Sir, - As a former director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, I write concerning an aspect of the recently published PIANO report, which gives me much concern.
Your Music Critic has rightly observed that the review group strayed widely from its original brief. In so doing it has seen fit to include in its report a substantial section on music education, an issue, which by its own admission in the report's introduction, is outside the review group's terms of reference.
Having decided to enter this territory, unsolicited so to speak, the music education section appears to be not a reasoned and objective document, but rather a parading of various hobby horses favoured by the review group, which have not been sufficiently thought through in all their implications.
I should like to take up two points with reference to the establishment of an Irish academy of the performing arts (IAPA), by quoting twice from page 54 of the report. (1) "Financially the most economical way of setting up such an academy would be to amalgamate the third level sections of the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) and the DIT College of Music. Existing Government funds to the third level sections of the institutions could be diverted to the new IAPA."
Does this mean that the RIAM and the DIT College of Music are to be subjected to a reduction in the grant aid they receive from the Department of Education; are to be deprived of all the third level teaching they currently engage in and hope to engage in; are to be restricted in their teaching to first and second levels only; and are to be allotted the role of `feeder' colleges to the IAPA?
(2) "PIANO has been informed that there is a feeling within the Dublin Institute of Technology that it is not its function to run courses at first and second levels. If so, then there is a strong case for amalgamating the first and second levels of both music institutions also." Does this mean that the RIAM takes over the DIT College of Music, or vice versa, or does it mean that both of these bodies are to be subsumed into a new music institution, teaching first and second levels only and acting as a "feeder" college to the IAPA? Like Lady Bracknell, I merely require information!
Personally I am deeply distrustful of monolithic structures. Educational diversity and choice are, by and large, much healthier and better for the student and the public, than an educational monopoly. There would need to be compelling reasons indeed, to accept than an Irish academy of the performing arts should be set up at the expense of the funding the academic freedom, the status, and possibly the continued existence, of other long standing music institutions.
A serious, in depth examination of music education in this country is long overdue, but let such an examination be undertaken calmly, with detachment and with due authority. - Yours, etc
Shelbourne Road,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.