School closure would be 'final nail in the coffin' for musical instrument making

CAMPAIGN TO SAVE COURSES WHERE STUDENTS LEARN CRAFT OF BUILDING VIOLINS AND GUITARS

- By LOUIS CORBETT

PROSPECTIVE, current and past students of the Newark College School of Musical Instrument Craft have started a campaign to stop the historic institution's closure.

Lincoln College ordered that the course be closed down due to declining numbers and as a result of “substantial losses” over the past three years.

As of May 7, students were informed that there would be no new admissions to the musical instrument courses at Newark.

There are four courses to train in the various forms of musical instrument crafting - violin making, guitar making, piano technician training and woodwind specialist training.

While current students are able to complete their courses, foundation-year students hoping to start their three-year degree have been told they are no longer able to.

Students have told the Post that the loss of this musical crafts school could be a “final nail in the coffin” for instrument-making due to the school’s international prominence and accessibility.

While there are alternatives for the students, they are often expensive and are also not degree qualifications, prohibiting students from accessing student finance.