This post will be updated each time we add music education news and reports which are relevant to Wales.
News
The Welsh Music Industry: A Manifesto for Change, March 2023
Alexandra Jones explores the music education system in Wales and what changes can be made to improve opportunities for young Welsh music industry professionals.
New national plan for music education in Wales & free instruments, May 2022
All children in Wales will have free access to a musical instrument from September and a new National Music Service will be set up to coordinate activities delivered by local authorities and others. £4.5 million a year will be allocated.
What’s next for music education [in Wales]?, May 2022
On Tuesday (17 May 2022), Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and Welsh Language will update the Senedd on plans for a National Music Service and National Plan for Music Education.
Minister announces funding boost to support music & arts in new curriculum, December 2021
Jeremy Miles, Education and Welsh Language Minister has announced a £6.82m funding boost to support creativity within the curriculum by providing additional music resources to schools.
New Welsh school curriculum law approved by Senedd, March 2021
In 2022, secondary school subjects will be incorporated into six ‘areas of learning and experience’, one of which is, ‘expressive arts’.
Theatr Clwyd adopts Flintshire Music Service securing county’s future of youth music, December 2020
In a move that will protect the future of youth music in Flintshire and the music lessons provided to over 2,500 young people, Theatr Clwyd has adopted Flintshire Music Service.
Anthem publishes two reports researching young people’s music in Wales, October 2020
Anthem, the fund for young people’s music in Wales, has published two initial reports into young people’s music in Wales. The first is a mapping report surveying people and organisations working with young people in music in Wales. The second is a consultation with a sample of young people from across Wales, carried out in partnership with Youth Music.
A letter to the Welsh Minister for Education, September 2020
Music Mark, the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Tŷ Cerdd and Anthem have written to Kirsty Williams, AS on behalf of the music education providers in Wales calling for the public support of music as an indispensable subject on the curriculum.
Composer from Flintshire launches major campaign to save Land of Song, August 2020
Professor Paul Mealor, who was raised in Connah’s Quay, spoke out as Patron of the North Wales Music Co-operative amid fears music lessons will be axed as a result of deep financial cuts in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis.
School curriculum overhaul for Wales published, January 2020
The final version of the new curriculum for Wales has been published, as schools prepare for a complete overhaul of how children are taught.
Music Services Feasibility Study published, January 2020
The study was commissioned by the Welsh Government to identify and assesses the options for the future delivery of music education in Wales.
New music fund for Wales launches survey of music opportunities for young people, November 2019
Anthem, is the new foundation set up by Welsh Government to invest in opportunities in music for young people in Wales. Its vision is for all young people aged 3-25 to be able to participate in and develop through music of all genres and in all communities.
Welsh schools need a national plan for music, November 2019
Creativity is at the heart of the plans for the new curriculum, so National Education Union members’ concerns about music in schools needs to be taken seriously.
Spending cuts to music lessons risk taking education back to Victorian era, August 2019
Plans to make some parents pay for their children’s music lessons will take Conwy back to Victorian times, a top Eisteddfod official has warned.
‘No intention’ to axe Ceredigion school music tuition, March 2019
Council leader denies a threat to its schools music service amid claims it faces a budget cut of two-thirds.
Wales urged to consider moving music services away from local authorities, November 2018
The Welsh Government has also been advised to establish national pop and rock competitions, and significantly increase funding for musical instruments.
Reports
Anthem publishes two reports researching young people’s music in Wales, October 2020
Anthem, the fund for young people’s music in Wales, has published two initial reports into young people’s music in Wales. The first is a mapping report surveying people and organisations working with young people in music in Wales. The second is a consultation with a sample of young people from across Wales, carried out in partnership with Youth Music.
This report by the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee at the National Assembly for Wales focuses on addressing the shortfalls in music education provision and achieving consistency across Wales. This is to ensure that every child, regardless of their location or financial backing, has an equal opportunity to progress to excellence.
The aim of this research is to provide important background information for the development of a National Music Education Performance Strategy for Wales, which would provide synergy between National Youth Arts, Arts Council Wales (for example the Creative Learning Through the Arts – An Action Plan For Wales 2015 – 2020 report (see below) and Donaldson (2015)), providing for a statuary, core, access offer, on the basis of access, equality and affordability for all.
This report examined the current and asserted the future role of local authority music services in supporting schools to deliver high quality music education in Wales.
In 2015, the Welsh Government published its strategic objectives for creative learning through the arts in Wales from 2015 to 2020. In partnership with Arts Council Wales, the Welsh Government’s plan responded to the 12 recommendations in Professor Dai Smith’s report.
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