The power of the people has ensured that a high-quality music service provision will be maintained in Aberdeen.
The local Labour controlled Aberdeen City Council had proposed that their respected and highly successful Aberdeen Music Service would cease, and would be replaced with a brokerage service, whereby Music Instructors would not be employed directly to work in schools and other educational establishments, but would be replaced by a service that they stated would 'empower' parents to book tuition directly with tutors.
Horrified
The proposal immediately saw parents horrified at the prospect of what they called a 'Uber/Sports Direct' low quality money saving service that would have hugely damaging effects on peripatetic music teaching.
They argued that it would mean that low income families would suffer, it would see the end of the provision of free instruments and that regular band and orchestral ensemble training would cease.
Outrage
Lewis Catto, who has been involved in community brass band education for many years, told 4BR: "Not surprisingly people were outraged and over 6,000 signatures were quickly collected and presented to the Council as an initial show of opposition.
It was also explained in detail that research has shown that music service provision improves many skills of children, including maths, reading, comprehension, memory, listening and social development, whilst the impact on the community of what is regarded as a high-quality flagship service would be immensely damaging to the credibility of the council."
Not surprisingly people were outraged and over 6,000 signatures were quickly collected and presented to the Council as an initial show of oppositionLewis Catto
Rejected
He added: "Thankfully, the short sighted proposal was rejected, and although we are all aware that difficult decisions must be made by councils, supporters we delighted that the power of the people was heard on this occasion and a valuable community service that has such positive long term impacts has been maintained."
