As for Mr Shamble's wholesale condemnation of students on the Newcastle tradmus degree as 'middle-class' with rich parents, he is clearly unaware of one I know who supports herself with three jobs because she has no family to speak of (and not of 'travelling' stock anyway) and receives no financial support whatsoever.

I have of course made such no condemnation of any of these individuals.

My concern is a general one, perhaps not one shared by those who feel such courses to be a good thing but who may not really be too sure why. I tend to think that all higher education should not just be limited to ensuring that students obtain the sort employment advantages they pay for - and which will enable them to later pay back the cost.

Our music has survived pretty well up to now without such things. But I fear that now such things exist I suspect that they will be made to look to be a great success.

At least the future teachers of these subjects coming from these ranks will now have the formal qualifications to enable them to obtain these positions and will no doubt be favoured in the selection process over otherwise perfectly able applicants who may not. For in all truth, apart from this, I can see few other employment opportunities.