Our supporters

Protect Music Education's latest supporters: Sound Connections

Find out about the other individuals and organisations supporting Protect Music Education and Protect Music Wales by scrolling down the page.

Philip Flood, Director of Sound Connections: ‘At Sound Connections we believe that all young people have a fundamental right to have access to high quality music activities, both in and out of school. It is vital that those young people who are most in need do not have any barriers put in their way in order to achieve this. We are fully committed to endorsing the National Plan for Music Education, and to supporting the network of Music Education Hubs and the schools, music services, and cultural and youth partners that make up the rich musical diversity of London. It is imperative that funding remains in place for opportunities for young musicians to develop to their fullest capabilities.’

Peter Holt, Chairman, Plymouth Music Accord: “Plymouth Music Accord supports the development of young musicians in a number of ways, from enabling schoolchildren to experience live music, encouraging young musicians to further their development through internships with orchestras and choirs and supporting potential young career musicians gain their first professional contract. Fundamental to this strategy is our support for schoolchildren to learn a musical instrument at school. Since this is not free, PMA steps in to support those children who find difficulty in meeting costs and funds tuition. The scheme has been very successful and life changing for many of the children involved – including some going on to study music at university. There is no doubt that learning a musical instrument has great benefits in academic and personal development and should be provided as part of the school curriculum.”

Kathryn McDowell CBE DL, LSO Managing Director, said: 'Music education is at the heart of the London Symphony Orchestra and part of our mission to offer the very best music to the greatest number of people. The National Plan for Music Education outlined the importance of providing a combination of “classroom teaching, instrumental tuition and singing, opportunities to play in ensembles and the chance to learn from professionals”. It is this combination of provision that we believe is central to a strong music education, recognising the “important role that music plays in children’s academic and social development” (National Plan). Music Services have the proven expertise to deliver this foundation at a local level as lead partners of Music Education Hubs, and it is vital that local authority funding is retained for this essential work to continue and thrive.'

 Mark Simpson, clarinettist, composer and BBC Young Musician of the Year winner 2006 said: 'In their own National Plan for Music Education, the Government said that national funding would ‘draw-in local funding for music’ and yet now, they are actually encouraging councils to cut their support. If the Government do not retract this statement, access to music will be lost, and music education will become the preserve of those who can afford it – this would be unacceptable and I urge Michael Gove to intervene.'

Alison Balsom, trumpeter, said: ‘In its very own, excellent National Plan for Music Education, the Government states that they will continue to fund music education at significant levels during difficult economic times and they say that this funding “will also supplement and draw-in local and national funding for music.” How then, can it make any sense, that they propose local authorities cut their support for music education at this critical time. If funding for music education is ceased, then an entire wealth of invaluable musical experiences for young children will be lost. The same experiences that have enriched many lives, as well as my own. This is something we can ill afford to lose and I encourage everyone to respond to the consultation.’

Violinist Tasmin Little OBE said: ‘We all know how important music education is to a child’s education and their opportunities in life. If the vision of the National Plan for Music Education is to be seen through, this dedicated investment in music education must be protected from any further reductions. The simple truth is that if this funding is not protected, music services up and down the country will be more vulnerable; children will miss out on having a chance to sing in school, learn to play an instrument and have an excellent music education. What then for our multi-billion pound music economy, which inspires and gives pleasure to millions of people around the globe?'

Dame Felicity Lott DBE FRAM FRCM, English Soprano said: 'It is hard to believe that now, when there are so many issues in society, that music - the civilising and uniting force which helps with self-confidence, relationships, with all round development, concentration and self-discipline – is a subject that governments still do not deem worth spending money on. I wholly support the ISM’s campaign to protect music education and to remind people of the fundamental value of music.'

Nicola Benedetti, classical violinist and advocate of music education, said: ‘I can’t quite describe how strongly I feel about the provision of music in schools and I wholeheartedly back the ISM’s campaign to protect music education. It is widely acknowledged that music education can improve numeracy, literacy and social interaction and it deeply confuses and saddens me that we are having to fight so hard to save it. This isn’t an investment into the lives of musicians and artists, but in that of our entire society. This fundamental misunderstanding could cost the soul of this nation dearly.’

Julian Lloyd Webber, cellist and Chair of charity Sistema England, a charity that seeks to change the lives of children and young people through music making said: ‘Without music, life would be an error’ says The National Plan for Music Education, which makes it crazy that it has already slashed funding and is now faced with even further cuts. This consultation must be aborted if we are ever to be able to realise our dream that EVERY child should have access to music.'

Comments from some of the 136 organisations backing Protect Music Education
Last updated Tuesday 27 January 2015

New Supporter Sound Connections: 'The team at The Budding Musician believe passionately in the value of music education in the UK. As an organisation specialising in the provision of musical instruments and music resources specifically for children, we understand the far reaching benefits that music can have on children and families. We believe passionately that, given the opportunity, all children enjoy making and listening to music and that their interest should be nurtured from an early age. Numerous studies have proven that engaging young children in music from an early age has a genuine positive impact upon their broader academic and social development, as well as being great fun! What could be better than that? The gift of music really is a gift for life. Let’s not deprive our children of music. Let’s improve our funding and ensure music is put back into the heart of our school curriculum.'

New Supporter PRS for Music Foundation: ‘PRS for Music Foundation is the UK’s leading funder of new music across all genres. Our mission is to stimulate and support the creation and performance of new music throughout the UK and to ensure that this music is enjoyed by a wide audience. We believe that all children should have access to a high quality well-resourced music education where they can learn to create and perform music. The current proposals for further cuts to local authority funding of music services will result in fewer children having this access, thereby making it more exclusive. The music industry contributes £3.5 billion to the UK economy each year. It is vital to continue investing in music education to ensure that the next generation of musicians, audiences and the infrastructure that surrounds them is not put at further risk.

New Supporter London Philharmonic Orchestra: 'The London Philharmonic Orchestra works in close partnership with four South London music hubs as part of the South Riverside Music Partnership. As partners we seek to complement and engage with each other’s remits and activities, pooling our professional experience and aligning our resources so that all can benefit from an inspiring musical and artistic education across our four boroughs. The activities, experiences, knowledge and expertise the hubs provide is highly valued and essential to the LPO’s continuing work within music education, and the LPO supports the ‘Protect Music Education’ campaign in order to safeguard financial support for music for all.'

MuiscTech: 'It's not often that we take a political stance here at MusicTech but we do believe that musical education of all sorts is important, almost a basic right as far as any schooling goes. Yet according to the organisation Protect Music Education, the Department Of Education has launched a consultation that recommends that local authorities stop funding music services, saying that there are other sources of funding available. In the document the Department explains that this funding could come from 'music education hubs and from school budgets' but what it fails to explain, according to PME, is why these hubs have already had their funding slashed from £82.5m to £58m in 2014/15.'

Bromley Youth Music Trust: ‘Bromley Youth MusicTrust’s (BYMT) motto is “Music Changes Lives” We want to be able to offer more opportunities to more young people and change more lives… This is only possible with appropriate funding - support “protect music education” and be part of changing lives through music’

Roundhouse: Founded in 2000 by Sir Torquil Norman CBE, The Roundhouse Trust is a registered charity with an objective to provide ‘space to create’ for 11-25 year olds. We have a particular focus on those young people who have been excluded, marginalised or disadvantaged by society and work to enable them to find pathways back into education, work, or simply to enjoy a wider cultural life. We believe every child has the right to learn music but unless every school can afford to teach them, it will be a lottery as to which child gets the chance. This is a misguided recommendation which should actually say the opposite: every local authority should support music services.

Rachel Cowgill, Chair, National Association for Music in Higher Education (NAMHE): 'In recent years NAMHE members have noticed a change in demographic among our university and conservatoire music students that suggests students from disadvantaged backgrounds are finding fewer opportunities to gain access to music education via schools and local authorities than similar students in previous generations. British music education for children in the postwar period was highly progressive and the envy of many countries - while we celebrate the achievements of the El Sistema movement, we forget that the UK once had the same degree of commitment to the musical and creative training of its young people. Many of those now teaching in universities and conservatories, including myself, would not have been able to develop as musicians without this government support in place, and we are concerned to see that the chance to develop for today's children and the UK's investment in its musical culture is set to continue to decline if these proposals go forward.'

