I GREW up in Norwich during the 50s and 60s and attended the City of Norwich School, a boys’ grammar school with some 900 students. Perhaps the jewel in the crown of this school was its symphony orchestra. All students were entitled to free instrumental tuition, and though this applied to all children in the state system in Norwich, my school had a headmaster and a staff – not all of them in the music department – who felt that this was important to our education. When I left the school, all the boys in my class who had not participated in this said it was their big regret that they had not taken part.

Many of those who participated went on to become professional musicians, performing with orchestras and chamber groups throughout the UK and beyond. The majority went into other professions but kept their interest in music and performed in amateur groups. All of us benefited from the free instrumental tuition we received.

Music tuition is as important if not more so to an individual’s development as the three Rs and sport. To quote the neurologist Oliver Sacks from his book Musicophilia: “There is clearly a wide range of musical talent, but there is much to suggest there is an innate musicality in virtually everyone,” and “for the vast majority of students, music can be every bit as important educationally as reading or writing.”

For those performing at any level, whether in a rock band or a symphony orchestra, working together as a team is what produces the results. To be a musical performer one has to learn self-discipline to not only get the best from oneself, but from the team.

Music education can be the gateway to improving the life of the country as well as individuals.

Joseph Stalin had cloth ears, but he understood the value and importance of music. I wonder how many of our politicians at both local and national level also have cloth ears, but do not understand the value of music. It appears that to them music education is to be viewed in purely short-term fiscal terms because they do not understand that music has a non-financial value which will in time reap its own financial rewards. They have no long-term vision for the mental, physical and emotional health of the nation.

Music is the Cinderella subject in our schools. John Swinney could do worse than look at an overhaul of music education of all types in our Scottish education system. Starting within our primary schools, music could enhance the lives of all our children so that in ten years our education system would be transformed for the better. We need our politicians to have the courage and vision for the future. This is one way we can lead the other countries of the UK.

Robert Mitchell

Stirling

ALEX Orr is incorrect to say it’s shocking the Tory party backed semi-fascist Victor Orban over the rest of the EU (Letters, September 15).

The Tories have historically always turned to the European far-right. Winston Churchill spoke in glowing of his admiration for Mussolini. He even once said: “Fascism has rendered a service to the entire world ... If I were Italian, I am sure I would have been with you entirely”.

The desperately pathetic and ludicrous May is being propped up by the DUP, a party of extremists if ever there was one. She is embarrassingly prostrating herself to the unhinged Trump to try to get a trade deal to offset the damage that will be done by Brexit.

We also see the Tories’ Scottish branch welcoming bigots and racists of every stripe into the party. They have even attained elected office.

Fascism is a disease of the mind. It is that plain where internal fears meet the external realities of the world we live in. These fears are projected onto that world and react in such a way as to attempt to shut them down; and this is why those with such a mindset find authoritarian figures so appealing.

The comfort offered by a black-and-white world, albeit a false one, replaces the seemingly chaotic randomness of life. Under the rubric of fascistic thought, all ambiguities, context and nuances are conveniently sponged away. The “other”, whether they be foreign, indigenous or simply different, is scapegoated, then dehumanised, then incarcerated, then exterminated. Empathy is slayed. To the organised fascist, confusion is a supreme virtue. Truth is an enemy met with ridicule, then suppression, then death.

The Tories have adopted an extremist position due to the coming Brexit storm.

Alan Hinnrichs

Dundee

I HAD to do a double-take in Billy Briggs’s article (Police Scotland brand fracking opponents domestic ‘extremists’, September 16) when I read a sentence attributed to former chief constable Phil Gormley. He says “XRW [extreme right-wing] activity in Scotland has been observed over animal rights, particularly in relation to hunt saboteurs.” You might find a few extreme right-wingers among the cruel sports community, but among the sabs themselves? I don’t think so!

Derek Ball

Bearsden