THE way thousands of children learn to play a musical instrument in York schools looks set to change due to Government funding cuts.

Currently in York about 25 peripatetic music teachers, most of them teaching part-time, go to York’s primary and secondary schools, teaching a wide variety of musical instruments to pupils in small groups.

But under planned changes to be discussed by City of York Council at a meeting next week, this system looks set to be replaced by a group approach where a handful of teachers will have to teach to a whole class of children.

Martin Boyd, 57, of The Groves, has been teaching woodwind instruments in York schools for over 30 years and is one of the teachers who could be affected by the changes.

He said: “For musical children and their parents, this would spell the end of the current system and they’ll probably have to get private tuition which will be costly and will mean that if the child is from a less well-off background, they may not get the chance to learn a musical instrument.”

Currently, peripatetic music teachers are paid from a central Government Standards Fund Grant of £408,000, which has supported instrumental music teaching in schools since 1998 and is topped up by the council.

In York, a further £72,000 has been available for the last four years to ease the transition into whole class teaching promoted by the Department for Education (DfE); however, this grant will cease at the end of 2010/11.

A spokeswoman for City of York Council said: “The model recommended by council officers will enable 3,000 pupils per year to learn musical instruments through the Wider Opportunities programme (whole class teaching) and offer city-wide provision at a reorganised York Arts Academy.

“While the number of teachers providing small group and individual lessons through the council service will fall, the new model proposes an approved tutors scheme, which will enable well-trained and quality checked freelance teachers to offer their teaching services directly to pupils and parents.

“If the new model is agreed, the council will work closely with schools, teachers and parents to ensure a smooth transition from September 2011.”

Andrea Dudding, Unison general convenor for York, said the union wanted to work as closely as possible with the authority to mitigate the damage of any cuts.

Coun Carol Runciman, City of York Council’s executive member for children and Young People, will be asked to consider the changes at a meeting tomorrow.