Vick Bain, Executive Director of BASCA said: 'Music education is the foundation of our entire music ecosystem. Music contributes £3.5billion GVA to the British economy each year and if we wish to nuture that success it is essential we build on that foundation not dismantle it! That means investment in the roots; proper investment in music education; music education for all. We may not see the results of that investment for 10, 20, 30 years, but see it we shall.'

PRS for Music: 'Music is a fundamental part of the social, cultural and economic fabric of this country. The music industry is an essential part of the UK’s economy, contributing £3.5 billion each year. It’s vital that the UK retains its reputation as having a world-leading music industry. This can only be achieved if we all continue to nurture the next generation of composers, songwriters and authors. Government proposals to cut funding of grass roots music services are short-sighted, failing to understand the importance of the music industry internationally and locally. Pubs, clubs and live music venues are essential to healthy local economies – any cuts will be felt in communities up and down the country.'

London Music Masters: '(LMM) is committed to taking a leadership role in raising standards of excellence and access to instrumental music tuition in primary schools; focussing our efforts first in areas of greatest need. Our education programme, Bridge Project was born out of a recognition that in recent years the opportunity to learn to play an instrument has become less available to all and increasingly unaffordable in the UK. We ask the government give serious consideration to the ramifications of what they propose- a cost-saving exercise today will cost our children and our society dearly, for generations to come.'

London Sinfonietta: 'The London Sinfonietta has a proud history of education and community engagement practice, dating back to the early 1980s and inspiring the growth of this movement in the UK. We passionately believe that new music can and should be a central part of the education and experiences of young people. Music provokes an emotional and intellectual response from a listener which shapes a person’s growth towards becoming an emotionally intelligent, functional adult. Participation in new music projects develops confidence, collaborative and social skills in individuals as a result of the communal and creative nature of the experience. It inspires leadership skills, and positively affects learning skills in other subjects. It is powerful in bringing people together in communities in ways that otherwise would not happen – and changes them for the better.'

Northern Chamber Orchestra: 'It is vital that we protect music education. We as a small professional chamber orchestra, deliver many projects in schools, particularly in under-provided for areas such as Warrington and Halton and North Derbyshire with a lot of them in SEN schools and are begged to do more e.g. Chestnut Lodge Special Needs School, Warrington. These are supported by the Music Hubs and the local authorities. This is a vital area of our work which we would not be able to contribute to without support from the local authorities as well as the music hubs (for us in particular Accent Music Hub, Derby and Derbyshire Music Partnership and Love Music Trust). We see the benefit to all the children involved and, from the feedback that we receive from the state schools, this helps the children in their other subjects and gives them great pride. Group activity in the arts helps to focus the pupils and help them achieve better results in other subjects (as does sport) and in our special needs school involvement, it lights up their eyes and hearts. Please do not cut your vital support.'

St Peter's Music Society: 'As the Chairman of the St Peter’s Music Society, I quote from Clause 2a of our Constitution. “ The objects of the Society shall be:To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects by any means the trustees see fit, including through the presentation of public concerts and recitals. If the ‘public education’ never starts, we will surely be having to struggle harder. I urge you to reconsider these damaging proposals.'

Professional Music Technology: 'This proposal is bad for our kids, bad for our country and bad for our business – if it happens, can the last school music teacher please remember to turn the lights off…or is that just us being crotchety!'

London Gay Big Band: 'We know the power that music has to unite, to educate, to transform lives and to promote understanding and tolerance. Music is an integral part of our cultural heritage. We must recognise its value to all of us, and ensure that we preserve its place in a well-rounded education. Music education is about so much more than just learning how to play an instrument or to sing; it’s the gateway to developing life-enhancing skills and benefits such as creativity, teamwork, confidence-building, numeracy, cultural awareness, coordination and communication. Properly funded music provision should not therefore be seen as something we can simply do without. It has to be valued and protected. We support the campaign to oppose further cuts to local government funding of music services, and we hope that we can look forward to a musical future that we can all enjoy and be proud of.'

Strathberry of Scotland: 'We at Strathberry of Scotland believe wholeheartedly that music education should be fully supported by the government and local authorities, and that it should be inclusive and accessible to all children across the United Kingdom. Not doing this will inhibit creativity and not only stifles the musical development of individuals, but we believe it also has far reaching and tangible impact upon the economy and society generally. In the same way that food and nutrition is supported in schools, musical development should be provided for as “food for the soul”. We lend our full support for the campaign to protect music education. Turn the music up, not down!'

Rhythmix: 'Rhythmix fully supports the "Protect Music Education" campaign. The National Plan for Music Education will become a pointless exercise in wishful thinking unless sufficient funds to deliver it are made available. We are partners to our Music Education hubs across the South East region, and have watched colleagues struggle to continue to deliver exceptional and vital services to young people despite substantial cuts and a challenging funding atmosphere. Our experience tells us that funding cannot be reduced further without frontline services, direct opportunities for young people to make music that are so valuable to families and individuals, being cut. The Department for Education must be held to account; do they support their own plan?'

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra: 'The CBSO is committed to providing children and young people of the West Midlands with access to high quality musical experiences and education opportunities. We provide this through a broad and diverse range of programmes, which not only enhance participants’ musical abilities but also support the emotional, personal and social development of the children and young people involved. In the 2013/14 financial year there were over 65,000 engagements with the CBSO’s Learning and Participation programme by children and young people demonstrating the demand for music education. A significant percentage of our work is delivered in partnership with the 13 West Midlands Music Education Hubs and with In Harmony Stoke & Telford. These partnerships are essential to ensure that all children and young people have access to their cultural right of experiencing and enjoying music, and without maintaining local authority funding for this essential work the musical future for our children is bleak.'

Foundation for Young Musicians: ''The Foundation for Young Musicians has been trying since 1990 to 'plug the gap' created by the government's lack of support for music education. Every day we come across the sad plight of parents who cannot afford to pay for their talented child's music education. A parent recently wrote: "Your bursary support has given my son the opportunity to play his music and associate with like-minded students. Watching the older students perform has been a great source of inspiration and motivation, so that he has recently achieved a distinction in his exams. He thoroughly enjoys his Musicianship lessons and, at only 11 years old, is already talking about going to university to study music." We try to help as best we can, but the funding situation must not be allowed to deteriorate still further.'

Richard Batty Music Teaching Ltd: The musical education of both children and adults must not be seen as a privilege, but rather as a fundamental building block for balanced and considered educational development. To deprive children of a musical education on the basis of their parents ability to pay is huge mistake for our nation's future generation.

Sing for Pleasure: 'For the last 50 years Sing for Pleasure has been encouraging music development in schools in a number of ways: we provide bursaries for teachers to attend our courses; we run specialist courses for talented children and we provide a range of songbooks to support curiculum learning. The recent development of a Young Conductors Scholarship has seen many quality applicants, however we need a consistent pool of future applicants and that interest and passion must be fostered in the school environment. We know early music education enriches the lives of young children and improves coordination, teamwork and concentration. The fact that this resource is in danger of being eroded saddens us deeply and we thoroughly support this valuable campaign to protect music education in schools.'

The Academy of Ancient Music: 'The AAM’s AAMplify scheme nurtures the next generation of musicians, audiences and arts managers. Through working closely with our local music education hubs in Cambridge and London we recognise their importance for building meaningful musical partnerships between schools, music services, orchestras and other cultural institutions. The arts, and in particular music, have the power to inspire and encourage creativity in young people and provide an outlet for them to express themselves. AAM fully supports the Protect Music Education to preserve the future of music provision for the next generation.'

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance: 'Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance believes that local grass roots music provision is vital to ensure young people from all backgrounds access musical provision of all kinds, and that this universal provision is critical to the development of the next generation of musicians, performers and music educators. We strongly support this campaign to protect local authority funding for music education. We believe that local authority support is critical to ensuring opportunity for all young people, regardless of parental financial situation, and without it those most in need will lose out. The implications of a cut of this type are significantly more far-reaching than appears to have been understood and will, in the future, fundamentally undermine a significant and productive part of the British creative economy of which the British people are justifiably proud.'

