Music teaching: Singer Bronwen backs free instruments plan

Offering lessons in school for free will give all children in Wales the same opportunities

Singer Bronwen Lewis has welcomed new government plans to give all primary school pupils in Wales half a term's tuition by a musician.

She said one-to-one music tuition is "absolutely key".

Children will also have free access to a musical instrument from September as part of the new plan.

Wales' education minister says music funding will triple from £1.5m to £4.5m a year for the next three years.

The Welsh government has said children from low-income families and those with additional learning needs will be given priority.

Bronwen Lewis

Singer Bronwen Lewis says one-to-one lessons are key in music education

Staff at St Joseph's Cathedral Primary School, Swansea, said playing instruments was already benefitting pupils' "happiness and creativity".

Year Six pupil Rebecca, who goes to St David's Catholic Primary, said she loved to learn new instruments with friends.

Year Six pupil Rebecca - who enjoys playing the ukulele - said it helps her relax

"I like playing instruments with my friends. Music brings people together, it's almost like a way of communicating," Rebecca added.

"It's fun to learn new songs and it helps me relax."

Welsh language singer and songwriter Bronwen Lewis thinks the changes will benefit children.

When she was younger, the only one-to-one lessons Brownen could get were in a brass band, the singer from from the Dulais Valley, Neath Port Talbot, says.

"That wasn't something I was interested in. I was really interested in piano and guitar.

"They just didn't have the resources to be ale to teach as many children as they wanted one to one," she added.

The additional funding for one-to-one teaching was "brilliant", the singer said. "One-to-one tuition is just absolutely key when it comes to music."

'Strong tradition'

"Learning an instrument was a formative part of my upbringing and a lack of money should not be a barrier to any young person who wants to learn to play music," said First Minister Mark Drakeford.

All children in Wales should be supported to "play a full part" in Wales' "strong tradition" of musical ensembles, he added.

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

The Welsh government said its ambition is for all children aged three to 16 to be offered a free instrument to practice with at school and at home - allowing children from households who might not be able to afford one to take part.

Teacher Bethan Mari Williams praised the mental health benefits for children of playing music

Bethan Mari Williams, teacher at St Joseph's said the school was already seeing benefit of the additional services.

"We hope it will help children get the chance to play different instruments than they normally would not have the opportunity to play outside school," she said.

'Happiness and creativity'

"It also helps with mental health, especially after the last two years. There's a strong correlation between playing instruments, happiness and creativity, so hopefully it will also help the children's wellbeing.

"Some children who perhaps don't shine at academic subjects really do with the creative subjects.

"In our school we have a lot of diverse cultures and different languages, but music is one language that they can all perform together, which really helps."

Mr Miles said the cost of an instrument can be a barrier to some pupils

Education minister Jeremy Miles said the money would ensure Wales continued to produce and nurture new talent.

"Anyone who has had the opportunity to learn an instrument at school will know how fantastic it is, the opportunities it brings and how it teaches important qualities such as self-reliance and being part of a team," he said.

"But 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."

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