Rhondda Cynon Taf are proposing to cut their support for music education.
We need you help to persuade them to reverse their decision.
Their consultation closes on Tuesday 16 December 2014.

We have created a template consultation response (below) to help you respond. All you need to do is email this to musicconsultation@rctcbc.gov.uk and copy in the campaign email address to the consultation response: protectmusiceducation@ism.org.

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Template consultation response
Send your response to musicconsultation@rctcbc.gov.uk by Tuesday 16 December 2014 at the latest.

I am responding to the consultation on proposed cuts to music service by Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Every child should have access to a high quality music education at local and national levels. Music education is educationally [1], economically [2] and socially valuable and is valued [3].

If you cut support for music education, it will harm the opportunities for children to flourish, undermine our musical heritage and hit our educational results.

Given the absence of identified central funding for music services [4], the council’s continued ring-fenced support for this service is all the more vital.

For children to achieve their best, they need to gain an understanding of music as an academic subject from learning in the classroom; they need to develop practical skills in singing and playing instruments; and they need to have their eyes and ears opened to the widest musical possibilities by being given the opportunity to see and hear professional musicians at work.

It is widely accepted that schools cannot be expected to do all that is required of music education alone: a music infrastructure that transcends schools is necessary.

Only continued funding for music services will ensure access to music education that reaches beyond school boundaries and draws in the expertise of a range of education and arts partners, such as local orchestras, ensembles, charities and other music groups.

If Rhondda Chynon Taf does not take a step back from this proposal, it will mean that access to music education in Wales could become the preserve of those who can afford it.

I urge you to withdrawn this recommendation for a cut of £474,000 to the music service which could see an end to the music services in Wales.