Rockschool Ltd: 'Not only is making and learning music a hugely enjoyable experience, but it also promotes discipline, self-control, social skills and working as a team - fundamental skills which our society desperately needs. We believe all students must have access to a comprehensive music education and it is of paramount importance that as a nation we recognise the value of music and maintain it as a core part of our nation’s education. Do not cut funding to music education'

ABRSM: ABRSM is the world's largest music examination body, examining 650,000 music exams worldwide every year, over 300,000 of those in the UK. ABRSM urges the Government to reconsider its proposal to make cuts to the Education Services Grant to local authorities. The current government has openly stated its support for music education and its belief that an understanding of music should be part of what a properly rounded music education should be. And yet, the cuts already made to music service funding and the imposition of cuts in the ESG strongly contradict this aspiration and suggest that the Government really does not understand what the short-, and more particularly the long-term impact of the decrease in music education funding would have on this country's ability to produce generally well-rounded young people and in particular talented young musicians.

Yamaha Music Europe GmbH (UK): ''The Managing Director, Directors and Education Team at Yamaha Music Europe GmbH (UK) are passionate about high quality music education and fully support and endorse the National Music Plan. However it is imperative that no further financial cuts are made which affect the provision of music education in the UK which in turn will seriously jeopardise the future for our children and future generations. Already the reduced Hub funding is starting to make a serious impact on provision and it is imperative that the whole music industry unites behind the campaign to protect music education.'

British Double Reed Society: 'The British Double Reed Society is a non-profit making organisation which furthers the interests of all involved with the oboe and the bassoon. Like many others involved in music education, we are well aware of the role of studying music, and especially learning an instrument, in improving the lives and learning outcomes of young people. We are particularly concerned that the government's latest proposals for funding music education in England will lead to the complete disappearance of opportunities for ordinary children to learn more unusual instruments such as ours, which are already vulnerable to the cuts which took place when LEA Music Services were forced to become Music Hubs. Bassoons and oboes have been an integral part of western music for three hundred years; without them, schools and music centres will not be able to perform orchestral, chamber or band music in the way its composers intended, which in turn will further weaken the position of music in the educational sphere.'

Jonathan Myall Music: 'Jonathan Myall Music has been supporting music service, schools, children and parents for nearly 30 years, and we firmly believe in the added benefits to society that a rounded music education can bring. Study after study have shown the effects that learning music can have on students' intelligence, concentration, teamwork and behaviour: we must not let music education become a luxury available only to those who can afford it. This is why we must protect music education.'

Maze Music: '34 years of conducting choirs and orchestras in schools leaves me in no doubt about the positive impact of funded music for all children. I run voluntary groups out of school too but they only reach a self-selected proportion. Where will future generations of engaged amateur adults come from if we don’t sow the seeds at school age?'

British Kodaly Academy: 'The British Kodály Academy (BKA) works to promote the advancement of British music education, in accordance with principles and practices as taught by Zoltán Kodály, who believed passionately in music as “an indispensable part of universal human knowledge”. It is fundamental to the Kodály philosophy that good quality music education should be available to all children, not just to those whose families can pay for it.The BKA therefore strongly supports this campaign to ensure that music education continues to be funded by the local authorities.'

Sound and Music: 'Sound and Music is the national agency for new music. Our vision is to create a world where new music and sound prospers, transforming lives, challenging expectations and celebrating the work of its creators. At the heart of our work is the belief that all children are entitled to a quality music education, provided through “a combination of classroom teaching, instrumental teaching and singing, opportunities to play in ensembles and the chance to learn from professionals” (National Plan for Music Education, DfE, 2011). The National Plan also acknowledges the delicate funding balance required to make Music Education Hubs viable and states that national funding would “draw-in local funding for music”. This consultation therefore goes against the government’s own policy by encouraging local authorities to cut their support. The result will be that many Music Education Hubss will lose a major source of funding, putting services which are presently focused on enabling all children to have access to a music education at risk, thus making music education the preserve of those who can afford it. This situation would be unacceptable. It is essential that this statement is retracted and that the retraction is made public.'

Edgy Productions: 'Education, or rather good education, has never been and will never be about prioritizing 'core' subjects. Neither is it about relentless assessment in these subjects with the sole purpose of generating league tables of performance. More children may indeed leave school literate and numerate, but they cannot by any stretch of the imagination consider themselves 'educated' unless they have been given the opportunity to express and explore their creativity and individuality through singing, playing music, dancing, acting, painting, running and jumping. By not valuing or investing in these vital areas of a child's education, we move ever closer to a reality that scarily resembles Pink Floyd's ominous and portentous video for Another Brick In The Wall.....but with the sound turned down!'

Mundo Music Gear: 'I’ve come to notice over 30 years as a professional guitarist and teacher, that musicians are a pretty tolerant, highly motivated, independent, free thinking bunch with a very strong work ethic and passionate about what they do. They contribute to a culture which turns over a significant £3.5 billion or so in the UK, perhaps a billion in taxes generated here. Interesting to note that many in other industries turn to music to alleviate the tedium and drudgery suffered in their own professions. Furthermore, it’s a fact that young people who take up instrumental and music lessons are very unlikely to commit any form of crime. With this in mind, an industry with such enviable virtues should be at the bell of every political trumpet, not a feeble and distant echo at the end of some parliamentary committee, facing the pulling of its financial plug. Such misguided and crass decision-making is particularly galling when austerity measures such as these are there to pay interest on government borrowing from ethicless, corrupt and cheating banks. Cutting funding to the arts and music will diminish a significant revenue stream, and do we really want a compliant, hijab of a culture, our children chanting supermarket jingles and mantras in our schools? I sincerely hope not.'

Multi-Story Music: 'Multi-Story believes that access to music education for all children in the UK - rather than just those whose parents are able to afford music lessons - is vital. It should be the duty of Local Authority funding to enable this directly by continuing to support Music Services, rather than shifting the burden further onto Music Hubs. We lend our full support to the campaign.'

Take It Away, Creative United: 'The National Plan for Music Education will be significantly undermined by continued cuts to funding. Funding for Music Education Hubs has already been reduced by 23% over three years; reducing resources further by cutting the contribution from Local Authorities would put the high quality music education that the Government committed to providing at serious risk. Research has demonstrated the value of music education again and again. We believe that the outstanding provision delivered across the UK by world class music educators both in and out of schools must be protected. This can only be achieved through adequate ongoing financial provision, and through increased recognition of the immense positive impact this work has both on young people individually and on our society as a whole.'

Jackdaws Music Education Trust: 'As a lead partner in Sound Foundation Somerset- the music hub in Somerset, we have already suffered from this as Somerset was the first county council to withdraw all of it's arts funding in 2011. It is a long road back and support or lack thereof from the Local Authorities in sending the message that music is of value is critical.'

Centre for Young Musicians: 'The Centre for Young Musicians (incorporating the London Schools Symphony Orchestra & London Youth Wind Band) has given London’s school children access to high quality progressive instrumental and vocal training for over forty years. We see how music not only allows students to express themselves artistically but also helps them develop social and cognitive skills that are of value throughout their lives, whatever profession they choose to pursue. Many CYM and LSSO/LYWB alumni now working as professional musicians would not have achieved their goal without the financial support from music services and local authorities. Any further cuts to funding streams for Music Education Hubs would inevitably see yet fewer talented young musicians being able to climb the ladder to a successful career in music.'

Alan Watt, Managing Director, City Music Foundation said: 'Music education is fundamentally about providing children and young people with experiences that build confidence and self-esteem; nurture social inclusion and interaction; and teach that commitment and hard work achieve results. We should never underestimate the value of these opportunities and they should be protected at all costs.'

Andrew Jowett OBE, Chief Executive, Town Hall and Symphony Hall: 'Here at Town Hall and Symphony Hall Birmingham we absolutely believe that music has the power to transform and change lives, to entertain and uplift, to create shared experiences and to educate. As a leading UK music charity, every year we connect over half a million people to music through around 800 concerts and events with a further 18,000 people of all ages enjoying, participating in and learning more about music through our Education & Community programme including our flagship Generation Ladywood project, delivered in partnership with Birmingham Music Service. We know from first-hand experience of working with schools, community groups, partner organisations and musicians, of the positive effects participating in music has on the lives of the young people we reach. We lend our wholehearted support to this important campaign to see the value of music education properly recognised and the investment in it protected for the future.'

