Brass musicians protest against council plan to outsource instrumental music service

The Scottish Government is being urged by campaigners to rule on the “legality” of a decision by East Ayrshire Council to transfer its instrumental music service (IMS) to an arm’s-length body.

Supporters of instrumental tuition in schools and the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), Scotland’s largest teaching union, have written to Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth with a request that she intervene in the plan to transfer the IMS to the East Ayrshire Leisure Trust.

The plan was approved by councillors at a meeting last week. Players from Kilmarnock Concert Brass, Dalmellington, Renfrew Burgh and Dunaskin Doon bands joined forces with other musicians and members of the EIS in a ‘flash mob’ protest against the councils proposals.

The gathering took place outside the EAC headquarters in Kilmarnock as councillors were arriving to vote on the controversial budget-saving plan which had been opposed by parents, teachers, pupils and music organisations.

Although the motion to move the IMS to the East Ayrshire Leisure Trust was passed by the council meeting, long-term campaigner Ralph Riddiough vowed: “We may have lost the first battle, but the war goes on.”

The EIS has condemned the decision to “privatise” the service, adding that it would “completely alter the employment status” of the instructors.

There is also a legal question over the decision concerning whether local authorities are obligated to provide music tuition under education laws.