Signatures 3854 total
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Name: Caitlin Sinclair on Mar 4, 2010Comments: This is dreadfull. You would expect that the Higland region would fight to keep music as it's such a big part of our culture! Kids my age, 16, really enjoy learning music and it would be such a waste of young talent. Also, I was considering tutoring music as a career, possibly in the Higlands.Flag
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Name: Emma Mackay on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Lynsey Harper on Mar 4, 2010Comments: Makes me angry :(Flag
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Name: Kerry Asher on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Robert Farmer on Mar 4, 2010Comments: For the Highlands this would be a tragic and ir-reversible loss of a cultural activity that benefits so many young people from so many different backgrounds and isolated geographical areas. Playing a musical instrument has been scientifically proven to improve a child's cognitive and emotional development.Flag
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Name: Ian Fraser on Mar 4, 2010Comments: please leave the funding as it is.Flag
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Name: Lynsey Bolton on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Laura Beesley on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Hannah MacDonald on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Ryan Laskey on Mar 4, 2010Comments: I played clarinet for a year in high school and never have I enjoyed an extra cirricular activity than that. If funding is cut people WILL suffer. The Highland Council should be proud of the musical talents have produced...! More people go into careers involving music than they do with art or sports yet the highland council are considering cutting the music funding!!! ITS A CRIME!Flag
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Name: Rona Mackay on Mar 4, 2010Comments: Unbelievable! The HIghlands are one of the most vibrant areas for music tuition in the whole of Scotland. HOW can the council justify the consideration of a service, which actually brings money INTO the council, for the axe is beyond me! THOUSANDS of young people throughout the Highlands benefit from this service and the resulting SEVEN Regional Groups are shining examples of not only the talents on show and the diversity of the genres covered but also the dedication of the instrumental instructors who week on week give up their time to tutor these young people to the high standard which many have come to expect. As the biggest single party represented in the Highland Council, the Liberal Democrats recognise the enormous contribution that the arts, heritage and culture make to the lives of citizens. They believe that culture should be valued for its own sake as well as for the undoubted benefits to other areas, such as the economy, health, crime prevention and education. “We believe that public investment in the arts should fund talent not bureaucracy, and sustainability not short-term initiatives. We remain concerned that the current Government’s move towards greater interference in the arts has threatened to stifle artistic freedom. “The Liberal Democrats believe that the arts are confidence building, self-affirming and identity- forming. We believe that the arts should be valued for themselves in a civilised society. We also value the huge contribution that the arts can make in other areas such community and education and believe that the arts should be celebrated at all levels. We are committed to ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality cultural experiences and is given the opportunity to express themselves creatively. In order to promote excellence in the arts and increase opportunities for all the Liberal Democrats will embed creativity as one of the fundamental principles of education. DO NOT AXE THIS VITAL SERVICE!Flag
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Name: Scott Mitchell on Mar 4, 2010Comments: Anything artistic is usually one of the first ports of call for organisations looking to make cuts...I urge the Highland Council to look again at this carefully as the axeing of this funding would be devastating to many people - and especially so in the |highland area.... Thank YouFlag
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Name: Rachel Farmer on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Tomas Leakey on Mar 4, 2010Comments: This is completely absurd. From a personal point of view I would never have become invloved in music in the first place had it not been for regional tuition. All of my early (and most of my later) tuition came exclusively from the highland council service. The regional groups were also absolutely key to my developement as a musician and I would be nowhere had I not been involved in these. I know of several others now pursuing careers in music to whom exactly the same applies, not to mention the many hundreds who got enourmous satisfaction and pleasure from the experience even if not planning to pursue it as a career. Abolishing instrumental tuition would be an unforgivable monstrosity of a thing to do, and I hope that the council recovers some sanity before making a decision.Flag