Chief Executive, Matthew Swann: 'City of London Sinfonia believe that music is fundamental to life and for the enjoyment of all, and our projects introducing young people to orchestral music are at the heart of what we and our musicians seek to do as an orchestra – creating outstanding musical opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Without the support of the many local authorities and music hubs we collaborate with in London and throughout England, hundreds of young people would not have access to these often life changing experiences. We know from the parents and teachers we work with that live music can have a profound and long-lasting impact on young children that benefits them across their whole education, as well as inspiring them to engage and take part in music.'

EPTA UK: 'Evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that a musical education benefits children in all areas of development: social, emotional, physical, psychological, intellectual and spiritual (in the widest possible sense). Those who have experienced it know the profound, but invisible, force for cohesion, inclusion and plain, simple good that school singing and music making provides. The government denies children music in schools at their peril. Could Michael Gove please add “The Music Miracle” by Liisa Henriksson-Macaulay, to his bedtime reading?'

Judith Hunt, Chair, West Wight Arts Association, said: 'The West Wight Arts Association has for 60 years put on chamber music concerts in the Isle of Wight, employing for the most part young up and coming musicians who are keen to have a platform and who give enormous pleasure to those for whom it is difficult to access live music elsewhere. If funding for music tuition is drastically cut in the way that the government is proposing, where will the next generation of players come from?'

DJM Music: 'DJM Music firmly believes that music education is an absolutely vital part of any child’s development. We feel that music education provides a fantastic creative outlet, whilst encouraging learning, perseverance, dedication and teamwork. It is critical that all children have the opportunity at least to be involved in the study of music as previous generations did. We therefore fully support the ISM’s campaign to ensure music education continues to be a part of every child’s educational right.'

John Packer: 'John Packer Ltd always have and always will support music in the education system and the community. Every musician of any standard knows that musician isn’t what you do it’s what you are. Equally every musician knows that early involvement in music has positive ramifications in all areas of life. Notwithstanding the simple enjoyment it brings to both players and listeners, there is a wealth of scientific evidence demonstrating the positive effects of music in terms of improvements in academic stands and behaviour. So much so that even the most avid , tone deaf, music hater would support the call for more music in schools because of the secondary benefits that it brings. If the government professes to want to drive up academic stands then they must recognise that music needs to be an integral part of their strategy. That’s why we support protect Music Education.'

Barbara Eifler, Executive Director, Making Music: 'Making Music fully supports the ‘Protect Music Education’ campaign. Our members – the approx. 170,000 individual amateur musicians who make up our 3,000 member groups – are living proof that music making contributes immensely to their individual joy and well-being as well as to that of their communities. The seeds for these amateur musicians were mostly laid in their music education as children and although they have not become professionals, they have derived many benefits from their amateur music – many of which are now increasingly scientifically proven, such as the effects of singing on COPD, mental health and a variety of conditions including Alzheimer’s. Without early music education it is much harder later to get into music, to learn an instrument. As music confers so many advantages on children who have access to it, in terms of their development and learning in general, it is counter-intuitive to save a little money here which will cost a lot more later, when children need other support or even social service or clinical intervention instead. Making Music estimates it only captures around a quarter of all amateur music groups, so there will be around 700,000 passionate amateur musicians out there who are also voters in next year’s elections…'

Sarah Marsh Carling, Director, Music for Starters Ltd: 'At Music for Starters, not only do we provide musical training for music teachers, but for class teachers in the primary and early years as well as for early years practitioners. We provide training purely for the teaching of music, but also show practitioners and teachers how to use music in support of wider learning. We see it all the time; learning a new language through music, reinforcing numeracy through songs and musical games, developing speech and communication through music, even learning to swim includes songs in the early years! Why? Because, amongst other things, singing and music-making improve concentration, develop memory skills, and add a crucial element of fun to the process of learning. So; to all those who wish to undermine the position of music in education, remember that you are also undermining the education system as a whole. Music for Starters urges the government to keep music education at the front of education, not just for musical learning, but for all learning.'

Rachel Elliott, Education Director said: 'The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) fully supports the ‘Protect Music Education’ campaign. We currently work in partnership with a number of music education hubs with whom we have very fruitful working relationships. Through this we work with hundreds of young people – in many cases introducing them to folk music for the first time. EFDSS wants as many young people as possible, of all backgrounds, to enjoy high quality, relevant and inspiring folk music learning. It would be impossible to achieve our goals without working in partnership with music education hubs. It is essential that they are properly funded to have experienced and expert staff who can work with EFDSS to co-develop, manage and administrate exciting folk music education projects and offer these exciting opportunities free-of-charge or subsidised to enable a broad demographic of young people to participate. Building upon the foundation of this vital infrastructure, we can provide the added value of the resources (for which we fundraise), specialist knowledge and staff. We are extremely concerned about the local authority cuts to the funding of music services / hubs across England. Current reductions are already having an extremely detrimental effect on the ability of some of our partners to continue to offer the diversity, quality and quantity of music education experiences that they can offer to young people – especially those who are most disadvantaged by economic circumstances, disability or other challenging life circumstances.'

SoundWave: In the years that we have been working with children and young people, music education has challenged, connected, brought together, taught and healed many who through accessible, free (or at times, affordable) musicianship are more in control of realistic future choices. For sure, that choice for a handful has been a future as a professional musician, composer or music educator. Most, using and understanding skills - like focus, concentration, dedication, cognitive and social interaction, spatial reasoning, aural and technical knowledge, music history, artistic expression, improvisation, team working/ensemble playing – are building the blocks to other futures. This is not a luxury. It is rites of passage to full roundedness; to a creativity that is fuelling the UK’s £10 billion music, cultural and creative industry that now rivals the rich industrial heritage of old. How can that be a luxury “we can do without?” In our world the right to music education is akin to responsibly educating. If music classes are cut from schools, low income children and young people have their learning potentials cut short for no good reason. Again, as so often is the case, it’s needless and short-sighted.

Flutewise: Flutewise has been supporting young flute players, their teachers and parents since 1988. I have noticed a huge decline in the number of children interested in playing a musical instrument to a high standard in the last few years. There are many contributing factors to this, but it certainly can't be good for society as a whole. Any funding cuts would be detrimental. Music is vital; it can save a child's life.

Anastasia Witts, Coordinator, OperaCoast: “I do not want art for a few any more than education for a few, or freedom for a few... ” William Morris. 'As an independent educational project aiming to bring opera and classical music to more people without any social or economic exclusions, OperaCoast fully supports the plea to the government for a serious review of the way music education is funded in the UK. We have no prosperous future as a society if arts, and music in particular, are not supported by state subsidies and the full access to education of the highest quality is not given to every talented child in the country, regardless of their financial or social situation.'

Wozzy Brewster, OBE – Founder/Executive Director, The Midi Music Company: 'The Midi Music Company supports the campaign to protect music education for a multitude of reasons, but most importantly, we believe the fundamental right of all children and young people to be able to access affordable music tuition at an early stage in their lives should not just be for the more affluent and privileged members of our society. The governments' proposal to stop local authorities from investing in music education is short-sighted, especially considering that many acclaimed artists, performers and musicians have not achieved their careers through the traditional routes into the industry, but gained their skills and insight into their professions from community based initiatives. It is imperative that the government re-thinks its proposal in order to bring greater diversity to the industry with a long-term aim for sustained success open to all within the music business, because education, in all of its forms, is where it starts!'

