The Unsung Heroes

We need to do more to acknowledge all who have a role in helping young people on their musical journeys.

This summer we've heard a lot about athletes achieving excellence, often under extraordinary circumstances. These have frequently been accompanied by touching stories of those who've helped and supported them along their way. It's something we need to address better in music and cultural education.

The people who get up at the crack of dawn to lead training sessions in all weathers, drive across counties in minibuses, give up considerable proportions of their precious free time, holidays and income.These are the people who provide regional and, in turn, national teams with their talent.

Within the new world of Music Education Hub-ery, we need to encourage, reward and then come to expect a working culture in which onward referral (vertical and horizontal) is routinely integrated into provision primarily in the interests of children and young people not just providers.

When you consider that many of those leading these activities are going well beyond a salaried / funded remit, things become more complicated. Hubs and Arts Council relationship managers will need support in making this work.

Organisations helping young people achieve high levels of excellence (including but most certainly not exclusively National Youth Music Organisations / NYMOS)  can only do ‘their thing’ if others have done theirs. They need to remember this and better credit those who precede them. Their 'national' status should, in part, be measured by their ability to interface appropriately with Music Education Hubs and other providers in the regions.

We know that a young person's ability to progress is affected by a number of  'ingredients'.  As you may have heard me say before, many of these are more about attitude and awareness than anything else and transcend grades and the prestige of organisations. They are vital to progression and indeed to the real success of the National Plan for Music Education.

So, whether its National Youth Orchestra, SAMYO, Ealing Community Choir or Scarborough Samba band, let's hear it for, and work harder to integrate, the school teachers, volunteer music group leaders, parents, carers and peers who support young people on their steps towards excellence.