The Music Manifesto is the result of a unique collaboration between the DfES (now DCSF) and DCMS with music organisations, musicians, teachers and composers, the music industry, broadcasting, teacher and musicians' unions, arts and education charities and Trusts.
The Music Manifesto was developed as a result of three seminars led by the then School Standards Minister, David Miliband MP. An internet discussion board was set up to enable ongoing discussion on the developing text and input was also sought from the Music Advanced Skills Teachers network and the wider National Music Education Forum.
At the heart of the Music Manifesto is a desire to see more opportunities in music for more young people – from high quality curriculum tuition to out of school hours youth and garage bands; from composing to live performance, from classical concerts to DJing and gigs.
In its final form, the Music Manifesto offers a strategic direction for the future of music education and a common agenda for joint action. At the time of the launch it had attracted the support of more than 40 organisations, many of whom have already pledged practical activities and resources to support its delivery. There are now over 1800 signatories. We look forward to the development of an even wider partnership over the coming months as more signatories and more pledges come online.