Music to their ears

Following a Goverment announcement we hear from NAME about the provision for music teaching in the UK

Following the Government’s recent commitment to the teaching of music - The Importance of Music - A National Plan for Music Education – the National Association of Music Educators (NAME) has welcomed the proposals, describing them as bold and ambitious. Whilst the Plan recognises the importance of music in education and development however NAME has admitted that the implementation of the plan could prove difficult.

A spokesperson for NAME to TP: “This vision is bold in its scope and ambitious in the means that have been set out for its realisation.  Whilst hubs already exist and the principles of partnership-working are well established, the promotion of this model as the vehicle for provision across the country is new.  Much rests on the way in which Arts Council England will work with the Department for Education, the way that arts organisations will work with organisations focused on music education, the way that Music Services and other potential hub leaders will work with schools.  These are all partnerships that have the potential to improve music education for young people.  However, there is no disguising the fact that there is less money available to make this happen, and some bold changes will have to be embraced if the potential improvement is to be realised.”

“There is a particular challenge in the Plan for schools.  On the one hand the Plan recognises the important place of music in the curriculum of all schools, irrespective of the outcome of the National Curriculum Review.  On the other hand, it promotes the provision of music in the classroom as an integral part of how hubs deliver music education to children, to the extent that hubs are required to challenge and support schools to improve their music curriculum.  The challenge is for schools to consider how to integrate their curriculum with that of the hub. This is important both so that children have a seamless experience of music education with access to progression routes within and beyond the school, and also so that the funding of music through schools complements the funding of music education through hubs.”

Of particular interest to NAME is the proposal to develop new primary music initial teacher training (ITT) modules, to be taken either towards the end of ITT courses or as Continuing Professional Development. This is an important step in increasing the expertise and confidence of primary teachers in music. It recognises the contribution made by those with and without specific musical training, and acknowledges the continuing development needs of teachers beyond their initial training as they begin their careers.

For further information contact Helen Fraser on 01629 760791 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)