Sign in Support of Music

I recently posted a topic on the ABRSM teachers’ forum entitled ‘What’s Happening to GCSE Music?’ This was prompted by the news that my sons’ (large) comprehensive school has stopped offering Music as a GCSE option.

I was fascinated by the responses to this – particularly as they seem to suggest considerable variations depending where you live – and also show that young musicians who attend private schools have a distinct advantage. I suppose this is no real surprise but I do feel the gap between private and state schools (with regard to the Arts) has become much wider since I was at school.

I remember when I chose my options, equal weight was given to all subjects (apart from English and Mathematics which were compulsory). So, students had a free choice out of History, Physics, Art, Biology, Geography, Music etc.

Our teachers never made us feel that Music and Art were ‘soft options’. These days, however, students have no choice but to study the sciences – and even the students themselves seem to feel that scientists deserve more ‘respect’. In the case of my elder son, studying science subjects was a complete waste as he had no interest in them and – despite getting high grades in the exams – retains nothing of what he learned (only a year ago). Why try to turn everyone into a scientist? … The world needs musicians, actors and artists as well!

For those who feel that the teaching of Arts should be given more prominence and included in the Ebacc, one contributor to the ABRSM forum posted a link to a petition which anyone can sign.