18/10/2006
The return of singing to every primary school and the creation of local music education hubs are the key objectives of a major new report published today by the Music Manifesto.
Pulling together the views of over 600 organisations and individuals involved in music education, as well as highlighting 3 major pathfinder programme projects in Manchester, London and Gateshead, the main recommendations of the report are:
- To put singing back at the heart of all primary school musical activity through the creation of nationwide singing campaign leading up to the 2012 Olympics
- The creation of local music education hubs - bringing together the skills, experience and resources of schools, music services, local authorities, voluntary and community organisations, musicians and the music industry to maximise the impact and offer quality music making to all children, wherever they live
Launching the report, Music Manifesto Champion Marc Jaffrey , said:
"We are rightly proud of our music education system, but unfortunately the quality of music education on offer depends far too much on where you live. There are pockets of brilliance across the country which need to be replicated on a national scale. By encouraging better co-ordination and use of resources, the hubs will help eradicate this postcode lottery of provision. Alongside that, a national singing campaign will engage millions of children in music making in its most primal, accessible form. I want a firm commitment from everyone involved in music education to make this happen and find the resources needed."
One such pocket of brilliance is in Manchester and Salford, where through the co-ordination of all parties, from the two local councils to music services, schools and the community music sector, every pupil in the cities will be offered a quality music making experience, focussed around singing.
Sue Berry , head of Music Services in Manchester, is in no doubt of the impact better co-ordination and focus has made:
"Visit any school across the city, whatever its status and location, and you will find music having a profound impact, something we have worked really hard to achieve and maintain. It’s all been achieved through joined up effort across the two cities. By pooling our resources, including a fantastic workforce, we have made the sum greater than the parts."
To put the recommendations into place, the report calls for the following action:
- Confirmation of the Music Standards Fund until 2011 to enable music services to participate fully in strengthening and improving music education provision.
- Commission a series of pilot projects to test the viability and key principles of music education hubs and school music federations in 2007/8 with a view to national implementation by 2011.
- Carry out an urgent review to identify sustainable funding for community musicians while music education hubs are being established.
- Implement a national campaign to provide singing for all early years and primary children by 2012, with a significant singing element in the cultural programme of the Olympic Games.
- Introduce an online musical passport scheme to enable young people to record and gain recognition for their individual musical achievements, in and out of school.
- Build on the opportunities offered by such initiatives as the new creative diploma, Musical Futures and the Key Stage 2 music entitlement to extend the music offer to every young person with a particular focus on those who are vulnerable and marginalised.
- Implement a programme of professional development for music educators with a focus on singing within early and primary years settings and the curriculum for the new creative diploma.
Howard Goodall , composer and Chair of the singing workstream for the Music Manifesto, welcomed the recommendations:
"At one time we all sang, in pubs and homes as well as schools. We have lost that collective experience, which I think helped to knit our communities together. It is time to try and bring that back and the best place to start is in primary schools. We would love to see the development of a 21st century songbook for schools, containing songs that every child knew and sang."
Download a PDF of Music Manifesto Report No 2 below (excerpts and summary versions also available) or order a printed copy of the report from:
DfES Publications , PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham, NG15 0DJ
Tel: 0845 60 222 60, Fax: 0845 60 333 60 , Textphone: 0845 60 555 60
Email: dfes@prolog.uk.com
Please quote ref: 03899-2006DOM-EN
ISBN 978-1-84478-820-0 © Crown copyright 2006
You can request multiple copies for your colleagues on a first come first served basis