A COSLA spokesperson said: "Every local authority recognises the value of music education and the contribution it makes to ensuring that children and young people get the very best from their time at school.

"We know that Scotland’s Local Authority Instrumental Music Service teach 60,000 pupils each week, a 10% increase on 2003. At the same time Scottish councils face unprecedented financial pressures.

"To maintain the service local authorities retain the ability to charge for elements of provision. However no local authority charges those on the lowest incomes for music tuition or for those going forward for Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) exams.

"This week we have published guidance to support local authorities in their decision making in relation to their instrumental music tuition policies in partnership with the Scottish Government and the Music Education Partnership Group.

"This guidance has been distributed to all councils."