Music tuition in Scotland’s schools should be provided free, MSPs have insisted. 

It comes after more than one-third of Scottish councils increased fees or introduced them last year. 

The Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee, which has been carrying out an inquiry into the issue, called for lessons to be provided free in every local authority. 

At a minimum, it said, children receiving free school meals should be exempted from costs.

Annual charges for learning an instrument range from £524 in Clackmannanshire to £117 in Inverclyde. Some councils, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, provide free tuition. MSPs previously heard almost 70 per cent of pupils in West Lothian dropped out of lessons after fees of £354 were introduced. 

Committee convener Clare Adamson said too many young people are missing out “because of increasingly unaffordable fees”. 

She said: “This is why our committee believes in the principle that music tuition should be free.

“However, we recognise that in many local authorities charging for music tuition is a reality and a decision that will not have been made lightly. This does not mean there is nothing to be done. 

“Local authorities must work harder to make sure those who can afford it the least do not lose out the most. 

“This is why we have recommended the funding for these services is re-examined and that more is done to extend concessions and discounts where possible. 

“Time and again we have heard this issue discussed in the Scottish Parliament. But whilst we talk, there are young people losing out. Changes must be made.”

She said council umbrella body Cosla and the Scottish Government must “do all they can to ensure tuition is affordable and something that can be accessed by all”. 

It has been estimated providing free music tuition across Scotland would cost about £30 million a year.

MSPs said they were “alarmed at the reported drop-off rate in participation in 
West Lothian following the introduction of fees, to the extent it has threatened the viability of the service itself”. 

Their report added: “The committee considers West Lothian Council’s experience, and the similar historic experience of Glasgow City Council when it briefly introduced fees, to be emblematic both of the precarious position of instrumental music services and the need for the funding of these services to 
be re-examined.”

The inquiry called on those councils that continue to charge to consider introducing weekly or monthly payments, to avoid families being landed with a single lump sum.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, Cosla’s children and young people spokesman,, welcomed the findings. He said: “No local authority makes the decision to introduce or increase charges for any service lightly. 

“However, the financial situation for local authorities continues to be difficult and, as a consequence, councils have faced difficult decisions about funding for essential services.

“All local authorities have committed to ensuring those on the lowest incomes or those who are studying for a music qualification are not subjected to charges.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We thank the committee for its recommendations, which we will consider carefully.

“Music education is of enormous benefit to young people and, as set out in the Programme For Government, we are committed to working collaboratively to find solutions to help ensure instrumental music remains accessible to all.”