Parents’ career concerns leading to curtailing of music

The report, Musical Pride: Music education in plural communities, published by the UCL Institute of Education, examined music education in three communities with diverse populations, looking at the provision by Music Hubs – groups of local providers of music education.

The research found that as music was not generally valued as highly as more academic subjects and, when difficult choices had to be made, it often lost out to other subjects or extra-curricular activities.

Ambivalence in families about the value of music in supporting students’ future careers also meant that they did not always encourage music participation.

The transition between primary and secondary school also had an impact on continued access to music education, as time pressures meant that some did not receive music lessons until the spring or summer term of their first year at secondary school.