In an interview with the BBC in December 2016, Dr Owain Arwel Hughes, founder of the Welsh Proms, and a former conductor at the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, explained that cuts to school music services, and a consequent lack of tuition opportunities, were causing what he described as a crisis in Welsh music education. Dr Hughes's concerns were also reflected in the committee's public poll. In the summer of 2016, we asked the public to vote on what our next inquiry should be. Out of the 11 options, funding for and access to music education came top.

The benefits of music education are not only for Wales's culture and heritage. Music education has so many positive impacts on a child’s development. Again and again, we were told by those giving evidence that, by being taught music in their schools, in their formative years, they learned the value of such things as prolonged commitment, patience, and hard work—and discipline. The brass section of many an orchestra across Wales will understand why they need discipline—I don't need to tell them here today. These are qualities that, once acquired, could be used in any number of fields and disciplines.