The Music Workshop Company Blog

Each month the Music Workshop Company publishes two blogs. One blog, written by the MWC team addresses a key issue in Music Education or gives information about a particular genre or period of music. The other blog is written by a guest writer, highlighting good practice or key events in Music Education. We hope you enjoy reading the blogs.

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To contribute as a guest writer please email Maria@music-workshop.co.uk

Posts tagged “MUSIC EDUCATION FUNDING”

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What's the future for university music courses?

Posted on 16th August 2024 at 12:51

A stage with empty seating for an orchestra

Picture by Rui Alves, Unsplash

The last few years have been a challenging time for arts education in the UK. As educational institutions have struggled with rising costs and funding decreases, we have seen a series of decisions to cut back university music education across the country.

And while most of these cuts have affected courses for post-18 students, junior departments have not been immune. This summer, young musicians hoping to attend weekend courses at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama were disappointed to learn of the closure of this provision.

We explore what has been happening in the sector, the reasons behind these closures, and – with a new government in place – what the future may hold for music in higher education.

New Plan for Music Education

Posted on 30th August 2022 at 17:54

Image: Caleb George, Unsplash

This summer, the Government published its National Plan for Music Education, known in Music Education circles as the NPME. Its full, bold title is ‘The power of music to change lives: a National Plan for Music Education’ – but can it live up to this ambition?

As schools head back after the summer holidays, how might the NPME for England influence their thinking and their planning? And crucially, do they have the resources to put it into action?

Maria Thomas, MWC’s Artistic Director, gives her view.

The National Plan for Music Education in Wales

Posted on 30th August 2022 at 16:48

As schools return in Wales, they will begin implementing the new Music in Schools programme, part of the National Plan for Music Education that was announced in May. A key element of the plan is the establishment of a National Music Service.

MWC’s Artistic Director, Maria Thomas, gives her opinion on the plan.

50% funding cut to arts subjects in Higher Education

Posted on 30th July 2021 at 14:02

In an extremely troubling move that will further sideline arts education in England, the Government has confirmed that it will be cutting the teaching grant (T-grant) for Higher Education arts by a devastating 50% this coming academic year.

This is despite the results of the Government’s own consultation in which 95% respondents strongly disagreed with the cut, strong opposition across the creative industries and education, and a petition from the Public Campaign for the Arts which has generated more than 166,000 signatures.

Creativity in Education

Posted on 29th October 2019 at 11:34

Earlier this month, the Durham Commission published its final report following a two-year review of Creativity in Education. The Commission is a collaboration between Arts Council England and Durham University. It aims to identify ways in which creativity, and specifically creative thinking, can play a larger part in the lives of young people from birth to the age of 19, both within and beyond the current education system.