The Stewarton Band Support Group would like to thank everyone who has supported them this year in their campaign to save the Stewarton schools Band System. They are delighted to report that East Ayrshire Council have put forward a proposal which should see numbers of woodwind players in the school bands begin to return to normal.

EAC are applying for funding from the Scottish Art's Council Youth Music Initiative fund to bring in another woodwind tutor to Stewarton Learning Partnership schools. Subject to a successful application, this tutor should be in place ready for the planned kick-start weekend in September. The kick-start weekend will allow those currently in p6 will have an opportunity to take up a wind instrument and take part in the wind band opportunities on offer in Stewarton and across East Ayrshire.

In addition to this extra day of woodwind tuition (over and above the two days currently offered in Stewarton schools) EAC have proposed lengthening the teaching day which currently ends at 3.30 pm. This extra time would be funded by the Stewarton Band Support Group.

The combination of these measures should allow the number of children receiving woodwind tuition to return to levels similar to that of 2006, thereby making it possible for the Stewarton schools to continue to support the progressive wind band system which has been in place in Stewarton for around 20 years.

Those children who have had to make alternative arrangements for out of school hours woodwind tuition as a result of the changes this year will be welcomed back into the school system if they wish to return.

The Stewarton Band Support Group have welcomed these new proposals and look forward to helping EAC to implement them. For more information on how you can get involved check out the Band Support Group website.