The Musicians’ Union (MU) is today releasing their third report into the state of music education in England. The report highlights that, in the last year, more instrumental music teachers have lost their jobs or left the profession due to worsening terms and conditions.
Worrying developments due to financial pressures on schools include charges being introduced to teachers for hiring rooms to teach in and fewer pupils being able to access subsidised tuition.
With music education increasingly sidelined as a subject within schools the result is that children in some areas of the country no longer have the same chance to learn an instrument as their counterparts.
The Music Hubs report is based on information gathered from MU members working as instrumental teachers and from the MU’s ‘Hub Reps’, many of whom have been involved in music service restructures.
Diane Widdison, MU National Organiser for Education and Training says:
'This report gives an overall view of the state of the music education profession from the perspective of the workforce including the concerns that our members have about the inconsistency of music education provision across the country due to the varying attitudes of schools and head teachers towards music.
‘The report also, however, highlights some of the very positive work that has been taking place in some areas, with instrumental teachers setting up Co-operatives and independent trusts after facing redundancy. These examples show that it is still possible to continue to provide high quality, accessible and affordable music education delivered by a committed and skilled workforce.
'We will be discussing the findings of the report with politicians and decision makers over the next few months and asking them to make the necessary changes to ensure that music education not only survives, but thrives, and that every child is given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument as was the aspiration of the National Plan for Music Education.'