EXCLUSIVE
A groundbreaking plan to save Britain’s floundering music lessons would see an orchestra created in every school to help safeguard the £7.6bn world leading industry’s future. The Association of British Orchestras (ABO) initiative would see UK orchestras and ensembles, in collaboration with schools and music educators, deliver over a thousand live music making opportunities in 2025, with the aim of giving over one million children and young people the opportunity to experience live music, no matter their school resources, abilities or disability.
The ABO is also calling on the Government to pledge its support for providing access to live music making for all children and young people. This pledge would take the form of a statutory minimum of two hours of active music making every week for all children and young people until the age of 16, and for all schools to have access to live music making. A recent report from the Cultural Learning Alliance found that, between 2010 and 2024, there was a 43 per cent fall in the number of A level entries in Music, with almost half (42 per cent) of all secondary schools no longer offering Music GCSE.
Additionally, a recent Demos report, commissioned by Music Mark found that the current government inherited a ’black hole’ in its music education budget, amounting to a shortfall of £161.4m.
ABO Chief Executive, Judith Webster, said: “The sobering statistics found in recent research highlight why ‘An Orchestra in Every School’ is crucial.
“We know that making music as a group improves focus, enhances mood and strengthens social bonds, and there is such a powerful emotion that comes from experiencing a live performance.
“That is why it’s our aspiration for every school in the UK to either have an orchestra of its own – however they define that – or access to live music making.”
Findings show that opportunities for live music making have notable cognitive, emotional and social growth in children and young people and that is why more needs to be done.
Judith added: “We know first hand from our member orchestras how impactful live performances can be for children and young people. We are committed to our ambitious target of supporting one million children and young people access opportunities to make live music; the government has said in the past that live music is a vital part of a child’s education and we look forward to seeing their support during these formative school years.
“If there is no live music in your school, you could contact an ABO member orchestra directly, ask the head teacher to connect with Music Hubs and Services, and find out if there are any musicians in your school community and could come into school.”
The Daily Express’ Strike A Chord crusade is fighting to save the nation’s failing music education system and create a more successful funding model to reinvigorate the talent pipeline in which students can flourish.
We have reported on how the future of the UK’s world-leading recording and live performance industry is in jeopardy unless music lessons are restored as a key part of the national curriculum.
The campaign was launched after a devastating report found the number of A-level students has halved in the past decade and some schools have less than £1 a year per pupil to spend on music provision.
Barry Farrimond-Chuong MBE, CEO, Open Up Music said: “Through our National Open Youth Orchestra and Open Orchestras programmes, we create regular opportunities for hundreds of young disabled students to make music each year. ‘Orchestra’ can sound formal, but at its heart, it’s about belonging — a place where young people, often excluded elsewhere, can build confidence, form friendships, and share a love of music. Every young person should have the chance to play an instrument and be part of an orchestra — it can be truly life-changing.”
Nicholas John, Headteacher of Acland Burghley school said: “Having the orchestra as an integral part of the school has been impactful on our students, who are growing and thriving as a result of having access to high quality experiences in music and other areas. As a result we have seen impact in GCSE music outcomes, student attendance and wellbeing, and increased extra-curricular and career related opportunities for students.”
Bridget Whyte, CEO, Music Mark, said: “Playing in and listening to live instrumental ensembles is a vital element of inspiring students to develop musically as well as encouraging collaboration. Every school should provide opportunities for young people to experience music making in ensembles and with their peers.”