Derek Warley and Alison Goffin set up York Music Service

Derek Warley and Alison Goffin have set up York Music Service, a charitable organisation which will support music teachers working for the council who are likely to be made redundant or lose work this summer.

Derek, director of the organisation, said: “We will be working very closely with the council to make the transition for pupils currently learning with our tutors, as seamless as possible, while also encouraging new students, both adults and young people, to consider taking up a musical instrument.

“Our plan is to try to keep the cost to parents as manageable as possible, while still providing a quality service. There will also be opportunities for older learners to join new musical groups.”

The charity was officially launched yesterday, and the first events held by the organisation would be a pair of two-week summer schools starting in July, York Rocks and York Hip-Hop.

Derek said the majority of the service would be delivered over the internet, a move which will enable costs to be kept at a minimum and encourage pupils to use modern technology.

In the April budget, City of York Council cut peripatetic music funding by £41,000, which meant teachers who formerly taught about 1,400 students at schools across the county, would have to teach up to 3,000.

Alison said the cuts have meant less time could be spent with individual students, and some of the 25 music teachers had lost hours, but said the council had been very supportive towards the new venture.

She said: “A lot of the teachers are going into self-employment for instrumental lessons, and some will still be doing things for the council.

“The council has been really supportive, and some other teachers have gone out and set up their own similar groups.”

Anyone interested in learning an instrument, taking part in the summer schools or helping with the group can find out more at yorkmusicservice.co.uk or by emailing Alison at alison@yorkmusicservice.co.uk