Pressure on private music schools

Sir, – It was with keen interest that I read Deirdre Falvey’s excellent account of the closure of Newpark Music Academy, (“Why did a music school close suddenly?”, Weekend, June 22nd). The closure is devastating news for students, teachers, and administration staff.

The benefits of learning a musical instrument are well known and music schools provide a community for teachers, students, and their parents to enable and create an encouraging and supportive environment for this learning. In Ireland, the demand for extra-curricular music lessons is so high that a recent UCD study estimated that there are over 80 music schools, some large, some small, and countless private teachers providing excellent tuition for pre-college students throughout the country. It may surprise your readers to learn that in the Republic of Ireland, there are only five State-supported music schools.

Private music schools by their very nature are invariably affected by changes in economic circumstances, as has been graphically illustrated by the possible closure of Newpark Academy of Music. – Yours, etc,

Dr DOROTHY CONAGHAN,

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Malahide,

Co Dublin.