School Music - Fighting the cuts

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/sh...hool-recorders

Much of this article is utter rubbish. In general,he young people are told to learn the ukulele (a pathetic instrument) and the recorder is never offered, because the received theory is that they are out of tune (which is untrue - when a group of individuals play together, many will be playing wrong notes, which is not the same thing).

[MrGongGong]

Much of this article is utter rubbish. In general,he young people are told to learn the ukulele (a pathetic instrument) and the recorder is never offered, because the received theory is that they are out of tune (which is untrue - when a group of individuals play together, many will be playing wrong notes, which is not the same thing).

IMV even though I actually DO like the recorder when it's played well
I think it's not a good instrument for youngsters at all as it requires far too much breath control for beginners
the whistle, on the other hand, is much better and "forgiving"

BUT in many schools NO-ONE is learning any instrument at all

)

At least he has the right hand at the top BUT i'm not convinced by the timing in his playing maaaaan

[DracoM]

http://menet.mdw.ac.at/menetsite/english/t_content3_1_1_no.html

Check this out and grieve.

[oddoneout]

Which hand at the top ?

https://www.theguardian.com/music/sh...hool-recorders

I wonder what questions were asked in the YouGov research? The article itself seemed pretty superficial, and didn't even begin to consider the role of cause and effect. If children have no opportunity to hear, see, try "more sophisticated instruments" how can they express an interest in learning them, and even where an interest(a chance contagion perhaps....) might be expressed how many will be able to find out whether it really is something they want to do? I suppose from government point of view the fact that musicians are still being produced in this country is all that matters(assuming any consideration is given to the matter - perhaps when income generation is brought into the discussion). The wider(moral, ethical? anathema to politicians) implications of those able to pursue music(and other arts) only coming from a narrow demographic are happily ignored. The concept of each pupil being given the chance to develop potential beyond the ability to pass a narrow range of exams has been a casualty of the drive for easy targets for cost-cutting.

[cloughie]

I wonder what questions were asked in the YouGov research? The article itself seemed pretty superficial, and didn't even begin to consider the role of cause and effect. If children have no opportunity to hear, see, try "more sophisticated instruments" how can they express an interest in learning them, and even where an interest(a chance contagion perhaps....) might be expressed how many will be able to find out whether it really is something they want to do? I suppose from government point of view the fact that musicians are still being produced in this country is all that matters(assuming any consideration is given to the matter - perhaps when income generation is brought into the discussion). The wider(moral, ethical? anathema to politicians) implications of those able to pursue music(and other arts) only coming from a narrow demographic are happily ignored. The concept of each pupil being given the chance to develop potential beyond the ability to pass a narrow range of exams has been a casualty of the drive for easy targets for cost-cutting.

...and how many schools would encourage and maybe offer tuition in the dreaded electric guitar but wouldn’t know what a piccolo was if it tootled in their lughole?

[DracoM]

Tom Service interrogates the Minister.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_three

The figures Service keeps battering him with are scary and the Minister seems totally unwilling and on message NOT to respond

[MrGongGong]

Tom Service interrogates the Minister.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_three

The figures Service keeps battering him with are scary and the Minister seems totally unwilling and on message NOT to respond

Thanks for this , will have a listen (and probably weep)
I do think our supposed "leaders" are given far too much of an easy ride when they are "interviewed"
more interviews like the Richard Madeley one with Gavin Williamson would be a start

[DracoM]

Or Eddie Mair with almost anyone?

[subcontrabass]

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/dec/13/bradford-music-teacher-shortlisted-for-1m-global-education-prize

I think most of us are aware of the value of music in schools. Nice to see some recognition.

[MrGongGong]

https://www.theguardian.com/educatio...ducation-prize

I think most of us are aware of the value of music in schools. Nice to see some recognition.

[MrGongGong]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47485240

[Keraulophone]

Flashed up very briefly in Times Square, New York a couple of weeks ago. (I only noticed it on reviewing the week's 4000 photos.)

Sadly, this country is not alone. Are we witnessing an increasingly inverse relationship between GNI per capita and p.c. state spending on arts and culture in education, or twas it ever thus in those more enlightened places? Venezuela, Baltic States, Eastern Europe, Kerala...

[Cockney Sparrow]

I'm in despair about a number of issues at the moment, music education certainly, and education resources generally, is but one of them.

If resourcing was decided by polling of a cross section of parents/the public - I suspect music wouldn't be seen as top priority, when we are told spending has to be prioritised - and there is no way to enforce a change to that until 2021, quite possibly not then. Funds per pupil are down by 8% and demands on pupil achievement are increasing. It needs enlightened leadership and budget managers - that means ministers, educational leaders and paymasters all the way down. We haven't got that at the moment, and its difficult to see when we will get it. Those reports can be taken down from the shelf, and may be useful amongst the many others, when there is someone in power who is inclined to listen and agree.

I don't know what is the most constructive thing to do at the moment - support music education in the most needy schools in our area, as best we can? I can't think letters to MPs and ministers about music education are likely to attract much attention at the moment, and amongst the recipients concerned.

[DracoM]

[MrGongGong]

I don't know what is the most constructive thing to do at the moment - support music education in the most needy schools in our area, as best we can? I can't think letters to MPs and ministers about music education are likely to attract much attention at the moment, and amongst the recipients concerned.

One of my current strategies is to try and ensure that any resources or online materials created for projects in education are equally accessible to those youngsters who happen to find themselves in schools with no music provision. This has had limited success, BIG for BCMG and a huge for the ROH who steered one of the best projects for young composers away from this, though maybe with new people in charge things might change?

The other thing one can do is to try and make other musicking available to young people, so instead of assuming that youngsters are catered for by music hubs, I've been trying to get new music and performance by young people into the other gigs and performances that happen. If young people aren't going to encounter an enthusiasm for music at school or home then the rest of us need to do this even more than we do at the moment.

Writing to MPs?
A total waste of time in my experience (though I'm sure if I wanted to send children up chimneys my MP would be right by my side )