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NEWS F NEWS IN BRIEF The Association of British Orchestras has launched a campaign calling for the British government to invest in music education. #AnOrchestraInEverySchool seeks for every school in the UK to either have an orchestra of its own or access to one. The campaign was launched on 5 February at the ABO’s national conference. tinyurl.com/3xhhsap4 There is still time to take the survey for Growing Musicians, Shaping Lives, the campaign launched by Music Teacher and Gramophone magazines to champion the importance of music education for everyone (see March MT, p. 9). The deadline is 31 March. tinyurl.com/3wzt4ky8 The Ivors Academy has appointed Keith Ayling as its Chair of Education. Ayling is Professor of Songwriting in Music Education at Leeds Conservatoire and a mentor for emerging artists. He is the founder of multiple music and arts initiatives, including shanty group Saltburn Smugglers, who combine performance with songwriting education across Yorkshire. He worked with the Music Teachers Association for 15 years. Lincolnshire Music Service (LMS) is hosting a CPD session for primary and special schools teachers on 3 April from 9.30am–3.30pm in Cherry Willingham. The theme is Practical approaches to composing; organisation, resources, using your space. The event is free to partnership schools. For further details of this and other LMS CPD events, visit tinyurl.com/yef53dna Music education faces ‘black hole’ of £161.4m IN / VER STOCK ADOBE Delivering the NPME requires adequate funding Nearly £162m additional funding is needed for music education over the next five years, according to a report published on 4 February. ‘Facing the Music: meeting the ambitions of the National Plan for Music Education’ was commissioned by the cross-party think tank Demos in partnership with Music Mark, the UK association for music education. It outlines the costs of delivering the refreshed National Plan for Music Education (NPME2) and the challenges that need to be overcome in the process. and the creative arts squeezed out of schools A lack of appropriate local venues, limiting performance opportunities for children and young people in certain parts of the country The report also presents five recommendations for the government to deliver the NPME: 1 Boost funding to help music hubs deliver music education for all by meeting their £32.3m annual cost – just 0.03% of the total UK education spend 2 Liberate music hubs from The report estimates that over the course of the next five years an additional £161.4m (£32.3m per annum) will need to be found to cover new and hidden costs of regional music hubs, partnerships of music services, music departments, venues, clubs and other organisations. Among the issues identified were: Inflation causing cost challenges across the board, including pressures on staff salaries and increased venue hire A shortage of specialist music teachers School accountability measures and the EBacc (English Baccalaureate), seeing music restricted funding and reporting constraints, with greater flexibility on how the Capital Grant can be used 3 Restore the essential place of music education in schools, dialling back accountability measures that squeeze the arts out of music education and offering more generous bursaries for music education specialists 4 Mobilise support from the wider music sector and industry 5 Rejuvenate ‘cultural deserts’ through targeted local investment, simplified funding arrangements, and an investment in community spaces, including venues. The report’s data was drawn from a survey, from Arts Council England, and from workshops with those delivering the NPME in schools and music hubs. The NPME was launched in 2011 and last updated in 2022. Its ambitions are shared by the present government, with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer vowing to ‘reverse the degrading of creative arts and music’. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has criticised previous governments for turning areas of the country into ‘cultural deserts’ and has pledged to ‘turbocharge’ the creative industries, which in 2023 contributed £7.6bn to the UK economy, including £4.6bn in export revenues, and supported 216,000 jobs. Billy Huband-Thompson, Lead Researcher at Demos and co-author of the report, said: ‘Through our research, we have heard how music leaders and teachers are going out of their way to provide an excellent music education. However, too often their work is held back by funding constraints, staffing shortages and workload challenges. ‘Music is too often a peripheral part of children and young people’s education, with pupils’ background and where they grow up shaping the opportunities they can access … the government needs to step up its financial commitment and put music education at the heart of school life.’ Bridget Whyte, CEO of the subject association Music Mark, added: ‘Unless there is a realistic revenue grant, the ability to continue to address spiralling staff, venue, equipment and transport costs while meeting the aim of musical opportunities being available to every child cannot be realised.’ To read the full report, visit tinyurl.com/55pv9ydf 6 F April 2025 F MUSIC TEACHER www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk
