Huge reduction in school music activity

I WAS disturbed to read the recent report from the Incorporated Society of Musicians, which revealed a huge reduction in school music activity over the last year: nearly 10% of schools are no longer teaching music at all.

This has been obviously effected by Covid.

Plymouth Music Accord is a charity that funds music tuition in secondary schools – where tuition is not free – by arranging the teaching of instruments to groups of children, where this cannot otherwise be afforded.

Many of our projects are still continuing with difficulty and it was particularly inspiring to have received a video of the ensembles at Lipson Community Academy playing Christmas tunes.

These projects are often lifechanging and we are hoping that other schools’ ensembles in the scheme will get up and running in 2021, although like all charities funding is a struggle.

The ISM also point out that the government has not refreshed the 2011 National Plan for Music Education as promised in the autumn. By enabling such action, we aim to equalise opportunities and to help secure the future of music locally. There is a need for a national re-think!

Peter Holt Chairman Plymouth Music Accord