Amplifying Access: Unpacking the Vitality of Music Education at Scale

20/11/2023

HP Foundation in collaboration with LMP Action CIC with Students Workshop

This year, the HarrisonParrott Foundation is delighted to present its annual Symposium, co-presented by St. George’s Bristol: Music Education at Scale. This discussion topic is particularly pertinent in the current cultural and educational climate, where music is vanishing from school curricula. 

The Problem

The fading presence of music education within the school curriculum is a stark reality. As education systems undergo transformations, music is facing a decline in emphasis and accessibility. The statistical evidence supporting this unfortunate trend underscores the urgency with which we must address the issue.

©Arts Professional

Music Education at Scale 

The concept of Music Education at Scale encapsulates a broad spectrum of initiatives. It includes educational institutions, trusts, hubs, and organisations that extend their reach to serve a wide community of young individuals: Enterprises who have broadened their reach beyond one classroom or one school. Moreover, Music Education at Scale encompasses the success stories of modest projects that have effectively expanded their scope, influencing larger communities and creating a more profound impact. The concept of scale and the ability to serve extended networks is especially important now, as economically-challenged schools find themselves unable to fund music education or peripatetic music teachers in their own ecology. 

©Department for Education

Our Response: The Symposium 

In response to the critical need for dialogue and collaborative action, the HarrisonParrott Foundation is proud to host the Symposium, a platform that unites three pivotal stakeholder groups: educational institutions, community music hubs, and changemakers (local authorities and government). Recognising our role as facilitators in the pursuit of cultural enrichment through music education, we aim to provide a space for the exchange of insights, strategies, and best practices.

The Symposium will feature presentations of compelling case studies, shedding light on both triumphs and challenges in the realm of music education. Attendees can expect a diverse array of programmes that have demonstrated success, as well as those that may have encountered obstacles. The goal is not only to showcase achievements but also to provide valuable insights and advice that school leaders and music educators can leverage in their own contexts.

©AQA Campaign for the Arts