Gartmore composer latest to support campaign against music tuition cuts

dailyrecord.co.uk:

International composer and former Gartmore resident Sally Beamish OBE has added her voice to the campaign against proposed £250,000 worth of cuts to Stirling Council’s instrumental music tuition service.Plans to cut the service is one of a raft of ideas floated by council officials in a bid to plug a £13million funding gap - with this Sunday, February 2, the deadline for locals to make their views clear on the council’s Engage platform.Separately, almost 4,500 people have now signed an online petition calling for Stirling Council to reject the music tuition funding cut.Sally, who has worked in music across theatre, film and television as well as within the community, said: “Music is too often regarded as an optional extra in education.“However we now have scientific proof that music can heal pathways in the brain - and documented evidence that learning music benefits all other subjects, as well as building confidence and team skills.“Creativity is essential in all walks of life, and it is vitally important that a child has the opportunity to find their own particular creative voice.

It could be the violin or the guitar. It could be art or drama. Whether this later becomes a career is not the point. The proven fact is that the child needs this creative voice to thrive and socialise.“My children attended McLaren High School, where they had the benefit of orchestras and bands, which became their social focus as well.

These social groups will cease to exist if children don’t have the chance to discover an instrument.“My children, as adults, are all now singer songwriters alongside other complementary career choices.“Instrumental lessons, with the benefit of learning the skill of reading music, and the satisfaction of