Children in Wales to get free access to musical instruments and teaching

The Welsh government has tripled its budget for music education in Wales as part of the new National Music Service. Rising from £1.5m to £4.5m per year for the next three years, the new service will ensure that all children in Wales will have free access to a musical instrument and tuition from September.

The plan includes a new national instrument and equipment library to be shared across Wales.

The Welsh government said its aim is for all children aged three to 16 to be offered a free instrument to practise with at school and at home, which will allow children from low-income households, who might not be able to afford one, to take part. Primary school children will receive a minimum of half a term of instrumental taster lessons, in a scheme called ’First Experiences’.

Secondary school pupils will be able to gain industry experience through the ‘Making Music with Others’ scheme, where students work side-by-side with creative professionals.

’For me, music was absolutely part of growing up in Wales,’ commented Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford. ’It’s great to see a real effort to catch up on all that and invest in instruments so that no young person in Wales goes without because they can’t afford an instrument.’

’Unfortunately it can be hard to get access to music. You’ve got to be able to afford an instrument and the cost of tuition can be a barrier for some. So the new National Music Service will open up opportunities to all children in Wales, whatever their background,’ said Welsh education minister Jeremy Miles.