SIR - Can you imagine a Christmas without brass bands? That is the future if instrumental tuition for children continues as it is now in England: music education hubs have to provide a minimum of one term of whole-class teaching on an instrument not of a child’s choosing during their entire school career.
Beyond that, those who can may pay to carry on. For those who can’t pay or whose parents don’t yet know what it could bring to their children, that’s it!
We're calling for children to be offered free instrumental tuition throughout their school life. There is funding - currently £75m a year - but not enough.
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Much has been said about the talent pipeline to feed the UK creative industries. But we’re also talking about a lifeline for the children who won’t earn their living in the music sector. What they will be able to do is join music groups, maintain and improve their physical and mental wellbeing, make their communities better places to live, raise funds for charities etc.
Sign this petition by January 5 to secure a debate in Westminster: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/223408
Barbara Eifler, chief executive, Making Music, and Kenneth Crookston, chief executive, Brass Bands England
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