Borough Music School - a sad farewell?

There are also recorder and percussion groups. Places are in great demand. After school sessions now take place on Mondays at Cathedral School, Redcross Way.

Parents and friends hear their work at the end of term concert. There are solo, small group and recorder group items, and the children gain great confidence in performing, besides demonstrating to parents and friends what they can do. Many pupils have progressed to more advanced music making at the Centre for Young Musicians at Morley College, or been offered individual lessons when they got to secondary school.

The Music School was set up in 1995, chiefly for primary age pupils who wished to learn an instrument but whose parents could not afford private tuition. At that time there was little instrumental tuition in state primary schools, and pupils had to wait for secondary transfer (and even later) if they wished to learn to play. For a small fee, the Borough Music School offers an individual lesson and some group work. It also performs at community events locally, and will be seen at the Nelson Square Centenary Fair, and at the Mint Street Festival in August.

Continuation funding for this work is difficult to find, particularly for the basic work of administration and pupils support other than direct instrumental teaching. The school is supported by a small grant from the Council, and a number of other local charities. We also owe a great deal to the voluntary work done by the parents, and it is noteworthy that it is the children of those parents who make them practice regularly and bring them to the school who make most progress.

Since our last report at Christmas more funds have been given to the school, but more is now expected. Our next term's work will include group singing as well as recorder and percussion work. We have also been offered the chance to perform in a concert in St Peter's, Eaton Square, together with the National Isis String Orchestra, in a piece specially composed for both groups. This concert is on Saturday 30 October.

Meanwhile, our end of Summer Term concert is at Charles Dickens School on Saturday 17 July at 11am, with a retiring silver collection. Please support us!

• Borough Music School