Madam,

Having worked for 35 years in the Music Service and retiring last August I would like to explain what will happen if the proposed nearly 70 per cent cuts in the funding of the Music Service are carried through in Ceredigion.

There are over 1,000 young people who take part in the Ceredigion Music Service. However, if these cuts are carried through only about 20 to 30 per cent will be able to afford the tuition and this will mean all the bands, orchestras, choirs etc will not have enough pupils to make them viable to run. That will mean the Ceredigion orchestra, bands and choirs will cease to exist.

I retired last August. I am not meaning to brag but I just want to show everyone the amount of work Music Service staff get through. I used to direct brass groups in both Penglais and Penweddig schools, and also conduct junior brass groups in Ysgol Gymraeg, Rhydypennau and a mixed group of all instruments in Llangwyrfon School. I also conducted the Ysgol Gymraeg School Orchestra.

All these groups did good things in the community on a regular basis which helped develop the children’s sense of team building, social skills, performance skills and a general good feeling for helping and entertaining others.

I also directed the big Ceredigion or Aberystwyth Youth Band every Thursday evening. I also conducted the Ceredigion Orchestra and assisted with Ceredigion Intermediate and Senior Wind Bands which were done on weekend courses.

If I wrote down the achievements of the young people believe me it would take me a few days to list them.

I used to have another three more brass groups in three junior schools (I will not name them) and the children in the brass groups all played on television by having stage on the Urdd. However since there were increases in instrumental tuition fees around five to six years ago (I cannot remember the exact date) there has not been one brass player who has had tuition as their parents could not afford the increased fees in the schools. Brass finished in those schools the moment the charges were implemented and mostly increased. The increases then were small compared to the increases which will happen if there is a near 70 per cent cut in funding.

These cuts will finish the service or make it so small it will not be able to function. I have always told my pupils if you are playing sport and/or involved in music you are on the right track. My pupils were never ever involved in the drug or smoking culture which probably costs authorities in Ceredigion far more than what the Music Service costs.

Also look what is happening in other places where young people are getting stabbed far too often. This is what happens when young people have nothing to do. In these places councils have cut spending on things for young people. Sadly politicians and councils always play the blame game.

My advice is: Support the young people in Ceredigion so that they have a good future and find something else to cut. Please think of the young people’s futures.

Yours etc, Alan Phillips, recently retired head of brass, Lôn Llewelyn, Waunfawr, Aberystwyth.

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