Midlothian council is set to become the first Scottish local authority to entirely axe all musical instrument tuition in its schools - bar for children who are studying for Higher or National Five exams in the subject.

The council spoke to its instrumental music service staff on Wednesday, telling them that nine of its 12 full time equivalent posts would be cut under new proposals aimed at filling a multi-million pound hole in the council’s budget.

It is expected that the proposals, which would see no children below S4 level at high school offered instrument tuition at school, will be unveiled next week ahead of the authority’s budget meeting on 12 February.

Separately, Moray Council has unveiled plans to increase charges for instrumental lessons to £699 a year - the highest in Scotland.

Midlothian Council is set to become the first Scottish local authority to ban music tuition in schools.

Scottish council to be first in country to axe school music tuition