A petition backed by Nicola Benedetti against plans to end free music tuition in Edinburgh has gained more than 10,000 signatures.
The appeal originally hoped to raise support from 5,000 people in opposition to cuts by Edinburgh City Council to save around £1.7 million in music tuition over the next four years.
A spokeswoman for the council said the plans are not to be introduced until 2017.
Scots violinist Benedetti voiced support for the online petition by Abhinav Jayanty which read: "If this budget cut is put in place, the hundreds of talented and gifted young musicians, ranging from ages of seven right up to 18 across Edinburgh who learn to play a variety of brass, percussion, woodwind and stringed instruments, and learn to sing through their schools could be forced to start paying for their weekly instrumental lessons.
"It could mean an end to the Edinburgh Schools orchestras, ensembles and choirs which music students all over Edinburgh passionately participate in, investing time and effort into attending rehearsals, and go on to play in the biggest concerts in Edinburgh such as the Resonate series at the Queen's Hall and the Fanfare and Childline concerts."
The campaigners also said: "The council has proposed a 75 per cent cut to the budget which funds Edinburgh's instrumental music tuition service and all of the Edinburgh Schools orchestras and ensembles.
"The mental health and neurological benefits that learning an instrument can have are further incentives to retaining a free music service."
Former BBC Young Musician of the Year Bendetti said the move was "heartbreaking".
A spokeswoman for the council said earlier that around 5,000 pupils receive free tuition for a wide range of instruments, adding: "instructors teach in small groups and individual lessons, and contribute to a wide range of school and central orchestras, choirs and ensembles.
“This proposal is not about putting a stop to these lessons, but exploring different ways of providing our music service.
"This could include the concept of a social enterprise model, which would introduce charging but still ensure Edinburgh’s most vulnerable pupils continue to receive free music tuition.
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