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.

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

Posts tagged “MUSIC IN SCHOOLS”

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Play time: the benefit of music in schools

Posted on 28th February 2023 at 12:22

This month, we hear from PPL PRS, the organisation behind TheMusicLicence – a key factor in allowing schools to play recorded music.

They explore the impact music can have for children’s development, and tell us why TheMusicLicence is so important for schools and musicians alike.

What is the point of music education, anyway?

Posted on 31st January 2023 at 10:40

Image credit: Siniz Kim, Unsplash

In the national debate about what the school curriculum should look like, music education can too often lose out when held up against ‘core’ subjects like Maths and English. You could even be forgiven for thinking that music education is a ‘nice to have’ – a ‘soft’ subject that only serves a real purpose for young people who hope to pursue a career in music.

But this couldn’t be further from the truth. This month, we explore why music education is important for everyone, and the benefits it can deliver beyond learning about music itself.

Report - Music: a guide for governing boards (2021)

Posted on 30th May 2021 at 17:30

On 28th May 2021, Arts Council England, in partnership with the National Governors Association (NGA) and Music Mark, published an updated guide to music education for School Governors.

Having School Governors who are supportive of Arts Education is vital for maintaining access to and high standards for Cultural Education in schools.

Here is our overview of the report and our top tips on embedding and showcasing music in your school.

Jazz: the “Standard Repertoire”

Posted on 15th June 2020 at 16:06

Jazz standards are musical compositions that form a fundamental part of the repertoire and language of jazz.

They are often performed and recorded, and are therefore widely known to listeners.

They are also used within education to introduce key musical concepts such as certain chord progressions and modes.

The Decline in Numbers Taking GCSEs in Creative Subjects

Posted on 27th August 2019 at 12:10

Figures released by the Joint Council for Qualifications on 22nd August, as GCSE results were announced, showed that although applicants for GCSE Art and Design and Performing Arts increased, overall, the number of students taking GCSEs in Creative subjects, (defined as define arts subjects as Art & Design, Dance, Design & Technology, Drama, Media/Film/TV Studies, Music and Performing/expressive arts), has decreased.

Survey Returns Bleak Picture of Music Education in Schools

Posted on 29th October 2018 at 14:00

A recent University of Sussex survey of 500 schools in England shows a worrying picture for music in schools. The findings, released at the beginning of October, show that staffing levels in music departments have fallen in nearly 36% of schools, with 70% of surviving music specialists required to teach outside their subject to fill gaps.

The report, by Senior Teaching Fellow in Education (Education), Duncan Mackrill, also highlighted a 10% fall in the number of students taking a GCSE music course since 2016, fewer schools providing GCSE music as an option, and only some schools offering the subject out of school hours. Of the schools surveyed, 18% do not offer GCSE music at all.