Youth Music's Matt Griffiths calls for shake-up in public subsidies
In a wide-ranging debate on the National Plan for Music Education at Music Education Expo last Friday, Matt Griffiths, Executive Director of Youth Music, called for less ‘box-ticking’ and a more sustained approach to music-making under the National Plan for Music Education
Matt raised a question: has the Plan’s emphasis on ensuring that every child should have a music education created a culture of a ‘box-ticking’ and limiting access to ‘short-term hits’? He suggested that the approach was leading to 10-week ‘widening opportunities’ music projects taking the place of regular, sustained and long-term music-making with practical and tangible progression routes. This short-term approach has raised aspirations but leads to the question – what next?
He called for a shake-up in the ways music education is subsidised. He proposed a change in the current business model, with Department for Education funds managed by Arts Council England becoming more restricted in what they are used for, and directed to those most in need.
Arguing that public subsidies should be targeted to where they are most needed in order to maximise impact, rather than as a universal subsidy for all, he said: “More emphasis needs to be placed on targeting funds towards disadvantaged children and young people in challenging circumstances.”
He pointed out that in many cases parents can afford to pay for their children’s music-making and that music continues to be a statutory curriculum entitlement for children and young people at key stages 1, 2 and 3 with an obligation on schools to resource this entitlement adequately. “In this new model, the financial resources of Music Hub lead organisations and partners, both fundraised and trading income, could then be used for other purposes”, he said.
Matt thinks it’s great that we have a National Plan for Music Education but feels that it presents a rather limited and traditional view of music-making. He argued that the Plan should recognise that the making of music takes place in many forms, in different settings and across a diversity of musical styles and traditions. “Recognition of the differences and similarities between these styles explicitly in the National Plan would give license to the sector to do its work with greater confidence, allowing a diversity of music to be celebrated, explored and respected”, he said.
The National Foundation for Youth Music, a national charity, wants to ensure all children and young people are able to inform and progress their music-making despite exclusionary challenges. “Our approach at Youth Music is to address unfairness, inequality and lack of diversity as we advance our vision of a musically inclusive England”, he said.
Youth Music is supported by Arts Council England, People’s Postcode Lottery and by charitable donations.
Photo from B Sharp, a project supported by Youth Music.