As a director of Cardiff and Vale Music Service (CAVMS), an independent music service in S Wales, I would like to make a contribution to the consultation on Funding for and Access to Music Education in Wales.

We provide instrumental and vocal tuition to over 2000 students in around 80 schools in SE Wales, across 7 authorities, giving us a unique insight.

Our experience is that the withdrawal of central funding by local authorities has meant that the availability of funding is very much reliant on the funding priorities within individual schools. Various examples of funding we have experienced include:

- Schools fully funding tuition out of their own budget

- Schools funding tuition at KS4 and KS5

- Schools funding tuition for pupils eligible for FSM

- Use of PDG funding to target specific pupils who would benefit

We currently also run an orchestra and a very successful Big Band. Over the years we have had numerous students progress to the National Youth Orchestra of Wales but I recently enquired in to the National Youth Jazz Wales only to be told that it wasn't running due to lack of funding.

I would welcome the opportunity to be further involved in any consultation and would be happy to speak further if it was appropriate.

Many thanks

David Miller
Director, CAVMS Ltd