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F NEWS Protest against threat to close School of Music Hundreds of musicians, students and alumni gathered in Cardiff on 22 February in protest at proposed music course closures and cuts at the university. During the demonstration, various music ensembles gave public performances at the city’s Gorsedd Gardens to champion Welsh music-making. On 28 January the university announced plans to cut 400 full-time jobs amid a funding shortfall. Professor Wendy Larner, vice-chancellor of the university, defended the plan, saying the university would become ‘untenable’ without drastic reform. Difficult decisions were needed due to declining international student numbers and increasing cost pressures. The university said the cuts were only a proposal at this stage and that it was committed to an intake for the coming academic year. Current students will be able to finish their degrees. Music is one of several subjects under threat at the university, with nursing, modern languages, ancient history, religion and theology courses also targeted. The university’s announcement has received widespread criticism from leading musicians and academics. Cardiff University has produced leading musicians and ambassadors for Welsh culture, among them composers Sir Karl Jenkins, Grace Williams, Alun Hoddinott, David John Roche and Philip Cashian. The School of Music also enjoys an international reputation for research and instrumental teaching. Institutions and professional bodies, including the Musicians’ Union, ISM, National Youth Arts Wales, Royal Musical Association, Welsh National Opera and Welsh Music Guild, have released statements Cardiff University School of Music alumnus Karl Jenkins, whose music was sung at the demonstration condemning the proposal. An open letter opposing the closure was signed by luminaries of the arts and music world, including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. The demonstration was organised by the Committee of Concerned Musicians, on behalf of Cardiff University Music Students and Alumni. A petition to save the School of Music has so far reached over 25,000 signatures: to view and sign, visit tinyurl.com/jwczwd7a W E L S H G O V E R N M E N T / L L Y W O D R A E T H C Y M R U / W I K I P E D I A NYMO lose more than £0.5m in funding The National Youth Music Organisations (NYMO) are to lose their £525,000 grant from the Department for Education. The DfE’s current grant, which was due to expire in March 2025, will not be renewed. NYMO will not be immediately impacted, because Arts Council England (ACE) has agreed to cover the funding gap in 2025–26. The DfE’s decision has prompted a letter from the Independent Society of Musicians to Minister of State for Education Catherine McKinnell. ISM CEO Deborah Annetts said: ‘Although the ISM and many in the sector have been encouraged by the warm words on music education from the Labour Government and proactive decisions such as those on TPS for music hubs, hubs are still waiting for confirmation of their funding past 31 August 2025, and this decision to remove funding from the NYMO seems at odds with public announcements from ministers in both the DfE and DCMS on music education. It also runs counter to the government’s growth strategy where the creative industries are a key part of the industrial strategy.’ NYMO represent 15 youth music organisations including national level bands, orchestras, choirs and other ensembles in a diversity of genres and musical traditions. The DfE decision comes at a time when the government has announced the new £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector. tinyurl.com/4rh4j85y NEWS IN BRIEF HMDT Music has announced its 30th anniversary. Though independent from Hackney Council since 2012, it still runs a vibrant music programme in the borough as well as expanding projects nationwide. The anniversary celebrations open with a concert on 17 May marking the eve of VE Day. More details in the next issue of MT. tinyurl.com/ywpjj92h The 14th International Conference for Research in Music Education will be held online from 22–25 April 2025. Keynote speakers include Mary L. Cohen, Lori Dolloff, WaiChung Ho, Stefan Östersjö and Jessica Pitt. Presentations will cover a wide range of topics relating to teaching, among them diversity, technology, pedagogy, the use of AI, teacher practice, student behaviour, the relationship between institutions, policy and community music, and the purpose of music education at KS3. Fee: £105 (£55 for full-time students / unwaged delegate (proof required)). Contact rime2025@easychair. org; tinyurl.com/337pn5er The Musicians’ Union is holding a one-day conference for music educators on 28 April at the Studio, Glasgow. The programme will focus on practical CPD and wellbeing, as well as networking, live music and updates from the MU. Workshops include: Vocal health and melodies for the mind; Strengthening the tools of mind during adolescence; Figurenotes by Drake Music Scotland; Djembe drumming; and Wellbeing and high performance in life and work. The event is open to members and non-members alike. tinyurl.com/2xb2644v www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk MUSIC TEACHER F April 2025 F 7

