Calvin Harris’ music teacher opposes music tuition cuts in Dumfries and Galloway

A former music teacher who helped Calvin Harris take his first steps on the road to stardom has hit out at a proposal to scrap free music instrument tuition in schools in Dumfries and Galloway.

Stewart Solley, who taught at Dumfries High School for almost 40 years, warned that the proposed spending cuts would deny others the opportunity that helped the songwriter and DJ become a global phenomenon.

Ending free musical instrument tuition in schools is one of dozens of savings options being considered by Dumfries and Galloway Council in a bid to save £35m.

A spokesperson for the council said a consultation was under way and no decisions had been taken.

Demand is high for instrumental music lessons in schools across Dumfries and Galloway. Almost 2,000 pupils are currently enrolled, with a further 750 on the waiting list.

The Scottish government has provided funding to deliver the lessons for free since 2021 but the council said the option of withdrawing the service would save it up to £564,000 over three years.

It is understood that the council would not be able to charge for in-school instrument lessons as the government is committed to them being free.

Up to 21 music instructors’ jobs would be lost, BBC Scotland News understands.

The local authority’s budget consultation document acknowledges that axing tuition would cast doubt over the future of school bands and choirs and limit instrument options for pupils studying SQA music courses.

Mr Solley argued that the value of the tuition service could not be measured simply in terms of finance.

He said: “When you see what it does for the wellbeing of children – promoting creativity, social interaction and mental health – and they take that into adulthood. How can you put a price on that?”

For his most famous pupil Adam Wiles – otherwise known as Calvin Harris – it provided an opportunity to learn bass guitar.

“Even someone like him – the megastar – has benefited from the service,” Mr Solley said.

“For the many others it was the social skills and the fun of playing and forming lasting friendships with other musicians.

“And I’m still doing it. I am 65 now but still playing in bands, often alongside ex-pupils,” he added.

Another of Mr Solley’s ex-pupils and a product of the instrumental tuition service is Dave Coulter, who owns The Pleuchie’s Howff. The Dumfries bar provides a stage for live bands every week.

He has warned that axing music instructors from schools would lead to inequality.

“It would make music almost elitist to deny everyone the same opportunity to learn an instrument and find their talent”, he said.

Musicality runs through the Coulter family, with two of Dave’s daughters currently receiving in-school tuition.

The youngest, 10-year-old Paige, is learning the violin. She knows it will take time to become fully proficient but said it was fun.

“Once you have learned, you can make up your own music and I feel special that I have the opportunity take violin at school,” she said.

Paige’s older sister Stevie is 15 and plays guitar.

She demonstrated the potential value of learning an instrument when she performed her own gig to raise several hundred pounds to fund a volunteering trip in the USA.

“The tuition service has helped me gain confidence and I am now playing at local venues,” she said.

A Dumfries and Galloway Council spokesperson said the proposals were for consultation and nothing had yet been decided.

“The council wants to hear feedback from everyone on these before it sets its budget in February,” they added.

“We understand that people care deeply about services such as music tuition, and it’s natural that proposals like this will prompt strong views.”

The spokesperson added that the council was facing rising costs and increasing demand for services, and “must explore difficult options” to deliver a balanced budget.

The council is encouraging people to take part in its consultation process.