Young person's verdict on the National Plan for Music Education
We asked Josh Smith, Wired4Music member and Sound Connections Representative, for his view on the Government’s plans for music education.
As a young Londoner, there are a lot of merits to the (long overdue) National Plan for Music Education. The plan is commendable in its aspirations to offer every school child the chance to learn an instrument, and its commitment to countering the current inequalities in music-making provisions across the nation. It is also positive to see continued support of bold programmes like Sistema England and In Harmony.
However, the scheduled budget cuts will inevitably impact the services available to young people, potentially jeopardising Music Education Hubs' abilities to deliver the Government’s aims.
I believe that if school children are to be given the chance to learn an instrument for free, the opportunity needs to last a full academic year. If limited to just a term, then students will only be tackling the real basics of their instrument and it is unlikely they will be engaged and inspired.
The extension of the Take It Away scheme is a welcome concession, although the price of more expensive instruments will still be prohibitive for some, making it impossible to continue learning.
The plan sensibly recommends that Music Education Hubs raise extra funding from partnerships with charities and private funding - however, this has serious limitations: Hubs in more affluent local authorities will find it easier to secure funding than Hubs in poorer areas, damaging the plan’s aim for an equal experience for all.
I fear that due to so much being dependent on the upcoming National Curriculum review, the real effects of the plan are as of yet unclear. This could put off potential Music Education Hubs from making applications and there is no mention of what will happen in the instance of funders deciding that none of the applications made in an area meet the necessary criteria.
The plan should mean a greater variety of options for young people in London, but it remains to be seen whether the voices of schools and young people will be heard when diverted by yet another obstacle in their contact to government.
Josh Smith, January 2012
Josh Smith is a Wired4Music member and newly appointed Sound Connections Representative sitting on the organisation’s advisory group. Josh is a performing musician and has been an active member of the council for over a year.