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Name: Gavin Woods on Mar 4, 2010Comments: What on earth!!!!! This is plain unbeleivable. What are these people thinking. "Hey how can we make the books balance I know lets deny the kids music tutition." "Hey yeh thats an easy way to save money." Except denied access to music what else do the kids do. Some will no doubt find profitable ways to amuse themselves others will find unprofitable ways, others very unprofiatble ways.. So up go the bills on sorting out street crime and drugs. Eventually someone says hey how can we keep the kids off the street and reduce unsociable behaviour. I know lets teach them music. Great things happen orchestras are fomed, Festivals of Music and Drama and the bills go down until........................!!!!!!!!! Round and Round we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about short sighted. Worst of all is the waste of the investment already given by the Scottish Goverment in schemes such as YMI etc etc Come on guys think a head for once don't destroy positive work with kids get rid of a few hundred council desk jockeys who contribute nothing to the overall scheme of things. Shocking truly truly shocking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Flag
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Name: Frances A Whyte on Mar 4, 2010Comments: The personal development, (musical skill /experience & awareness; personal discipline/self motivation: lifelong participative & social opportunities: 'team' experience & understanding of wider supportive benefits) goes a long way towards creating a confident, rounded individual with the ability to interact in the world beyond school/education. Academic ability has been shown to be supported & complemented by musical ability. An appreciation of the Arts is nurtured within a balanced Education system: Geographically challenged regions need to provide this, not penalise rural living.Flag
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Name: David Duguid on Mar 4, 2010Comments: I hope that this is indeed only a 'review' of the total budget and not really a consideration of wiping out the whole lot! It seems like such a small sum for what is surely of huge social benefit to the areaFlag
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Name: John Grant on Mar 4, 2010Comments: Insane!Flag
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Name: Cailean Welsh on Mar 4, 2010Comments: This is outrageous! Many people can not afford for private tution this takes away any chance of a music career! Also the regional music groups do not also give hundreds of people a chance for orchestra/group expierences but also provide those who watch an amazing expierence...relatives and general members of the public go and listen to all groups! This would also most definetely stop all workshops which provide a valuable expierence to all budding musicians! OMG just no! I know it's hard for the council - probably a lot more than I know - but this can not be cut you make! Yours sincerelyFlag
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Name: Anne J MacDonald on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Jos Caubo on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Peter Rose on Mar 4, 2010Comments: These proposals are tragically misguided and will seriously affect the cultural well-being of future generations of Highland children.Flag
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Name: Rufus Huggan on Mar 4, 2010Comments: As a student who has recieved musical tuition, I find it disgraceful that anyone could concieve of removing funding from those who need it most. Musical education is not cheap, and denying funding amounts solely to denying a musical education to the poorest of families, such as myself.Flag
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Name: Julie Carrie on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: John G. Whyte on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Duncan Downie on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Edward B. Friday on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Heather Thornton on Mar 4, 2010Comments: What a ridiculous, dreadful idea! The music tuition here is excellent, encouraging our young people and a source of learning and enjoyment.Flag
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Name: Melanie Jayne Cottam on Mar 4, 2010Comments: I was Principal Clari in HRYO for a couple of years when I was at LHS. It was really a great opportunity. I also got to go to Sweden with HYBB. Thanks to Karen I got my Grade 8.Flag
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Name: Peter Edwards on Mar 4, 2010Comments: A disappointing intention, that will have detrimental outcomes for your community. Performing Arts subjects bind communities, develop smart students and train artists to remember the culture through music, dance and word. The end of your instrumental program will not show repercussions for many years….are you prepared to insult your culture by having it forgotten.Flag
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Name: Ruth Earnshaw on Mar 4, 2010Comments: Music is an important part of education, removing instrumental tuition in schools is the equivalent of removing something like geography or art or any other school lessons.Flag
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Name: Marina Panaretou on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Margot Cruft on Mar 4, 2010Comments: Music tuition is essential for future professional musicians but equally important is the experience of playing an instrument in a band and/or orchestra which is enjoyed by a large number of children in the Highlands. The standard achieved by these groups is very impressive and the children gain skills which will stay with them for life. Without the excellent teaching which they get from the dedicated instructors they will lose an invaluable part of their education.Flag
