Instrumental music service

In addition to school-based extra-curricular activities, we offer a range of musical activity groups. These take in various playing standards and are available on a Fife-wide basis to pupils, including those taught privately, and out with school.

Involvement in these groups contributes greatly to a pupil’s musical development and also provides excellent opportunities for social development.

The current list is:

• Fife Youth Orchestra(Grade 5/6 and above)
• Fife Youth Concert Band(Grade 5 and above)
• Fife Youth Sinfonia (Grade 4/5 and above)
• East, West, Central Area - String Orchestras and Wind Bands
• (Grade 1-2) - three venues and two groups at each
• Fife Schools Strings Orchestra(Grades 3-4)
• Fife Schools Wind Band(Grades 3-4)
• Fife Music Activity groups are run on a self-financing basis with charges for participation, but these are kept to a minimum.

Information and application packs are issued to pupils via Instrumental Instructors and for those who receive private tuition, via principal teachers of Music/Curriculum (Secondary) or headteachers (Primary).

For more information on Fife music activities, please contact Andrew Cowie, Education Development Officer - Music Service

Instrumental instruction is offered on violin/viola, cello, double bass, woodwind, brass, percussion, piano/keyboard, guitar, clarsach, chanter and pipe band drumming. With the exception of clarsach, bagpipes and pipe band drumming, all of the above instruments are taught at each secondary school, but only one subject discipline may be offered in each primary school.

Assessment for selection

The assessment process takes place in primary schools each year in August and is kept as simple and as practical as possible. We want to make sure that instruction is offered fairly and equally across all schools.

Assessment takes place at the P5 stage for violin, viola and ‘cello, and at the P6 stage for double bass, woodwind, brass, piano/keyboard, guitar, clarsach and chanter. Percussion and pipe band drumming are offered at the S1 stage.

All pupils are given an opportunity at some point in their school career to be considered for instruction. Regrettably, not all pupils who want to learn to play an instrument can be offered tuition due to limits on teaching time. Neither private ownership of an instrument nor previous learning experience of an instrument gives any greater chance of an offer for instruction.

Depending upon demand and availability of instruments, places for instruction may also be available at S1 stage.

Lessons, instruments and music

Lessons are given weekly, in school time and where appropriate, an instrument will be loaned and available to take home. A minimum of thirty lessons will be given in a school year. The cost of providing music for pupils’ use is the responsibility of parents/carers.

Contribution to the running costs of instrumental instruction

At present, there is no charge for Instrumental Music Lessons, in line with Scottish Government policy.

For more information on instrumental instruction, please contact Andrew Cowie, Education Development Officer - Music Service

The Youth Music Initiative is funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Creative Scotland The aim is to promote equal opportunity of access for all pupils to participate in music making.

For more information on the Youth Music Initiative nationally, please go to :

Creative Scotland

Fife Youth Music Initiative offers a range of activities for children and young people, mainly aimed at the pre-Primary 6 stage, in line with guidance from Creative Scotland.

Each year, all primary schools are offered a Youth Music Initiative-funded project, usually aimed at the P5 stage. Projects vary from school to school and from year to year but past projects have included Samba, African and Pipe Band Drumming, singing, songwriting, tuned percussion and traditional Scottish music. Fife YMI also offers training and support to primary teachers to deliver musicianship through Kodaly (musicianship through singing) and ukulele to their pupils.

Whatever project is offered the aim is the same – to actively involve and enthuse children, encouraging their future participation in music making, both in and out of school.

All Youth Music Initiative projects are offered at no cost to schools, children or parents.

For more information on the Fife Youth Music Initiative, please contact 
Suzanne Jackson, YMI Co-ordinator, suzanne.jackson@fife.gov.uk