ambient Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 I have a job interview in a month or so time for sessional music teaching for my local council's music hub. As suggested in the letter from the music hub, I'm reading through 'The Importance of Music : a National Plan for Music Education'. A document produced by the Department for Culture Media and Sport. They quote Aristotle and Plato on the opening page, quotes about the benefit of music. They then have a lengthy foreword about England's fantastic musical heritage, and how the country's musicians create some of the best music the world has ever heard. Then page 4 they get down to the financing of the country's musical education. Here's what they say - [i]The Department for Education (DfE) will continue to fund music education at significant levels during difficult economic times: £77m/£65m/£60m will be available in the three years from April 2012. The vast majority of this will be invested in hubs that will also supplement and draw-in local and national funding for music - from local authorities, cultural organisations, businesses, trusts, foundations and philanthropists.[/i] If it's as important to them as they say, then why are they cutting the budget for music education between 2012 and 2015 by £17 million ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Depressingly, it's straight 'austerity' cuts, been going on a while > http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-27663696 This plus the massive cuts to Arts Council funding aren't great news for music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizontalste Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 It's really just a sign of the times I think, everything is getting cut and it seems there's not much we can do about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1426459263' post='2718299']If it's as important to them as they say, then why are they cutting the budget for music education between 2012 and 2015 by £17 million ?[/quote] ... because it's what the Tories do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted March 15, 2015 Author Share Posted March 15, 2015 I just thought it bizarre that on pages 1, 2 and 3 they extolling the virtue and importance of music education, then page 4 they basically state what they think by mentioning the decreasing budgets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1426460839' post='2718314'] I just thought it bizarre that on pages 1, 2 and 3 they extolling the virtue and importance of music education, then page 4 they basically state what they think by mentioning the decreasing budgets. [/quote] They think it's a good thing, so they're restricting it to those who can pay for it. Like lots of other stuff. Private education and private health care, to name but two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 [quote name='Toasted' timestamp='1426460791' post='2718312'] ... because it's what the Tories do. [/quote] Nail on head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1426459263' post='2718299'] and how the country's musicians create some of the best music the world has ever heard. [/quote] Im not sure that the free musical education provided in this country can take much credit for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1426460839' post='2718314'] I just thought it bizarre that on pages 1, 2 and 3 they extolling the virtue and importance of music education, then page 4 they basically state what they think by mentioning the decreasing budgets. [/quote] They may well be ...but they are directed to cut from above. And in these fraught times, I'd hardly expect Arts to get off scot-free. I doubt the NHS can realistically expect to be ring-fenced for the lenght of the next parliament either so I don't think anyone can make a case for exclusion..?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1426513304' post='2718641'] scot-free. [/quote] Well the get everything else for nowt even without Devo max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 [quote name='Toasted' timestamp='1426460791' post='2718312'] ... because it's what the Tories do. [/quote] And the others are delusional enough to not do the same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.