21/11/2007
Today's news is ultra positive for the members of the Music Manifesto Partnership and Advocacy Group (MMPAG). It shows that the government shares our goals and that the Music Manifesto is really setting the agenda, with today's announcements coming out of recommendations in the MM Report No.2.
It goes to prove that the MMPAG's work from now on will really count, so what do its members think?
Darren Henley, MMPAG Chairman (pictured): "This is great news for children and great news for the future of music-making. We're delighted to see that the government has responded so positively to so many of the areas highlighted by the Music Manifesto. We've come a long way on our journey to make every child's music matter and we're looking forward to building the partnership and alliances to help to make our aspirations a reality in the years ahead".
Dick Hallam, Oxfordshire Music Service: "This is fantastic news. Today's announcement gives young people the best musical opportunities we could have hoped for. The Music Manifesto team have done us proud. It is now up to all of us involved in music education to repay the trust the government has shown in us by delivering for young people."
John Stephens, Deputy Director of Children's Services, Salford: 'Today's announcement of significant funding for music is great news for children, schools, families and communities. In committing these substantial resources, there is a clear recognition of the transformational power of music in people's lives.'
Nick Howdle, Sound Connections: "It's great to see that the government is putting substantial commitment behind music education and that it is embracing the Music Manifesto's recommendations. What we, on the Music Manifesto Partnership and Advocacy Group and those providing music opportunities for young people across the country need to get to grips with now is the detail. How will the criteria attached to this money really drive forward the Manifesto's recommendations and address the challenges they raise on the ground in boroughs and communities across the country? We know that music learning takes place in many places other than school and well beyond school hours. We must surely now expect this important funding announcement to properly resource a range of provision and real partnership from those different providers so that their offer to young people is itself a response to young people's needs, cultures and aspirations."
Sara Conway, British Music Rights: "This is a great step forward, not only for music-making in the UK, but also as a strong endorsement of the power of music to transform lives. British Music Rights is proud to have been closely involved with the Music Manifesto from its inception. As the voice for composers, songwriters and music publishers, we look forward to continuing our work with Manifesto partners on the development of creative enterprise initiatives to promote as engaging and relevant an offer in music education as possible."
Paul McManus, Music Industries Association: "The Music Industries Association welcomes the government's ongoing commitment to music making in our schools. The combination of Sing Up! and the additional support for musical instrument provision is a positive and creative step towards the commitment for all school children to have their entitlement to experience the wonderful world of singing and playing music"
Graeme Smith, Croydon Music Service: "We have been given a once in a generation opportunity to embed all the benefits that music can bring for young people and for our society. Not only does the announcement give security of funding for us to build on the work of the last few years, it also encourages us all to follow the principles of the Music Manifesto and work together. For every child to benefit we need to use this momentum to draw additional financial support and ownership of the value of music in education from local authorities and schools. We also need to look to the future so that the opportunities we can now give for children in primary schools to start their musical journey can be developed. This will mean finding a way to address inequalities in funding which still exist."
Leonora Davies, education consultant: "The Music Manifesto Report No 2 set out a clear and detailed agenda for the music education profession. This funding announcement, considerably more than we have ever had before, demonstrates the government's commitment to supporting that work and provides us with further encouragement and impetus in order to take this work forward. It acknowledges the fact that music making (both instrumental provision and singing) should be part of every child's educational entitlement both in and out of school. I hope that the profession will rally behind this unprecendented commitment on the part of government, professional musicians whatever their background, the entire teaching profession including head teachers as well as parents and work together to ensure that by 2011 we can demonstrate that these goals are achievable."