British public backs music education

NINETY-ONE per cent of adults in Britain want children to have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument at school, according to research from the Incorporated Society of Musicians.

The musicians' professional body commissioned YouGov to survey 2,095 people online in a representative sample of all adults in Great Britain.

People from all backgrounds were strongly in favour of giving children the chance to learn an instrument, with 90% or more support in all age groups and social grades.

ISM Chief Executive, Deborah Annetts, will announce the findings in her keynote speech, entitled 'Fighting for the future', at the Music Learning Live conference in Manchester on Friday 26 February. She said:

'These results are overwhelming evidence that people in Britain are hugely supportive of our world-class music education system. Now is the moment for us to speak up loudly and proclaim just how good music education is in this country and how much support it has.'

'In a time of political and economic uncertainty with the threat of cuts, we need to fight for the importance of music education. We now know that the public is unquestionably behind us.'

'Reasonable cost'

The ISM survey also found that 77% of respondents think the cost of central government funding for music lessons in England is reasonable.

The government contributes £82.5 million to music education through the Music Standards Fund - around 3p per person per week. This is supplemented by a further £137 million from local authorities, schools, parents, sponsorship and charities.

Adults' musical ambitions

The ISM research also looked at adults' own musical ambitions. It found that 19% of respondents said they already played an instrument or sang in a choir, and 43% said they would like to do so.

Deborah Annetts said:

'Every human being is born with a certain level of musical potential and music education must reflect this. We need those working in music to link up and ensure that all people have access to music education from the cradle to the grave.'