James Murphy, Managing Director, Southbank Sinfonia: 'From Adele to Edward Elgar to the Rolling Stones to the BBC Proms, Britain has a musical heritage like no other. Music is not a luxury: it is part of what makes this nation special. There are few people in Britain whose lives are not fundamentally shaped by music, from casual listeners to devoted practitioners. For all kinds of people, music is a means of knowing who they are. It speaks to us in ways that nothing else can. For millions, the ability to make music gives them a voice they would not otherwise have: it allows them to be communicative and expressive in the most endearing, collegiate and inspiring way. Imagine taking that away from Britain. Imagine ripping that spirit from the land. The proposal to cut the relatively tiny amount given by government and local councils to foster music in the next generation will do that. Like so many others who have signed this petition, we at Southbank Sinfonia see first-hand the huge positive impact of getting Britain’s children to make music, as our players spend extensive time in the community giving them that opportunity. We see that the chance to make music fires children’s imagination, it awakens countless skills in them, it makes them great listeners, it makes them feel like a team, it makes them confident and articulate, and it shows them the great rewards that come when you work hard to achieve something. Aren’t these values we want at the heart of tomorrow’s society? Why stem a relatively tiny fund that can help achieve this? As Winston Churchill said, when asked to cut arts funding in favour of the war effort: ‘then what are we fighting for?’ '

Respondents to restructuring proposals for the Isle of Wight Music Service/Hub have noted: 'Performing music requires practise, developing self-sufficiency in study beneficially crossing over into every area of the schools/college curriculum. It fosters patience, determination and resilience, and solves problems via self-criticism. There is a sense of purpose, developing concentration, co-operation and self-discipline in a collaborative context. It develops responsibility, reliability and conscientiousness thus making good future employees. Instruments have to be cared for, cleaned and transported together with high levels of personal management in meeting often rotating timetabled tasks. Reading music is a valuable complex cognitive skill, in common with interpreting foreign language and manipulation of abstract structures as required in algebra. To improve Mathematics and Language play a musical instrument – it uses the same part of the brain. Who will you thank today, tomorrow and for years to come for having taken the decision to destroy or preserve our nation’s cultural heritage?'

Peter Garden, Executive Director – Learning, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic: 'Music education is at the heart of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and we believe it is vital for every child to have the opportunity to benefit from and shape a world class music education as part of their creative, educational and social development. It is essential that Government fully supports music educators in and out of schools if the National Plan for Music Education is to become a reality for every child throughout the country.'

Flautissimo: 'Flautissimo was founded in 1984 by Robin Soldan to encourage proficient flautists in and around Southampton to gain experience in ensemble playing. Funding for music education should be increased as a necessity if we wish to improve educational achievement for all our children. Neuroscientists have demonstrated that learning to play an instrument or sing leads to changes in a child’s brain that make it more likely they will reach their full cognitive and academic potential. Young children taking music lessons show dramatic improvement in their verbal intelligence after only four weeks of music training. The quality of a child’s music education is linked to their academic achievement. Individuals who are musically trained show better working memory abilities than those who are not. Working memory allows us to remember things and is crucial to mental arithmetic and reading comprehension.' (Source)

Kirkby Lonsdale Brass Band: Music is such a vital part of all our lives, it connects people, young and old and it bridges communities. A key life skill just as much as maths & english, it stimulates, heals and challenges, It’s a great skill for life. Every one not only children but also adults should have the chance to learn how to play, the brass band community has democratised music for years and government should create the right environment and facilitate this great levelling, democratic art that is music

Mark Tinkler, Artistic Director, English Pocket Opera Company: 'Music education in state schools should be part of the core cultural educational offer to all children. It is surely a given that the future of any nation is given shape in large part through the cultural activities of its builders. And yet we are currently witnessing the wilful neglect and deconstruction of an already fragile system - through the degradation of the most inclusive and accessible of all cultural building blocks – music. To be meaningful, music has to be taught in a systematic, comprehensive, and sustainable way by skilful and qualified educators. There are many great things happening in the world of music education but sadly, music in many areas is delivered by providers of varying quality. This can only be addressed by ensuring that music is monitored, assessed, supported, staffed and funded properly within all schools. It is therefore essential that the already-diminished funds for music be protected through the music education hub funding and other sources such as the Local Authority Education Services Grant.'

ESTA: 'Many members of The European String Teachers Association work within music services, imparting musical skills to children of all ages, that transform and enhance their lives. For some children, a musical education is the means to healthier life choices and emotional well being. The proposed cuts to funding will bring about a situation where learning a violin, viola, cello or double bass will become, once again, a privilege of the wealthy and also inflict damage upon the music education and performance industries. The European String Teachers Association unequivocally supports the ISM's campaign and calls upon the government to listen to the experts in the field.'

Diane Widdison, National Organiser - Education and Training, Musicians Union said: 'Our main concerns are around accessibility and opportunities of music education to children and young people. It is also about supporting music teachers who are inspiring and creating the next generation of musicians. As members of the Music Education Council we urge those making decisions on funding which affect music education to understand the negative impact cuts have on teachers and therefore pupils. As an organisation representing over 30,000 musicians across the UK, many of who teach, protecting music education is an important issue for us.'

Harrow Music Education Hub: We welcomed the National Plan for Music Education in 2011. It continues to make social and economic sense to support lifelong musical interests and achievements, potential professional careers and social and personal health and wellbeing. We hope that our society wants musical opportunities available to all children, not just the wealthy.

Dougie Scarfe, Chief Executive, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, said: 'Music education is a core part of the BSO’s mission and we are committed to devising and delivering ambitious and eye-opening music projects for children and young people of all ages. At the BSO we sit as both strategic and delivery partners of the 18 music education hubs in the south and south west of England; having the local knowledge of the music hubs to deliver our regional projects in a local context is essential and support from the local authorities is pivotal to support their role. The National Plan for Music Education has reinvigorated a fresh drive for music education in England and if music services are hit by further cuts from both DfE and the local authorities, they will not be able to continue this drive, and ensure every child has access to high quality music education – including the BSO’s role, to provide access to high quality music making.'

North Yorkshire Music Hub: 'The North Yorkshire Music Hub aims to promote musical excellence across the County, by working with schools and some of the best respected music and arts organisations including NYMAZ, Live Music Now and the Voices Foundation. The North Yorkshire Music Hub is opposed to proposed local authority cuts to music education funding which, if further diminished, would significantly threaten the delivery of the National Plan for Music Education for children and young people.'

NYMAZ: 'NYMAZ is a youth music development charity which champions the transformative potential of music for children and young people, delivering high quality music-making activities across North Yorkshire and running professional networks for practitioners. NYMAZ is opposed to the recent Governnment proposals recommending the cessation of local authority funding for music education. Taken alongside existing cuts to Music Hub funding, such proposals would significantly threaten the delivery of the National Plan for Music Education and the invaluable music experiences to which all children and young people are entitled. We fully support the Protect Music Education campaign.'

Normans Musical Instruments: 'Normans Musical Instruments believes strongly in the ideal that all children should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. The benefits it brings are numerous and the experience helps create well rounded individuals. It is well documented that playing an instrument supports many aspects of learning, from exploring ones creative side to encouraging team work and discipline. We must do all we can to prevent this opportunity being taken away from our children and future generations.'

Sarah Marsh Carling, Director, Musical Bumps Ltd: 'As an organisation providing music education in the early years of life and of school, we are passionate about the value of music in the lives of all children. This is not just for the sake of our musical future – but for the sake of our whole future. Musical learning has a far-reaching impact of every aspect of life; supporting social skills, numeracy, literacy, speech, language and communication for starters. An education system that neglects the arts (and music more specifically) is a dangerously flawed system, one that will, ultimately, fail our children. We wholeheartedly support this campaign and look forward to a musical and exciting future for all our children.'

Live Music Now: 'Live Music Now works in partnership with schools, music services and music education hubs across the country delivering concerts, creative music projects and residencies. Much of our work takes place in special schools where high quality music education is vital to promote children's social, emotional and personal development. Our sessions are delivered by outstanding young musicians at the start of their professional careers, many of whom gained initial musical training through their local music service. We are committed to promoting access to a consistently high quality music education for all children and strongly support The Protect Music campaign.'

MI Pro: 'This is so important for our industry. Music should be at the heart of civilised education policy. Education is about enabling children to realise their potential, open their minds and explore as many paths as they can in life. Music is the compass which can guide them to and along those paths. All teachers agree that studying music in and out of the classroom engages pupils, gives them achievable goals, encourages application, perseverance, diligence, creativity and experimentation. Only a blunted and ordinary mind, fearful of the power of ideas and imagination, would want anything else. Along with all that, speaking from a purely commercial point of view, it is nothing less than the next generation of our customers which is at stake. We cannot allow shortsighted Government policy to have a negative impact on that. There are a number of challenges for this industry right now, but nothing perhaps more important than this. And it is a battle which can, and will, be won.'

Musiko Musika: 'Musiko Musika believes in the transformative power of music and believe that every young person should have access to music. We are fully supportive of the Protect Music Education campaign.'

