{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.01055662188099808, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0, 'mean_word_length': 5.643312101910828, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Scottish Local Government Reform and Instrumental Music Instruction

Research concerned with Scottish local government reform has largely ignored the implications for one aspect of education provision – instrumental music instruction. This paper attempts to focus on this area through exploring the main policy issues with regard to the delivery of this service during a period of change. It is argued that the experience of music tuition under Scotland’s new unitary authority structure is an example of how local government can misinterpret its responsibilities towards the local community and, in doing so, threaten its continued influence over the formation of education policy. It is suggested that the administration of music instruction could supply local authorities with the opportunity to strengthen local democracy through empowering communities in the policy formation process. However, inadequate delivery may lead to the intervention of central government and councils’ loosing control over an area of their education provision.