There are many ways to promote music, just like there are many ways to learn music. One need not get a college degree in music unless one expects to get something for it, ie a job working for an agency or organization which promotes the music, or wishes to teach in the schools.

University programmes are job training, not music training.

That said, of course I wish the students good luck with their programmes. Of course I with them good luck in the job market. Of course I wish them good luck with their music endeavors. But that doesn't mean I don't view the recent development of traditional music programmes in British and Irish and American universities with a bit of healthy cynicism about what it means to traditional music outside the academy and other bureaucratic institutions.

It sounds to me Tom, like you are putting a New Labour spin on things.