"Music manifesto" launched

Tuesday, 6 July 2004 12:00 AM

The Government, voluntary groups and the media industry today joined together to launch a "music manifesto" designed to promote music in schools.

The group cites five shared key aims ranging from providing access to music for all children, giving them opportunities to develop skills, identify and nurture the most talented musicians, developing a world class workforce in music education and improving the support structures for young people's music making.

Key signatories to the manifesto include industry groups such as the Royal Opera House, MTV UK and EMI as well as unions like the NUT and the NAHT and voluntary organisations such as the Arts Council England.

Launching the manifesto, Schools Standards Minister David Miliband said today that the music manifesto - backed by £180 million in the ring-fenced Music Standards Fund - would ensure that music remained central to an "enriched and balanced" curriculum.

He said: "Standards and creativity go hand in hand. Music is central to our drive to provide an enriched and balanced curriculum for all school children. The manifesto is a routemap for the future of music in school and by schoolchildren. This is just the start - we expect new pledges and new signatories to come on board this unique collaboration."

The Government backing for the music manifesto is welcomed by many in the creative industry who have been concerned that the focus on literacy and numeracy in the curriculum is squeezing out the creative arts in schools.

NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott, despite welcoming the manifesto, warned that sufficient resources and greater flexibility in the curriculum is needed if the plans are to become reality.

Mr Sinnott said: "The fact that the Government is monitoring implementation of this initiative will provide the information needed to ensure it is effective. If not, the NUT will take the case back to the Government for an examination to establish the causes of failure."

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