Madam,

I completely agree with the excellent letter by my colleague Alan Phillips (‘Council cuts would finish county’s music service’).

I taught with the Ceredigion Music Service for 27 years and latterly was Head of Strings and Assistant Music Service Manager.

I would like to point out that the music industry in the UK is worth £3.5 billion. It is a valid and serious career prospect to work in music. If you google this you can see a breakdown of some very impressive figures. There are over 1.6 million people employed in the music industry.

I have watched cuts hit the numbers of children able to access specialist tuition offered in schools, reducing their chances to take GCSE or A level music and follow a career in music. Playing an instrument also gives children access to regular weekly after-school ensembles and weekend courses in Llangrannog providing personal, social and emotional development as well as being highly educational.

I am sure it is well known about the importance of learning a musical instrument and enhanced brain development.

I am very proud to have served the children of Ceredigion and work for an authority that has worked hard to maintain its music service. I appreciate the difficulties of maintaining services in a rural area. The people of Ceredigion value music and this is reflected in support for the Urdd and National Eisteddfod.

A point of pride that the National Eisteddfod is coming to Tregaron next year has led the council to find £200,000 to donate.

I would ask the council to do more creative accounting to continue to support music at ‘grass roots’ level otherwise we impoverish our children and society. There is also so much talk and worry about our young people’s mental health. Music and creativity is surely valuable.

Finally I would like to thank the Friends of Ceredigion Young Musicians who work so hard to help keep music accessible for as many children as possible.

Since I started the Ceredigion String Initiative in 2000 ( initially funded by the Welsh Assembly’s Music Development Fund), the ‘Friends’ have fundraised to constantly increase stocks of instruments giving every beginner access to an instrument.

Unfortunately many of these instruments are sitting in the store as constant rises in the financial charge to parents for lessons mean fewer can afford lessons.

I became a teacher to ‘give back’ to children what music had given to me growing up during ‘the troubles’ in Northern Ireland.

I believe in equal opportunities for children and it breaks my heart that music is becoming inaccessible to many.

Yours etc, Isobelle McGuinness, formerly Head of Strings and Assistant Music Service Manager, Lluest Mews, Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth.

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