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Name: Claire Arnott on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Andrew King on Mar 4, 2010Comments: There are many non-essential council expenditures that can be cut with no effect on the services you are supposed to provide to the community - try cutting the food for meetings - if you want to eat buy it. Cutting the music services for our children is an essential service. Any councilor who values their jobs should think again if they think this is an easy non-essential service to cut. Regards, Andrew KingFlag
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Name: Susie Dingle on Mar 4, 2010Comments: The music tuition offered to children in the Highlands and the musical groups in which highland children have the opportunity to participate are second to none. To dismantle something so valuable to hundreds of children in the region would be an act of incredible stupidity and even cruelty. Please do not do it!Flag
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Name: Catriona Mackay on Mar 4, 2010Comments: This is a disgrace. Instrumental tuition is a vital part of a balanced education for Scotland's school children. The Scottish governments manifesto states that the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has responsibilities for supporting culture and creativity - how can this proposal possibly be conceived as being supportive of culture and creativity in the highlands?Flag
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Name: J F Sellar on Mar 4, 2010Comments: Come on Highlands wise up !!Flag
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Name: Lindsey Ovenstone on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Rachel Hair on Mar 4, 2010Comments: The music service in Highland region has spent alot of time and effort building up a fantastic service providing instrumental tuition, music groups and performance opportunities for schoolchildren in a region of Scotland where music is at the heart of its culture. I plead with you do not take this service away. When I was a pupil at a Highland high school the instrumental tuition only stretched to pipes... but I've watched with joy the range of instruments offered to the kids grow and grow over the past few years at that school. As an instrumental teacher myself I see the benefits that each and every child I teach has from the experience of learning a musical instrument. The sense of achievement, pride, self -discipline and responsibility learned from practicing... I could go on and on.... In England and Wales the government have dedicated the session 2009/10 "Tune in -Year of Music", and recognise that 'Music has the power to transform young people's lives, to build confidence, self-esteem and enjoyment'. Perhaps Highland Council should listen to them?Flag
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Name: Sean Wilson on Mar 4, 2010Comments: This is completely ridiculous! If it weren't for the tuition I received in schools, I would not have been introduced to not just my clarinet tuition but music in general, this was such a great opportunity for me and I hope that future pupils in hgihland schools can have the same opportunities I did.Flag
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Name: Sam O'kane on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Michal D. Clark on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Doreen Callaghan on Mar 4, 2010Comments: I am absolutely horrified at the possibility of withdrawal of funding for music tuition and regional groups. It would be taking a step back to the dark ages. The standard of musical performance by Highland pupils is outstanding - and the benefit to these young people - and their communities is incalculable. What would be the next step - withdraw education altogether??? While some young people might be lucky enough to have parents who could fund their musical tuition, many highly talented youngsters who lose their only opportunity to learn to play an instrument, participate in valuable group learning opportunities, and be denied an essential element of their education. These proposals must surely be discarded!!Flag
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Name: Denis O'Gara on Mar 4, 2010Comments: Why is such a vaulable resource being targetted fro removal. The value of music education , especially encouraging participation in music making is immeasurable. Please reconsider.Flag
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Name: Connor Ellen on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Patsy Reid on Mar 4, 2010Comments: Ridiculous ridiculous ridiculous. How can this be justified? How are the bosses defending this decision?Flag
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Name: Michael Bryan on Mar 4, 2010Comments: This is an absolute disgrace and all councillors who are in any way supporting this should hang their heads in shame. This could undo generations of good work.Flag
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Name: Sheelah Weston on Mar 4, 2010Comments:Flag
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Name: Donald A. Goskirk on Mar 4, 2010Comments: The current level of provision of Instrumental Tuition in Highland has taken years to achieve and has been of benefit, not only to prospective young musicians, but as a positive stimulus to the educational well being of many youngstrers destined for other careers. It would be an act of the greatest foolishnes to wipe that achievement away and would do the utmost educational damage.Flag