David & Christa Liggins, Directors, Ocarina Workshop: 'Music for Every Child and Every Teacher™ has been Ocarina Workshop's motivation for 30 years. Music Hub support for children and teachers in every classroom up and down the UK is vital to effectively deliver the National Plan for Music and to place a musical instrument in the hands of every child. We ask that the Department for Education will continue to ring fence funding for Music Education in Schools to give all children the opportunity to succeed daily in making music.'

Aino Turtiainen-Visala, Fazer Artists, Helsinki and Chairman, IAMA said: 'As Chairman of the International Artist Managers’ Association living in Finland, I was troubled to hear about the UK Education Department’s message to Local Authorities to stop funding music, visual and performing arts services. We in Finland have made a substantial investment in music in particular at local level for many reasons and we recognise that this is something intrinsically good for society and something we Finns are proud about. Such a message from an Education department is a contradiction in terms and I join my UK IAMA colleagues in opposition to any move to undermine the fabric of music making at local level.'

Gemma Connell, Youth and Education Coordinator, Pavilion Dance South West, said: 'All arts are vital to a child's education - they provide cultural awareness, new ways of learning and enable children and young people to discover and pursue talents which they might not otherwise be aware of.'

The Music Workshop Company: "Music education enables young people to develop skills for life. Learning a musical instrument helps with reading skills and co-ordination as well as social skills such as presenting an idea and working in a team. Every young person should have the opportunity to learn an instrument or how to sing, and without support from local councils many young people will no longer have this chance. The Music Workshop Company fully supports the Protect Music Education campaign."

Dr Jonathan Savage, Managing Director, UCan Play, said: 'Music education should form a core part of every child's education. It needs to be taught in a comprehensive, systematic and developmental way by skilful and qualified educators. Sadly, each child's entitlement to access a music education has been dismantled by this Coalition Government. UCan Play is committed to supporting music education of this type in our schools, music services and music education hubs. It is vital that we support the ISM's campaign for music education as an integral part of every child's educational entitlement.'

Henry Little, Chief Executive of Orchestras Live, said: 'Local Authority funding for music education is an essential part of a fragile ecosystem, without which it would be impossible to give young people inspirational experiences of live music. Through partnerships with local authorities, music education hubs and orchestras we are able to create and deliver life-changing projects for young people, increasingly putting them at the very heart of the creative process. Our recent First Time Live – Youth project reached 12,000 young people across more than 100 schools in parts of England where arts engagement is low. In Norfolk we regularly work with a consortium of local authority partners across the county to enable large-scale concerts to take place. Our Early Years activity is made possible by local authority investment, inspiring children aged 3-5. I urge you to support this campaign to protect music education.'

Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra: 'Many members of Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra (an amateur orchestra) recently attended the funeral of a wonderful lady who conducted the orchestra for 42 years. Jean Horsfall selflessly gave her life to encouraging music-making in the county of Wiltshire. She organised instrumental teaching in schools, coached pupils on the cello, ran summer music camps, provided recorder days throughout the county and organised European tours for Youth Orchestras. She conducted choral societies, ran music festivals, formed groups for chamber musicians, provided carol concerts every Christmas and conducted an orchestra for less experienced adult players. The lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people have been enriched and enhanced because Jean was able to harness the universal love of music which exists in every person. There have been many like Jean who have worked tirelessly to bring the joy of music to others. Is such a rich heritage now to be denied to the next generation? It is surely our duty to ensure that all that is most worthy in life is passed to our children. If financial support is withdrawn and music-making becomes an elite activity then we as a society have trampled on our heritage and stolen our children's treasure.'

Music Education UK: 'We have always seen advocacy as a crucially important role for Music Education UK as a publisher and we will continue to lobby, in partnership with other organisations, to ensure that music is treated as an essential part of education and allocated the funding it deserves.'

Alita Mills, Director of Southampton Music Hub, said: 'We cannot underestimate the power of music and the impact it has on the lives of all in the community. Therefore the consequence of diluting access to musical engagement for all cannot be underestimated. The Southampton Music Hub celebrates musical opportunity and has seen the fruition of successful partnership working between schools, community groups, music services and all who are committed to supporting access to high quality music education. Musical entitlement needs to be preserved so that future generations can experience the joy of making music.'

Association of British Choral Directors: 'The Association of British Choral Directors believes that all children should have access to high quality music education and that singing and good choral leadership is an integral part of this. We support singing leaders throughout the country, both in and beyond the classroom, and see at first hand the wide educational benefits music has on young people. We fully back the ISM’s campaign to ensure that music is a central part of education for everyone. It’s essential that funding is maintained and ring-fenced so that the vital work of Music Education Hubs can continue and grow.'

Kay Tucker, Director, Stringbabies, said: 'Stringbabies is privileged to be working with music hubs to provide opportunities for the very youngest school children to learn to play, read and compose music through string instruments. Research has shown that there is no shadow of doubt that involvement in music making underpins all education, emotional and social development. The National Music Plan supports this research and offers a superb framework for the delivery of a first class music education for all, irrespective of background. However, such a plan cannot be delivered with a double whammy of cuts as currently proposed and if these are allowed to happen, there can be no doubt about the devastation which will be wreaked on British Music Education for many years to come. For the sake of all our children and for the future well being of the economy, education and society, we cannot allow these cuts to go unchallenged for the sake of saving money in the short term.'

Mike Simpson, Musical Director, Inspire-works says: We deliver world-music workshops and lessons with approximately 60,000 children each academic year. Almost half of our work is on behalf of several Music Hubs for First Access/Wider Opportunities lessons in primary schools. We are very aware that in most cases the First Access lessons we deliver are the only music-making the pupils take part in and form their weekly music lesson. Through these fun, exciting and practical music lessons the children learn foundational musical skills, knowledge and understanding. We are frequently informed by class teachers and parents how taking part in the music lessons is not only the inspiration for children to continue on their musical instrument learning journey, but has also helped the children with confidence, self control, patience, respect for authority and their peers regardless of their background. Without government funding these lessons would simply cease to take place and would be detrimental to the personal, social, academic and musical development of the children. Over the last couple of years, we have seen, and been privileged to take part in, excellent work undertaken and coordinated by Music Hubs and the standard of music making has therefore reached new heights. Funding for music education must be protected. Inspire-works fully supports the Protect Music Education campaign."

Susan Heaton Wright, Managing Director of Viva Live Music, said: Many of our talented musicians and entertainers initially trained through the Music Services in UK, where their talents were identified and nurtured. It would be a huge loss to this country if the next generation of talent wasn't given the same chance to receive outstanding opportunities as they develop their skills. Without funding, we risk the situation where music is only available to those that pay, and where musical potential is missed. The benefits of music within schools and to the community include developing great team building skills; listening skills; personal well-being and relaxation would be sorely missed. The world is a better place where music is included, and a failure to support the excellent work that Music Services do, will result in music slowly disappearing.

Philip Castang, CEO of Newham Music Trust said: 'Newham Music Hub believe a meaningful music education for all children and young people is a basic human right. This right is protected under article 26 of the UNESCO Declaration of Human Rights. It states, “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace”. Nothing achieves this better than music. Protect funding for music education hubs.'

Elizabeth Stafford, Director of Music Education Solutions said: 'Music is not just an important part of young people’s lives. It is the most important part of young people’s lives. Music defines them, shapes them, helps them connect with their own emotions and relate to the emotions of others. Music Education Hubs provide children and young people of all backgrounds with access to high-quality music-making opportunities across a multitude of genres, styles and contexts, led and facilitated by highly trained and passionate musicians whose professionalism and excellence is an inspiration to children and young people. If Music Education Hubs lose their funding, how will our children and young people continue to access the long-term, sustained, progressive musical opportunities that nurture them to grow into rounded, emotionally-intelligent adults? They won’t unless they can afford to pay, and that is simply not an acceptable state of affairs in 21st Century Britain. Music Education Solutions fully supports the Protect Music Education campaign, and calls for continued funding for the vital work of Music Education Hubs.'

Paritor: 'Our company have been working with the music education community for over 15 years and in the last few years we have seen our clients undergo a radical transformation. The adoption of the National Plan for Music Education has been challenging for Music Services across the UK. But many have risen to the challenge and the successes resulting from these have been a delight for us to see and share in. At Paritor we will be supporting our clients to fight the cuts to Music Education because we believe that the work of Music Services and Hubs across the UK has never been stronger.' #ProtectMusicEducation

Barbara O Neill, Director of A Practical Choral Workshop said: We strive to get people of all ages back into singing and choral singing. Music is so important both to the mind and body. All our tutors are professional musicians, in schools and colleges. We see at first hand, the need for more music, not less. We also find, through our Workshops, that people are getting so much out of music, confidence, companionship, a new zest for life, to name but a few. Music opens doors, it helps us integrate when we change schools, or go into University, or as adults, when we move areas or even countries. Music is truly the international language that we can all aspire to at all levels. We need to support this campaign, or we will lose so much that is good.

