Musical youth

Published on 23/06/2012 00:00

IT WAS great to see the concert held in the shadow of Stirling Castle by the Big Noise and Simon Bolivar Orchestra to promote the El Sistema project in the Raploch housing estate as part of the Olympics cultural celebrations.

If this project is rolled out throughout Scotland, it would transform the lives of thousands of underprivileged children, improving their behaviour, their confidence, their concentration, their work ethic, and their happiness.

The effect of the project in Stirling has already been remarkable.

It therefore would have been good if The Scotsman had given the event more prominence. Placing coverage of it in the Reviews column was a missed opportunity.

AA Miller

Clackmae Road

Edinburgh

THIS week, my life was enriched by having the privilege to hear two outstanding concerts played by young musicians. On Saturday, I saw the Perth Youth Orchestra play with the RSNO. Last night, I was spellbound, listening to the children from Raploch Big Noise playing with the Simon Bolivar Orchestra.

Music, introduced at an early age, has the ability to transform lives and improve a sense of worth and well-being. As this is the case, why do so many primary schools in Scotland no longer have music specialists?

Karol Swanson

Springfield Place

Queensferry