Stepping into Music supports the Music Education Council's Campaign to protect Music Education
Tuesday 12 October 2010
The Music Education Council's campaign to protect music education focuses on the following:
Message 1: Young people’s music making in the UK sets the standard for the rest of the world
Young people’s music making in the UK is world-class because it is in every school curriculum and supported by music services and other structures including the Music and Dance Scheme and Youth Music Action Zones. These structures need to be protected and supported with targeted funding from central and local government if we are to maintain our world-class reputation for music making and the existing pathways from beginner to expert.
Message 2: Music education in the UK improves attainment in other areas such as numeracy and literacy. It also brings communities together.
Music contributes uniquely to achieving literacy and numeracy targets and should be part of a broad and balanced school curriculum. Music is also intrinsically important. Music making benefits people of all ages and brings communities together: it promotes the development of emotional intelligence and social skills. It has a vital role in supporting and developing vulnerable, disadvantaged and disabled people.
Message 3: Music education is backed by the public
Ninety-one per cent of adults agree that every child should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument in school and more than three in four members of the public back the current level of ring-fenced funding arrangements.
Message 4: Music education underpins our economy
Music education helps generate the workforce and audience for the creative arts which last year contributed towards 10% of GDP and were the only (non-public) sector to grow during the recession.
91% of adults agree that every child should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument in school.
More than three quarters of UK adults support the current level of public funding for music education.
Source: YouGov (2010)
http://www.mec.org.uk/
