Sir, - William Dowdall (January 29th) raises important points regarding the state of music education. A £35million conservatory for the performing arts is indeed a laudable development, but it is obviously putting the cart before the horse. While the new conservatory will benefit the relatively few people who choose music or another performing art form as a career, of far greater importance is educating an entire generation of schoolchildren in music and giving them opportunities to play instruments.
Those who do not become professional musicians have a lot to gain from a musical education. As well as developing a love of music-making and a proficiency in an instrument, they become the consumers and concert-goers on whom professional musicians rely to sustain their work. This £35million should be spread more widely. - Yours, etc.,
Fergus Sheil, Chorus Master, Scottish Opera, Florida Street, Glasgow, Scotland.