Oliver Braithwaite, Director, Stars & Catz Music Teacher Network (www.starsandcatz.co.uk) , said: “It’s been proven in various studies that learning a musical instrument improves a child’s performance in the mainstream academic subjects at school, resulting in them requiring less of their school teacher’s already limited time and resources. It’s been proven that playing a musical instrument reduces stress and that high stress levels are a substantial contributing factor for many illnesses, both physical and mental. It’s been shown that access to music education can act as a stabilizing influence to underprivileged children who might otherwise become another ‘burden to the child welfare system’. All arguments about art and beauty aside... could the Government please explain to us how cutting the Music Hubs program would make economic sense again?”

Jono Heale, Director of Education & Business Support, Advanced Communication Solutions, said: 'Working in schools, further and higher music education and national music events for nearly two decades I have personally seen the positive results from young people engaging in Music at all levels. I developed and lead a unique enrichment programme for music students in Europe and witnessed opportunities presented to young people that changed their lives. The music industry and creative arts sector brings considerable revenue to the UK and it's great for music students to aspire to working in this area. However, some may not totally achieve their dreams but music as vehicle to engage young people to develop other important transferable skills and go on to help contribute and function in society is vital. I have taught students that struggled to achieve academically at school. However, through music education I saw many to go on to successful jobs, further and higher education and even become teachers. We must continue to support the UK Music Education Hubs to give young people from all backgrounds the support and opportunities to engage, aspire, create and achieve in safe environments. Isn't that what we want for our children?'

Terry Luddington, Chief Executive of the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance & Speech: 'The British and International Federation of Festivals provides over 250,000 educational performance opportunities for children and young people across the UK each year. The introduction of the Hubs in 2012 was exactly what was needed to enable joined up music education provision across all providers both within and outside of school. There are some excellent examples of good practice emerging now and the funding must be ring-fenced to ensure the strategic aims of the National Plan for Music Education can be realised.'

Laura Callaghan & Russ Grooms, Directors of Hand on Heart Arts Ltd: 'Hand on Heart Arts is in the privileged position of working on music education projects across the country in partnership with Music Education Hubs, on a range of ground-breaking projects and programmes. Music alone has the power to transform lives and to allow young people from all walks of life express themselves, feel heard and connected with the wider world: in the words of a young musician that we worked with recently, "I feel that music allows me to be free". Music education is precious and is a human right, and we cannot allow the support for music education in the UK to slip through our fingers.'

Philip Litchfield, Berkshire MaestrosChief Executive, Berkshire Maestros: 'Music Hubs are playing a most significant part in transforming the lives of countless children and young people across the country. It is essential that there is public funding to support this work to ensure that music does not become the preserve of just rich children. Music education is an aspect of British life that we should rightly be proud of our achievements, let us make sure that this thrives for generations to come.'

Shirley Taylor, Strategic Lead Hampshire Music Hub: The partnership that is ‘Hampshire Music Education Hub’ seeks to provide as many quality music opportunities for children and young people in Hampshire as possible. Music is life changing, and the benefit of Hub partnership working brings immense added value to the possibilities on offer. However, without continued financial support for Hubs to provide the core of this work beyond 2015, so much of these additional benefits and opportunities will be lost.

David Major, Director, Yorkshire Music Education Service: ‘The inspirational work done by music educators across the country transforms the lives of young people every day. The effect of music on personal development is phenomenal – it promotes dedication and teamwork, and can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. It is essential that ring-fenced funding to support high quality music education is retained – without it, access will be diminished and our society will be poorer for it’.

Graham Bland, Head of Luton Music Service, said: 'The Luton Music Education Hub – ‘The MIX’ – is passionate about, and dedicated to, providing an outstanding and accessible Music Education offer for all Children and Young People in Luton. ‘The MIX’ fully supports the aspirations of the National Plan for Music Education even though, as a result of the formula based allocation of funding, ‘The MIX’ – is having to manage a 78% reduction in its core government funding. This is the second largest cut nationally, and it is already presenting us with very high levels of challenge and some difficult decisions will have to be made. Nevertheless ‘The MIX’ is acutely aware of the significant benefits that an outstanding music education offer brings to the children and young people and the schools of Luton as well as to our communities and is determined to develop strategies that will allow us to continue to deliver such benefits to our Town. On the plus side, the requirement to establish new partnerships and to develop new and innovative working practices has led to the development of a strong and supportive group of local organisations and people who are passionate about developing and delivering a new, improved and sustainable high quality music education offer for the young people in the town. Without the framework of the National Plan it is less likely that this supportive group would have come together, and it is almost certain that without the funding associated with the plan the music provision in Luton would have collapsed. Any threat to our future funding would be catastrophic and would hit the most deprived communities the hardest.'

Professor John Wallace, Chair, Conservatoires UK (CUK): 'Conservatoires UK, as the organisation which represents music education and training across the nine major UK conservatoires, recognises the indispensable work and creative energies of the new Music Education Hubs. The Hubs are responding with flair and imagination to the challenges of the National Plan for Music Education, in providing high quality musical opportunities to all young people in and beyond school. They will play a crucial role in the future infrastructure of musical education across the UK, and CUK institutions are committed to support in practical and tangible ways their further development.'

Paul Kirkham, Managing Director, of the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance said: 'The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance as long been engaged with and supported the excellent work undertaken by the UK’s Music Education Hubs and we will continue to do so. These organisations provide the resources, expertise and energy necessary to ensure that young people have the opportunity to engage with and benefit from music both at school and outside of school. Without the music hubs, there would undoubtedly be a significant decline in such engagement, which would be a tragedy not only for the young people themselves but for society as a whole. The benefits of music education and engagement are well known and have been demonstrated time and time again, and it is important that as a society we continue to recognise and invest in this crucial and rewarding activity.'

Henry Fagg, Director of The Tutor Pages (www.thetutorpages.com): 'As a musician myself, I know the tremendous joy, meaning and fulfilment that a life in music brings. At a time when government is focused relentlessly on efficiency, productivity and other 'outcomes', it is important to step back and ask what helps children and adults lead happy and fulfilled lives. A proper musical education is one of the givens of a healthy society; it should not have to be justified economically.'

Anne Rushton, Executive Director, NMC Recordings: 'NMC believes passionately that new music is a dynamic and engaging art, with the potential to inspire and challenge. We think it is vital that the opportunity to experience and participate in music making is enshrined in our education system. Without this children will miss out on potentially life enhancing experiences and the long-term cultural health of the nation will be all the poorer as a result.'

Christopher Walters, Head of Teacher Development (Music), Trinity College London: As part of a well-rounded education, musical learning must be of sufficient depth and breadth to offer something of value to every young person, whatever their musical passion or level of ability. Experience has shown that this is most effectively achieved through the combined expertise of classroom teachers, professional performers and specialist teachers from the local music education hub. For this reason, continued ringfenced funding for hubs is vital if we are to maintain music education where it is excellent and support it where it is still developing.

The Choir Schools' Association: The Choir Schools’ Association believes that all children should have access to quality music provision, both vocal and instrumental. It is a vital and important part of a general education and enables the UK to remain the envy of the world regarding the standard of musicians performing today, who were able to begin their journey thanks to education in school. In choir schools we are lucky enough to have the provision to enable all our pupils to benefit and enjoy music-making. All young people should have the same opportunities. It is well-known that musical training benefits children in so many different ways. Music education for all must stay.

Dr Evan Rothstein, Chairman, ECMTA: The ECMTA is founded on the conviction that access to music education in general and to the apprenticeship of ensemble playing in particular are indispensable to the development of young people's spirit and minds. Beyond its potential intrinsic artistic value, learning to make music together is an essential part of the human experience, without which we are at risk of neglecting and diminishing the quality of listening and empathetic awareness of others that is vital to a healthy, wholesome society. We thus strongly support the national campaign to protect and guarantee the funding of the National Plan for Music Education after 2015.

