That was the pledge from Councillor Douglas Chapman, chairman of Fife Council's education and children services committee, this week.

He also promised that all other options will be looked at to reduce any impact on music services.

The move came following mounting criticism against a decision by Fife Council to cut the extra curricular music budget.

Councillor Chapman's comments came in the wake of a campaign on Facebook condemning the reduction, which was outlined in the administration budget last month.

It had revealed plans to shed a quarter of the Kingdom's 75 extra curricular instrumental teaching posts in the coming year and the same again in 2011-12, saving the local authority around £835,000 over the next two years.

But now Councillor Chapman appears to have backtracked on the proposals, following discussions with education management and senior councillors.

He said: "I can confirm that no change will take place between now and the end of the schools term in the summer.

"The 25 per cent reduction will be applied after the end of term.

"This in effect reduces the impact on the music service for the coming financial year.

"As agreed by Fife Council we will proceed with a review of the overall music service over the next 12 months to see if music tuition can be delivered using a more efficient model and perhaps with the benefit of sponsorship or other financial support."

More than 2500 people have now signed up to the Facebook group, Help Save Fife Instrumental Teachers!

It claims reducing the Kingdom's music service could see the end of groups like Fife Youth Orchestra, Fife Concert Band and the Kingdom Fiddlers, as well as the demise of Fife Festival of Music.

Members are planning a musical protest outside Fife Council's headquarters in Glenrothes on April 8.

Read more in the Fife Herald and St Andrews Citizen