government recognises that providing quality instrumental music tuition in remote
parts of Scotland can be expensive and limited. In 21st century Scotland more work is needed to
increase the use of ICT in the delivery of instrumental music tuition, notwithstanding the benefits of
face-to-face tutorials. This is not only relevant for rural areas; greater use of ICT will benefit young
people throughout Scotland.
The IMIG should facilitate the gathering of existing relevant practice in this area with a view to
enabling useful approaches to be extended further to support more learners in remote areas.
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of technology to enhance the
delivery of a 21st Century
instrumental music service.
Theme 5
Instrumental music tuition workforce
12. The Group identified several Accept.
workforce
development
and
planning issues for instrumental The Scottish Government, through the remit of the IMIG, will monitor developments and engage
music staff including continuing with HITS and/or GTCS as appropriate.
professional development.
The
Group also notes the aspirations of
staff to gain greater professional
recognition.
Such
recognition
would be consistent with the
provision of a highly valued and
professional instrumental music
service.
Theme 6
Future work
13. The Group recognises the very
significant benefits instrumental
music learning provides for young
people and society as a whole.
However little is known about its
wider impacts.
Accordingly the
Group recommends that specific
research is carried out to examine
the contribution of instrumental
music learning to Scotland’s
economic and cultural capital in an
international context and also to
children’s
learning
and
development.
Accept.
Ministers are aware that the benefits of learning a musical instrument are numerous and likely to
include many indirect benefits. More research on this would potentially be very helpful to LAs in
justifying the future secure provision of a highly valuable aspect of education.
IMIG will need to steer this work, working closely with Creative Scotland and the RCS.
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14. The Group is grateful to the
Improvement Service (IS) for its
comprehensive
research
into
instrumental music services as
evidence for this report.
The
Group welcomes the Improvement
Service’s offer to create, maintain
and
provide
a
standard
benchmarking
framework
to
capture in a standard form data on
charging policy, current charges,
participation and drop-out rates for
instrumental music services across
Scotland and recommends that,
once established, this data should
be monitored continuously by
service providers.
Accept.
Ministers welcome the offer from the Improvement Service to maintain a standard benchmarking
framework and see this as a key strand of work in support of recommendation 3, which focuses on
how LAs can best ensure equity of access and transparency of concession and charging policies
including trends in uptake and drop-out.
IMIG will need to work closely with the Improvement Service to ensure that a suitable approach is
agreed which is viable to create and maintain, and will be updated on an annual basis in coming
years.
15. The Group recommends that the Accept.
current Heads of Instrumental
Teaching
Scotland
(HITS) The IMIG will be invited to establish a sub-group to take forward revision of these Guidelines.
guidance
–
‘Guidelines
For
Instrumental Teaching In Scottish
Schools - 2003’ be updated in
partnership
with
Scottish
Government; Education Scotland;
COSLA; and the EIS, to bring it in
line with Curriculum for Excellence.
16. The Group applauds:a) the offer by ADES to
sponsor
a
National
Conference on Instrumental
Music to promote a better
Accept both aspects.
Scottish Government is already working with ADES to arrange a national conference to take place
in spring 2014. Ministers welcome this enthusiasm to promote the varied and numerous benefits
of instrumental music tuition. They believe a national conference will be a useful opportunity to
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understanding
of
the raise the profile of this aspect of education and inspire attendees to continue and build upon their
benefits to young people existing practice.
and society arising from
Instrumental Music tuition, Ministers welcome the inclusion of instrumental music tuition within inspection findings.
and
b) the intention by Education
Scotland to ensure that a
statement commenting on
the quality of Instrumental
music tuition will be added
to the list of obligatory
statements in the Report of
Inspection Findings for
every
school
from
September 2013.
17. The Group recommends that the
Scottish Government sets up an
Instrumental Music Implementation
Group (IMIG) to oversee the
strategic progression of these
recommendations, support new
guidance (recommendation 15)
and report back to Ministers by
December 2014.
Accept.
An Instrumental Music Implementation Group (IMIG) will be established to lead the process of
implementing recommendations. Anticipated members are:
Scottish Government (SG)
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA)
Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES)
Education Scotland (ES)
Heads of Instrumental Teaching Scotland (HITS)
Scottish Association for Music Education (SAME)
National Parent Forum Scotland (NPFS)
Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS)
Creative Scotland (CS)
Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP)
Dates for meetings of the IMIG:
November 2013; March 2014; June 2014; September/December 2014
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