In the second of four videos filmed at the ISM annual conference, this year held at Birmingham Conservatoire, Chair of Sistema England and cellist Julian Lloyd Webber voices his concerns regarding the Department for Education proposing that local authorities stop funding their music services. 

At a recent conference, attendees came forward to volunteer their opinions on the value of music education, to share what music education has meant for them and to also send a message to the Government.

New poll shows public backing for access to music lessonsThe need to protect music education in the UK has been reinforced by the results of the latest ISM/YouGov polling.

The poll comes as the Department for Education proposes that local authorities stop funding music services. The ending of this funding, which is worth millions of pounds, would seriously put at risk the successful delivery of the Government’s visionary National Plan for Music Education.

The ISM/YouGov poll shows that – of those expressing an opinion – 85% of British adults back Michael Gove’s statement, taken from the foreword of the National Plan for Music, that ‘Music education must not become the preserve of those children whose families can afford to pay for music tuition.’*

Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the ISM, welcomed the results, saying:

The Protect Music Education campaign, supported by musicians Julian Lloyd Webber, Nicola Benedetti MBE, Dame Felicity Lott and Tasmin Little OBE, was stepped up in April 2014 following the publication of a consultation from the DfE where it was proposed that local authorities save money by ceasing funding for music services (and visual and performing arts services) in the UK.

*The statement was amended by YouGov for the needs of the survey and read ‘Music education must not become only available to children whose families can afford to pay for music tuition.’