Strathclyde University has recently announced plans, which will see the withdrawal of the BA Applied Music (BAAM) course in its entirety. The staff and students at the University feel this is a grave mistake as this course is one of the most sought-after music courses in Scotland. Each year we have in excess of over 400 applicants and only around 30 places. Currently the retention rates of the course stand at almost 100%, and graduates who have gone into jobs all stand at 100%. The facts and figures for the course all speak for themselves and until Thursday 4th February 2010 our course had been advised it would not be subject to cuts within the University.

Our course has some of the finest lecturers in Scotland teaching on it, each with multiple accolades to their name. We have also produced some of the finest musicians in Scotland, in the fields of jazz, celtic, education and more. 

Our course is a diverse course in nature and there is no other course like this in Scotland. If you go up and down the country, you will find BAAM’s in every corner teaching, performing, composing, engineering and any other aspects of music you can think of.

In 2008 UNESCO named Glasgow a City of Music. The aims of the Creative Cities Network are: to promote excellence in all sorts of music from rock to opera, to stimulate interest in musical education, to improve access to music for all ages and social and ethnic backgrounds, and to take part in the global network of UNESCO creative cities. 

The current BA Applied Music course highlights all of these statements and more, in fact to see the demise of the course will only be of the detriment to the city and most certainly will be hinder the Creative Cities Network in achieving their goals. Glasgow city hosts an average of 130 music events per week more than any other Scottish city. On most weeks in Glasgow you will find BAAM’s past and present performing at these events across the city. 

We would urge you to show you support by signing this petition and help us fight against these obscene proposals.

Many Thanks from all the BAAM's past and present for your co-operation!