Scottish Traditional Music petition - Plockton Music School

[Nick]

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I see Robbie Shepherd is a recent signatory.

[Telo]

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I see Robbie Shepherd is a recent signatory.

"Aye, it's Rrrrrrrobbie Shepherrrd herrre....."



I love his programmes. I see Dougie Pincock, ex-Battlefield Band, is the Director at Plockton.

More from Ruth Wishart about Plockton, in The Herald (you need to sign in to the The Herald for free access).

[ParaHandy]

Just to clarify ...

Thank you for that. The reporting in the Press and Journal is truly awful. For example the centre was set up with professional quality instruments including a piano costing £100,000 and the 20 pupils a year are prodigies and are the elite (even Alastair Campbell couldn't stomach that description). Given the set up costs of £650,000 and the annual running costs of £320,000 then the cost per "prodigy" since its inception is anywhere from £20 to £30,000. Of course the problem with teaching what is, after all, niche skills is getting sufficient pupils at the same skill level to form a sensible class size. Many this side of the border will be clucking their teeth whilst muttering "I could have told you [that flinging money at the problem wouldn't work]" that fully subsidising tuition and living expenses and/or the simple logistical difficulties would cripple the project eventually.

[jim.r]

Jings, Chris E is really someone else ,,

[jim.r]

Just to clarify ...

Thank you for that. The reporting in the Press and Journal is truly awful. For example the centre was set up with professional quality instruments including a piano costing £100,000 and the 20 pupils a year are prodigies and are the elite (even Alastair Campbell couldn't stomach that description). Given the set up costs of £650,000 and the annual running costs of £320,000 then the cost per "prodigy" since its inception is anywhere from £20 to £30,000. Of course the problem with teaching what is, after all, niche skills is getting sufficient pupils at the same skill level to form a sensible class size. Many this side of the border will be clucking their teeth whilst muttering "I could have told you [that flinging money at the problem wouldn't work]" that fully subsidising tuition and living expenses and/or the simple logistical difficulties would cripple the project eventually.

Allegedly the real cost per student pa for Oxford/|cambridge is £18k

[Nick]

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Just received the following press release:

From JIM MATHER MSP (ARGYLL & BUTE)

15th March, 2011 for immediate release

MATHER WELCOMES PLAN TO SAVEGUARD PLOCKTON MUSIC SCHOOL

Jim Mather, (MSP Argyll & Bute) has warmly welcomed the news that the Plockton Music School has been given a reprieve from threats of closure from the Highland Council after intervention from his colleague Michael Russell. MSP, the Minister for Education.

Jim Mather said:

“This is news that will be greeted with a great deal of relief across the Highlands and indeed across Scotland. This school has a national and international reputation as a centre of excellence for its teaching and nurture of Scottish traditional music and I know that musicians and supporters were devastated when they heard that the LibDem/Labour administration at Highland Council took the decision to close down the school. >From the very start the SNP has consistently supported the retention of the Plockton facility and my colleague Rob Gibson, MSP, has been to the fore in this.”

Michael Russell said;

“The new partnership between the school and the West Highland College will open up the school to older music students and will enable them to take advantage of the quality teaching and outstanding legacy that Plockton provides. Investment from the Scottish Government will make this partnership a reality.

Scotland has a fine history of producing talented professionals across a range of the arts and traditional music is no exception. As one of our National centres of Excellence, it is already funded by grant via the Highland Council and this will continue. Today’s announcement does not affect that relationship nor those responsibilities but it opens up a whole range of new possibilities and broadens the base of support for this important school.”


Contact jim.mather.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

[Arghiro]

They don't teach those awful caterwauling bagpipe thingies do they?

[Telo]

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Just received the following press release:

From JIM MATHER MSP (ARGYLL & BUTE)

15th March, 2011 for immediate release

MATHER WELCOMES PLAN TO SAVEGUARD PLOCKTON MUSIC SCHOOL

Jim Mather, (MSP Argyll & Bute) has warmly welcomed the news that the Plockton Music School has been given a reprieve from threats of closure from the Highland Council after intervention from his colleague Michael Russell. MSP, the Minister for Education.

Jim Mather said:

“This is news that will be greeted with a great deal of relief across the Highlands and indeed across Scotland. This school has a national and international reputation as a centre of excellence for its teaching and nurture of Scottish traditional music and I know that musicians and supporters were devastated when they heard that the LibDem/Labour administration at Highland Council took the decision to close down the school. >From the very start the SNP has consistently supported the retention of the Plockton facility and my colleague Rob Gibson, MSP, has been to the fore in this.”

Michael Russell said;

“The new partnership between the school and the West Highland College will open up the school to older music students and will enable them to take advantage of the quality teaching and outstanding legacy that Plockton provides. Investment from the Scottish Government will make this partnership a reality.

Scotland has a fine history of producing talented professionals across a range of the arts and traditional music is no exception. As one of our National centres of Excellence, it is already funded by grant via the Highland Council and this will continue. Today’s announcement does not affect that relationship nor those responsibilities but it opens up a whole range of new possibilities and broadens the base of support for this important school.”


Contact jim.mather.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

Pish.

Oh, and well done Nick, for managing to bring this down to a party-partisan issue, with an uncritical press puff for the SNP.

It never was a party political issue until Mike Russell et al "saved" Plockton. Jeeze, man, these guys are the government FFS; and they've responded to grass-roots pressure. Fine. But, AFAIR, the centres of excellence were set up as all-Scotland initiatives by the then Lab/Lib coalition doo-dah, so why try to make cheap points? There was never any good reason as to why Highland Region should have borne all the costs. IMHO.

I don't have any great criticism of what this government has done. In fact, I think they've taken some good initiatives, but the more we see this sort of sleekit insinuation, the more they are likely to hammer in their own coffin nails come May. Folk aren't daft; they can recognise gobshitery (did that clear the sweerie word checker?) at twa Scots miles.

[Mark]

Scotland has a fine history of producing talented professionals across a range of the arts

No doubt about that:

[Nick]

Pish.

Oh, and well done Nick, for managing to bring this down to a party-partisan issue, with an uncritical press puff for the SNP.

I just posted the press release as I received it as I wasn't sure if anyone was aware that the school had been reprieved. Wish I hadn't bothered now.

If you prefer it, here is the BBC report.