[ad_1]
UK Music has invited Chancellor Philip Hammond to order an "urgent examination" of music education in public schools.
The organization's chief executive, Michael Dugher, said the future of music in the UK could have "potentially catastrophic consequences" if the government does not act.
Expressing his concerns in a letter to Mr. Hammond on October 29 before his budget, Mr. Dugher warned that an "alarming" decline in the use of music in public schools was threatening the " talent pool "in the British music industry.
Ensuring the access of children from all walks of life to music in our public education system is critical to the continued success of the British music industry.
Michael Dugher, British music
The letter said: "The music industry contributes £ 4.4 billion to the economy and has grown by 6% in the last five years. Exports increased 13% to 2.5 billion pounds sterling. Ensuring the access of children of all backgrounds to music in our public education system is critical to the continued success of the British music industry. "
Mr. Dugher highlighted a recent report by UK Music that 17% of music creators were enrolled in fee-paying schools, compared with 7% of the general population, and that 50% of children in schools independent students received a sustained musical education, the figure for public schools was only 15%.
He added that the report "also revealed growing evidence of a spiral of decline regarding participation in music in our schools".
"This is jeopardizing our talent portfolio and could potentially jeopardize the important contribution of music to UK plc," he said.
"We fully recognize that the music industry must play a leading role in promoting talent.
"But the government can also play a vital role. An urgent government study on funding music in our public education system could help identify current problems and what we need to do together to solve them.
"If we do not act now, we might look back in the years ahead and think about a time when music in our schools would be left behind, with potentially catastrophic consequences for the contribution. cultural and economic music to our country. . "
Stars in the music industry, including Ed Sheeran and Andrew Lloyd Webber, have already voiced their concerns about cuts in music education.
Sheeran said last month: "I have benefited immensely from public school music, like many other British musicians.
"If you continue to cut funding for the arts, you're going to hurt one of Britain's most lucrative and lucrative exports."
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education said: "The idea that the government should review its investment in music financing is not justified, since between 2016 and 2020, we are investing close to half a billion pounds in arts and music programs. subject outside PE and Sport.
"And just today, the figures from a new report show that a record number of children – more than 700,000 – have learned to play a musical instrument with their clbad thanks to the 120 music centers set up. by this government. "
Press Association
[ad_2]
Source link
