A student body from Newark’s School of Musical Instrument Crafts, on Kirkgate, has launched a petition calling on Lincoln College to reverse its recent decision to suspend student intake.
Students and alumni have joined forces to save Newark’s violin school after the announcement that it would not be taking on new degree students.
A group of students from Newark’s School of Musical Instrument Crafts, on Kirkgate, has launched a petition calling on Lincoln College to reverse its recent decision to suspend student intake.
Last Thursday (May 8), the school, which is one of the very few dedicated facilities in the country, cancelled BA (Hons) programmes in violin, guitar, piano, or woodwind making and repair, due to low application numbers.
The school, which first opened in 1972 by Lord Yehudi Menuhin, is part of Newark College under the Lincoln College Group, and the courses were validated by the University of Hull.
Existing degree students will be able to continue the course they’re enrolled on, but current foundation course students and other applicants will not be enrolled next year.
A statement from the student body said: “We were devastated to hear that no new students will be accepted.
“Many of us chose Newark because of its world-class reputation.
“This decision risks eroding skills and knowledge which should be preserved for future generations as part of the UK’s cultural heritage.”
Current students, alumni, and industry professionals are urging Lincoln College and the University of Hull to honour existing offers made to incoming students and allow them to begin their studies as planned; to secure the short and long-term future of all four instrument craft qualifications and to maintain accessibility through continued funding and clear progression pathways for students from all backgrounds.
The petition, which was started by foundation student Floyd Elgar but managed by the students, reads: “This decision leaves students currently in their foundation year without a way to continue on the course, as well as preventing any new students from joining either the foundation or first year on any pathway.
“If this is allowed to happen, the schools will be starved of future funding, deter potential future applicants, and ultimately endanger their very existence.
“The loss of these courses will have a profound and devastating effect on not only the instrument-making community, but also on the global music industry as a whole.
“Put simply, if there are no instrument makers, there are no instruments.”
The school has a lot of history, including a cello that was made and presented to the then-Prince Charles when he visited the school in 1982.
The student body added: “The school has trained generations of highly skilled craftspeople.
“The sudden suspension threatens not only the future of the courses but also the continuation of fine craft skills in the UK.”
Many supporters of the petition have written of their own experiences of studying at the college, and what a loss the facility will be to the music industry.
A supporter of the petition wrote: “It's devastating that Lincoln College places so little value on these courses which are so important to the entire music industry.
“These courses should be protected and upheld to ensure the continuity of the skills and knowledge held there.
“Lincoln College should be proud to host these courses, but instead, they've demonstrated that they don't care about cultural heritage or skills.”
Another supporter who signed the online petition wrote: “Both the staff and students of the musical instrument crafting course are lovely people that are well known and have left their mark in the Newark community, with a strong passion for their craft, and deep interests in music - much like most of Newark, who appreciate live bands and musical events throughout the year.
“Losing the course would be devastating to the individuals that take part, and also damaging to the community in general.”
A piano tuner and technician who trained at Newark Piano School from 2016 to 2019 and currently has his own ‘thriving’ business in Sheffield wrote: “I would not be where I am today without my education there.
“The school offers the only long-term full-time course in piano tuning, restoration and repair in the country, and is vital for the continued education of musical instrument technicians.”
Lincoln College assistant principal Melanie Watson said that for the last three years, the Musical Instrument Craft has run at ‘substantial loss’ and that redesigning the programme will better meet student and employer needs and improve financial stability.
She added: “It has also been communicated by expert tutors that the degree being replaced by a full-cost programme would actually better fit with the industry and students’ needs as it means less theory and more time ‘at bench’ which teaches our students a wider set of skills.”
“In this regard, we have been exploring how we can deliver the same important course content through other more flexible costing options.
“This does mean that learners will not have access to student finance and so we are all keen to work with them to design new delivery models but also encourage companies or individual entrepreneurs to support the school with sponsorships and funding.”
The college said they remain committed to the small number of affected students and that current learners on their Level Five and Level Six courses will be supported with no change to their courses.
According to the college, there are four students who are being directly affected by a potential single course closure and another 13 who have secured places.
Mrs Watson concluded: “We empathise with the current cohorts of students who have justified concerns regarding their contemporaries’ future careers and prospects.
“These alternatives are being explored, and we recognise that these courses are held in high regard by the town and internationally through the music world.”
