Music Survey

The recently published Making Music report makes very interesting reading. The project – organised by the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) and Trinity College London – contains various facts and figures about music education, music teachers and pupils. One fact which seems particularly encouraging is that 69% of children claim to play a musical instrument.

However, as you read further into the survey it becomes evident that only half of this number actually take instrumental lessons. I imagine many of those in the remaining half consider themselves able to play an instrument because they do so in their school music lessons. Many schools these days provide keyboards for pupils to ‘have a go’ on.

Some of the other statistics are perhaps more predictable. For example, I’m not that surprised to hear that as many young people play electric guitar as violin. I’m also not surprised to see that the number of young people playing instruments drops during the late teens. The pressure from GCSE and A level exams should never be underestimated.

Click on the Introduction section of the Music Report if you wish to download the survey.