FIRST APPG FOR MUSIC EDUCATION MEETING HELD IN 2021

This year’s first APPG for Music Education meeting was held virtually on 25 May 2021. The meeting was chaired by Lord Black, following apologies from Dame Diana Johnson who was unable to attend.
Presentations were delivered by:

• Dr Jodie Underhill, Researcher, Incorporated Society of Musicians
• Kevin Rogers, music education specialist
• Professor Nathan Holder, music education consultant
• David Ward, managing director of Technology in Music Education (TiME)
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Dr Jodie Underhill opened the discussion by speaking about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on music provision in schools. Dr Underhill presented the findings of the recent ISM report, ‘The heart of the school is missing’. The report, published at the end of 2020, revealed the worrying decline of music delivery in school settings since the pandemic.

Dr Underhill concluded by highlighting the very real impact that the pandemic has had on the health and wellbeing of teachers and students alike, and the need to be aware of this issue as class teaching begins to resume in full.

Kevin Rogers spoke next about the recently published Model Music Curriculum within the context of the government’s music education framework and wider policies and initiatives. Mr Rogers concluded his presentation by outlining that the music education sector needs a complete curriculum framework through a refreshed National Plan for Music Education. He stressed that this should be designed by the wider music education community before publication.

David Ward, managing director of Technology in Music Education (TiME), gave a brief presentation into the application of music technology in the delivery of music education.

Professor Nate Holder, music education consultant, author, and advocate for decolonising music education, spoke on the importance of critically engaging with the music curriculum and its colonial past.

Professor Holder spoke about the dominance of a white, Western European and American knowledge base and history in both the curriculum and outlook within music education. He went on to consider the need to challenge this dominance to address the issue of underrepresentation in both educational resources and music education spaces.
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John Robinson concluded by emphasising the need to listen, reflect critically and act to achieve change the sector is calling for. Mr Robinson noted that opportunities to implement meaningful change must not be missed. 

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