Hillview School for Girls: An education in any field can equip out students with the tools for employment. A musical education can unlock a wealth of skills that will aid them for the rest of their lives. Music can breathe life into every subject and topic expanding cultural awareness and understanding; it can teach young people to express their views constructively and widen their communicative scope; it can unite generations and people of all heritages; and most important of all, it can bring joy to so many where often sadness is deeply rooted.

Royal Philharmonic Society: 'Music education isn't just about nurturing the next composers and performers. It's about encouraging a lifelong enjoyment in music and all creative subjects that will inspire young people throughout their lives. The Royal Philharmonic Society strongly supports the work of the Music Education Hubs to educate and enrich the whole person.'

Ruth Katz, CEO and Founder of Pop4Schools and StarComposer - under the new umbrella of P4S Publishing: 'Music is at the very heart and essence of cultural life and is the only true international language, crossing borders and cultures and building bridges where language alone cannot cross. Music is also a wonderful therapy, for everyone to enjoy. It crosses genders and age groups and is present everywhere in everyday life. To not continue with music education and hubs in our schools would be a crime and would cut off creativity in a way that other creative subjects do not touch. Most people have a voice and therefore as our inbuilt instrument we should all be allowed to sing, to participate in communal music activities, to create wonderful sounds and to have the feel good factor. If it weren't for music, the world would never have benefited from Mozart, The Beatles and all the musicians, composers, lyricists and artists in between.'

Karen Dickinson, Director, Music for Little People: 'Music for Little People believes that creativity is vital for the future of a viable work force in a global economy. Creativity leads to thinking, acquisition of knowledge, an inquiring mind and innovation and a country that is not innovating is moving backwards. Funding for music through the music education hubs is vital in providing all children with the tools to create, explore, learn about other cultures, and work together in a team towards an inspiring project.'

Charlotte Penton-Smith, Secretary, Royal Society of Musicians: 'The Royal Society of Musicians fully supports the outstanding work undertaken by the National Music Education Hubs, enabling young people to benefit from the inclusion of music in their daily lives, both at school and beyond. Being Britain’s oldest music charity, the Society also recognises the importance of nurturing and developing future generations of musicians across the UK and the vital role that the Hubs play in that process.'

NORFOLK MUSIC HUB

Norfolk Music Service: An email from a school to the head of Norfolk Music Service about the work they do: 'The teacher from the music education hub has brought music to a previously barren land in music terms, through that he has supported our work on respect and creating a better learning environment with positive learners, he has shared good practice with staff, he has brought a wonderful sense of fun, he has got parents on side, he has been a great support for me. Value for money - wow - he brings so much more than music lessons!'

Stephen Wild, Head of Music, ArtForms: ‘Leeds Music Education Partnership arose from a sharing of values and vision between ArtForms and its partners. It enables us to offer to the children and young people of Leeds a coherent and comprehensible offer, joining up the breadth of first access in all its forms to the diversity of excellence which this great city offers. The process of building the partnership has enabled the musical education sector in Leeds to work together in a new strategic way to make the musical offer to children and young people richer, clearer and more diverse.’

Gwyn Price, Head of Plymouth Youth Music Service: 'Plymouth Music Education Hub is passionate about delivering the National Plan for Music Education. It provides First Access to learning to play a musical instrument for over 3000 children in our schools. The hub supports and leads nine ensembles that regularly perform throughout the year. It is active in signposting the clear progression routes within our city and beyond. Through our Singing Strategy we promote and provide opportunities to sing which culminate in performances in localities and in our largest professional venue, the Plymouth Pavilions. We believe that the provision achieved through our partnerships and the funding to do it is vital to continuing to provide the high quality music education our children and young people deserve.'

Sarah Osborn, General Manager, Music Publishers Association: 'The music education hubs play a vital role in ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to pursue and expand their musical learning both within and beyond the classroom. It is vital to secure the long term funding of this network, which will doubtless play a formative role in the development of some future household names, but just as importantly will allow all children to master an instrument and to experience the joy of communal performance.'

Mark Pemberton, Director, Association of British Orchestras: 'The Association of British Orchestras' members work in partnership with Music Education Hubs throughout England. Hubs are essential for the strategic delivery of music education in their local areas; and we believe this cannot be done by schools alone. All children and young people deserve the opportunity to access and benefit from a high quality music education. We believe the Government should continue to ring-fence funding for music education and to continue to support Music Education Hubs.'

Dan Jones, Managing Director, The Mix Music Education Limited: 'Mix Music Education was formed in 2010 to help educators give students the best chance to succeed in their music education. This can only be empowered with the support of exceptional tuition in and out of the classroom. Our most successful partner schools and colleges utilise the projects we develop best, where classroom tutors and instrumental specialists work in partnership. To achieve a balanced music education we MUST continue and enhance the work undertaken by Music Education Hubs from 2015 onwards with protected central funding.'

Carole Lindsay-Douglas, Honorary Secretary, Schools Music Association: 'All of the members of the Schools Music Association (SMA) have benefited from a first class musical education and are striving in their different ways to pass on their knowledge, experience and enjoyment of this demanding subject through their work in schools at all levels and with all abilities in a truly inclusive manner. The SMA strongly endorses the call for the maintenance of the Music Education Grant beyond 2015 to support and augment the work going on in state schools. Never again must our country be known as "the land without music."'

Julia Leggett, Chief Executive, ACM: 'Music is fundamental. At ACM we have developed tens of thousands of young people musically over our almost 20 years and have seen the direct positive impact of musical appreciation in both career development and personal development. It should be everyone's wish to see music central to young people's lives and indeed life in general, we are therefore in full support of ISM in ensuring music is central both culturally and educationally.'

Paul McManus, Chief Executive, Music Industries Association, Music for All charity: 'Everyone in the musical instrument industry knows how important it is for children to be able to learn to make music. We see young lives improved and transformed everyday through music and we stand shoulder to shoulder with our music education partners in lobbying to ensure continued funding for the music hubs.'

David Sulkin, Executive Director, Help Musicians UK: 'For years now funding for music education has lurched from crisis to crisis. There have been glimpses of hope, for example the outstanding initiative, Music Manifesto - an inspiring vision to empower specialist and generalist teachers to work together to encourage the widest possible access to music in schools. The wings of Music Manifesto were clipped as the bird emerged from its nest. Sing Up, another motivating initiative to give all children access to the basics of music-making, has been privatised. We only have one last chance to make the case for music education for all. We must not miss it. All musicians and those who believe in its power, shout now!'

Sue Beckett, Director of Portsmouth Music Hub: 'Portsmouth Music Hub is a dynamic network of organisations committed to working effectively to enhance music and music education in Portsmouth. Partnership working has transformed the musical opportunities available to children and young people as well as enabling the community in Portsmouth to engage with the Hub. The Hub offers a way for every organisation supporting music education in Portsmouth to be directly involved and to network with schools, young people and the whole community.'

Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the ISM: 'Funding for Music Education Hubs, has already been reduced by 23% over three years, so any further cuts would seriously put at risk the Government’s commitment to a high quality music education and undermine an already stretched music education offer in our schools. It is essential that the Government continues to back our world class music educators and commit to on-going funding which will make the promises of the National Plan for Music Education a reality.'

Nigel M Taylor, Chair, The UK Association for Music Education - Music Mark: 'Music Services throughout England play the vital role in leading and supporting the 123 Music Education Hubs to harness the wealth of local and regional expertise and experience to build the best music education opportunities for children and young people in and out of schools. But their success in delivering the National Plan for Music Education for all children is being undermined by year on year cuts in government funding, more downward pressure on schools' budgets and the growing difficulty for many parents to make financial contributions to the costs of music tuition. Music Mark calls on government to protect and increase its ring fenced funding, accelerate its fair funding for all schools and grow economic stability and vibrancy for parents and families, so that all children can benefit from a great music education in the future."

Richard Hallam MBE, Chair, Music Education Council: 'The Music Education Council advocates the highest quality of music education for every child and young person. It is impossible to conceive of this being delivered by schools alone and it is vital that the area-level partnerships being forged through the formation of the Music Education Hubs continue to receive the support that they need to grow and flourish. Protected central funding at least equivalent to that already committed for 2014/2015, is essential.'