I WAS saddened to read of City of York Council’s plans to ‘change’ – in effect end – school music tuition (The Press, December 16).

It is short-changing children to attempt to teach them an instrument in groups of 30. Perhaps councillors have a vision of class orchestras; the reality is a cacophony of thirty glockenspiels or recorders, competing with each other to produce basic nursery tunes.

Coun Runciman’s comment, “It is no good making music on your own – it is a group thing”, is disingenuous. A certain standard of attainment is needed from the individuals before joining a band or an orchestra is possible.

We are lucky that we can afford private lessons for our daughter. It is the children whose parents cannot that I feel sorry for.

Like so many ‘extras’ before it, music tuition will be denied to families on low incomes, whose children most deserve the better chance in life which cultural opportunities provide. I feel also for the many music teachers who will be out of work.

I appreciate that the council is being forced to save a shocking amount of money from its budget, but I question this short-sighted and dishonest ‘change’.

Alison Morgan, Gillingwood Road, York.