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NEWS F

NEWS IN BRIEF

The Association of British Orchestras has launched a campaign calling for the British government to invest in music education. #AnOrchestraInEverySchool seeks for every school in the UK to either have an orchestra of its own or access to one. The campaign was launched on 5 February at the ABO’s national conference. tinyurl.com/3xhhsap4

There is still time to take the survey for Growing Musicians, Shaping Lives, the campaign launched by Music Teacher and Gramophone magazines to champion the importance of music education for everyone (see March MT, p. 9). The deadline is 31 March. tinyurl.com/3wzt4ky8

The Ivors Academy has appointed Keith Ayling as its Chair of Education. Ayling is Professor of Songwriting in Music Education at Leeds Conservatoire and a mentor for emerging artists. He is the founder of multiple music and arts initiatives, including shanty group Saltburn Smugglers, who combine performance with songwriting education across Yorkshire. He worked with the Music Teachers Association for 15 years.

Lincolnshire Music Service (LMS) is hosting a CPD session for primary and special schools teachers on 3 April from 9.30am–3.30pm in Cherry Willingham. The theme is Practical approaches to composing; organisation, resources, using your space. The event is free to partnership schools. For further details of this and other LMS CPD events, visit tinyurl.com/yef53dna

Music education faces ‘black hole’ of £161.4m

IN

/ VER

STOCK

ADOBE

Delivering the NPME requires adequate funding

Nearly £162m additional funding is needed for music education over the next five years, according to a report published on 4 February.

‘Facing the Music: meeting the ambitions of the National Plan for Music Education’ was commissioned by the cross-party think tank Demos in partnership with Music Mark, the UK association for music education. It outlines the costs of delivering the refreshed National Plan for Music Education (NPME2) and the challenges that need to be overcome in the process.

and the creative arts squeezed out of schools A lack of appropriate local venues, limiting performance opportunities for children and young people in certain parts of the country

The report also presents five recommendations for the government to deliver the NPME: 1 Boost funding to help music hubs deliver music education for all by meeting their £32.3m annual cost – just 0.03% of the total UK education spend 2 Liberate music hubs from

The report estimates that over the course of the next five years an additional £161.4m (£32.3m per annum) will need to be found to cover new and hidden costs of regional music hubs, partnerships of music services, music departments, venues, clubs and other organisations.

Among the issues identified were:

Inflation causing cost challenges across the board, including pressures on staff salaries and increased venue hire A shortage of specialist music teachers School accountability measures and the EBacc (English Baccalaureate), seeing music restricted funding and reporting constraints, with greater flexibility on how the Capital Grant can be used 3 Restore the essential place of music education in schools,

dialling back accountability measures that squeeze the arts out of music education and offering more generous bursaries for music education specialists 4 Mobilise support from the wider music sector and industry 5 Rejuvenate ‘cultural deserts’

through targeted local investment, simplified funding arrangements, and an investment in community spaces, including venues.

The report’s data was drawn from a survey, from Arts Council England, and from workshops with those delivering the NPME in schools and music hubs.

The NPME was launched in 2011 and last updated in 2022. Its ambitions are shared by the present government, with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer vowing to ‘reverse the degrading of creative arts and music’. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has criticised previous governments for turning areas of the country into ‘cultural deserts’ and has pledged to ‘turbocharge’ the creative industries, which in 2023 contributed £7.6bn to the UK economy, including £4.6bn in export revenues, and supported 216,000 jobs.

Billy Huband-Thompson, Lead Researcher at Demos and co-author of the report, said: ‘Through our research, we have heard how music leaders and teachers are going out of their way to provide an excellent music education. However, too often their work is held back by funding constraints, staffing shortages and workload challenges.

‘Music is too often a peripheral part of children and young people’s education, with pupils’ background and where they grow up shaping the opportunities they can access … the government needs to step up its financial commitment and put music education at the heart of school life.’

Bridget Whyte, CEO of the subject association Music Mark, added: ‘Unless there is a realistic revenue grant, the ability to continue to address spiralling staff, venue, equipment and transport costs while meeting the aim of musical opportunities being available to every child cannot be realised.’

To read the full report, visit tinyurl.com/55pv9ydf

6 F April 2025 F MUSIC TEACHER

www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk

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