SCHOOL orchestras could be forced to wind down when music tuition fees rise next term, claims an anxious Stourport parent.

Graham Powell says he will have to pay almost £100 a year extra in order for his 10-year-old son Jack to continue with his trumpet lessons.

He says the lesson rate at Burlish Middle School in Stourport will be £5.25 per lesson and instrument hire will cost £28 per term. This will be a total of £257.25, compared to £174 Mr Powell currently pays for Jack's lessons.

"The result will undoubtedly be that many parents will not be able to afford these fees and their children will not improve in their chosen instrument," said Mr Powell, who lives in Burlish Park, Stourport.

"Other parents have voiced concerns that if they can't afford lessons children won't learn and the brass band will fold."

The instrumental music service (IMS) is run by Worcestershire County Council to provide music tuition and instrument hire within its schools.

Schools can either let the IMS carry out the administration or can cut costs to parents and do it themselves.

In the past Burlish Middle School has opted to carry out the administration itself.

"We could have opted to do it this year but we chose not to," said Joseph Tindall, headteacher at the school.

"The county is now doing it for us."

There are 140 teachers who offer tuition for a broad range of musical instruments.

"We've been listening to schools and we've tried to respond to their concerns," said Chris Stowell, head of the IMS.

"The latest information circulated shows quite clearly that, in comparison with other local providers, we offer schools better value and more flexibility in our options for charging, as well as the added value of our inexpensive instrument hire scheme."