A government pledge which has implied that funding for music education will continue has been welcomed by the Music Industries Association (MIA).
The body was reacting to news that the coalition expects that it will “continue to provide funding” for the subject, despite implementing a host of other cuts within education.
Education secretary Michael Gove recently explained that, although current grants are coming to an end, he is committed to helping improve the standard of music provision in schools in England and drew attention to the Henley Review of Music Education.
Added to this, the government has announced that it has made an additional £625 million available for disadvantaged children, some of which MIA believes can be used to support music education.
And chief executive of the industry body Paul McManus said he welcomes the recent government comments. He explained that it was recognition for the contribution which is made to the UK economy by music as a whole.
“The UK economy, through its creative industries, benefits significantly from music, with over 130,000 people employed actively in the making, performing, recording and distributing of music contributing nearly £5 billion to the economy annually,” he added.
“Just as importantly, music develops creativity and contributes uniquely to raising attainment in literacy and numeracy and should therefore be a key part of a broad and balanced school curriculum.”
A recent poll conducted by YouGov and the Incorporated Society of Musicians found that the majority of the public are in favour of giving children the opportunity to learn a musical instrument while they are at school.
Of those questioned, 91 per cent of the public were supportive of free tuition in schools, while more than 75 per cent backed maintaining the current level of government funding.
The body was reacting to news that the coalition expects that it will “continue to provide funding” for the subject, despite implementing a host of other cuts within education.
Education secretary Michael Gove recently explained that, although current grants are coming to an end, he is committed to helping improve the standard of music provision in schools in England and drew attention to the Henley Review of Music Education.
Added to this, the government has announced that it has made an additional £625 million available for disadvantaged children, some of which MIA believes can be used to support music education.
And chief executive of the industry body Paul McManus said he welcomes the recent government comments. He explained that it was recognition for the contribution which is made to the UK economy by music as a whole.
“The UK economy, through its creative industries, benefits significantly from music, with over 130,000 people employed actively in the making, performing, recording and distributing of music contributing nearly £5 billion to the economy annually,” he added.
“Just as importantly, music develops creativity and contributes uniquely to raising attainment in literacy and numeracy and should therefore be a key part of a broad and balanced school curriculum.”
A recent poll conducted by YouGov and the Incorporated Society of Musicians found that the majority of the public are in favour of giving children the opportunity to learn a musical instrument while they are at school.
Of those questioned, 91 per cent of the public were supportive of free tuition in schools, while more than 75 per cent backed maintaining the current level of government funding.