Derek Kitt looks at the current state of music education and finds that consultation holds the key to future success.
When I entered music education some 34 years ago, practically everyone was extolling the virtues of music and the arts in developing the whole person. Some years later, the National Curriculum also ensured an entitlement to a basic music education for all ? or did it? It would be difficult to deny that over the past few years, music learning has been through turbulent times. However, amid the very real problems that the subject has faced, it has survived and in many ways flourished. The one year-old Music Manifesto is already playing its part in focusing the work of music professionals. Music Manifesto Champion Marc Jaffrey recently said, ?We have simply got to get better at telling everyone of the importance of music? we need to celebrate.?
Marc also said, ?Great teaching is often the key to unlocking the power of music? ? how right he is and, in some ways, how good it is to hear that music has at last been recognised as a shortage subject. We need to develop a world-class workforce to provide musical coherence as an entitlement for all young people. That means nurturing, enthusing and encouraging our young people to recognise the wonderful and rewarding future there can be in developing high-quality music learning in future generations. Above all, we need to listen to the young musicians of the future ? whichever career pathway they eventually decide to take, their views simply have to be taken into account when planning musical learning in schools and other formalised learning situations. Of course, we must guide young musicians and offer different, progressive pathways into music, but we must also help them to make their own informed choices ? not impose our own! Open doors, not close them; listen to their needs and aspirations ? and views!
These are exhilarating times for music education ? the Every Child Matters agenda, the Music Manifesto, Wider Opportunities, music industry links, increased Standards Fund support for music services, wider partnership working, Youth Music?s Music Leader programme and so on are really beginning to make a difference. The National Association of Music Educators (NAME) is looking forward to continuing to support and nurture these and many others and ensuring inclusion and access for all ? and continuing to do lots of listening!
Derek Kitt is Chair of the National Association of Music Educators and County Advisor for Music for Cornwall Local Education Authority.
e: dkitt@cornwall.gov.uk
The NAME Conference will take place at The Sage Gateshead from 30 September to 2 October, and will include consultation, discussion and presentation by students. NAME?s new book ?Rites of Passage? on key stages of transition will also be available.
t: 01629 760791;
e: musiceducation@name.org.uk