That was the assurance from a council education boss this week.

But the group fighting the cuts says it will not change the ultimate outcome, and has vowed to continue its campaign to make the council change its mind.

In a statement issued this week, Councillor Douglas Chapman, chairman of the region's education committee, said: "The 25 per cent reduction will be applied after the end of term.

''This reduces the impact on the music service for the coming financial year.

"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."

However Mark Robertson, one of those behind the campaign to 'Help Save Fife's Instrumental Teachers' which has a facebook following now numbering more than 2500 people, as well as a website 'Save the Music' with an on-line petition, says the issue is being used for political points scoring.

"We did not want this to become party political, but it has," said Mark, who has been through the region's music system and is currently waiting to start at a prestigious conservatoire in September.

"It is supposed to be about allowing children in Fife to develop their musical skills and not about politics.

"Councillor Chapman has not said the cuts won't happen, he is just saying they are being deferred, and that is not good enough.

"We have a lot of backing from a lot of influential people in Fife and further afield, and we will continue to fight until action is taken.

"Surely there are cuts in the management of other departments which could be made to save this money."

A musical demonstration is being planned at Fife House on April 8 during the school Easter holidays.

Labour has described the SNP announcement as a "minor stay of execution."

Councillor Mark Hood, Labour's finance spokesman, said: "There were real alternatives – not just for music but to prevent the loss of 24 posts in maths and english secondary teachers, the cut of 15 per cent wages in school support staff, and the cuts to devolved schools budget.

"They should be looking at waste, bureaucracy and spending millions celebrating Fife and employing a whole team cultural workers.

"They got it completely wrong and the people of Fife know it."

Teachers warned: Fife's teachers have been warned to be careful in becoming involved in campaigning.

Teaching union the EIS says that while it will fully support its members facing redundancy, they should be aware of their code of conduct.

A spokesman said: "We understand their anger and that many wish to register that anger publicly but we would also draw their attention to the employee code of conduct.''

And he added: ''We would note that responsibility for this situation lies solely in the hands of Fife Council. Other Scottish local authorities have not gone down the road of attacking the delivery of music to our young people.

"We are clear that the teachers of instrumental music have a central role in preparing our young people for national examinations in music.
''How will that be addressed if this cut proceeds?"