Scotland

April this year saw the astonishing revelation from the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) that Scotland’s Higher Music exam is failing pupils. You may have read my other blogs, about this very serious issue, on this site already but I have just discovered that you can NOT sing Scottish songs in the vocal element of the said exam - how disgraceful is that?

It would seem that the whole Scottish Higher education system is falling apart. Scotland has a long and highly respected history in the field of education. When England had only 2 universities Scotland had 4 and Scotland had a nation wide education system that was the envy of the world. Today nothing could be further from the truth and I would like to know EXACTLY what the SNP is doing about it?

The SNP should be pushing hard to support ALL things Scottish, they should be investing in what the country is good at while also investing in areas of need. While it is great that pupils in Scotland are in a far better position, financially, than pupils elsewhere in the United Kingdom it is pretty useless if the education system is not at the same level.

Why on earth BAN Scottish songs from the Scottish Higher music exam?

As well as warnings about the Higher music exam there have been warnings about the English exam too. The quality of music in the curriculum is deeply shocking and rather than have any songs associated with Scotland they have the following in their list of “acceptable” songs;

Ironic
Torn
Son of a Preacher Man
I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman
I Say A Little Prayer

Oh, it would seem that some Scots songs are accepted, such as Burns’ stuff, but utter a word in Gaelic and you will swiftly be escorted to the door while the examiner clears out his ears!

Gaelic is an important language in Scotland and there are other languages other than Scots, Doric for example, so why are Scottish songs in a Scottish language BANNED from the Scottish Higher music exam?

Imagine if, in England, pupils were told they could not sing songs in English anymore? I am sure if they would be complaining like crazy and questions would be asked in the House. While most of Scotland enjoys The Flower of Scotland and many treat is as the unofficial National Anthem of Scotland I am sure most would be annoyed to here that it is one of the BANNED Scottish songs. I can see that they might have certain reasons for banning this song in particular but we are in Scotland and we are talking about a Scottish qualification.

What excuse can there be for the banning of songs from Scotland? I can not think of one single reason other than the fact that there are no examiners who speak or understand the language???