With Lord Lloyd-Webber warning the arts are at the ‘point of no return’, SIPS Education Chief Executive Brian Cape looks into the impact of the arts crisis at a grassroots level, and its effect on children’s music and arts tuition
As teachers, pupils and parents settle back into the school routine once again, it’s a chance for schoolchildren to not only resume their academic studies, but enjoy the myriad benefits of music, art and drama.
With the closure of schools in March, many lessons were swiftly moved online in a bid to support children’s learning through the UK lockdown months. And whilst the core subjects were focused on and work was handed out digitally or lessons delivered via video link, what of music and the arts?
At SIPS, we continue to develop creative ways to provide music-tuition across Sandwell, with a blended approach to delivery in schools: Although the preference is for face to face lessons, the ability to deliver these remotely is accessible to our schools. In addition, we have created a series of pre-recorded videos and activities for pupils/classes.
During the summer, music centre members were presented the opportunity to perform in a virtual recital series and summer virtual ensemble. Whilst it’s not possible for ensembles to meet in the usual way, it is planned to continue and develop the virtual music centre initiative into the autumn allowing members and staff to maintain this musical connection and progression.
We’ve even celebrated success in the face of adversity during lockdown, with the leader of our Youth Orchestra auditioning via YouTube and gaining a place in the CBSO Youth Orchestra, following online tuition from one of our dedicated teachers.
We have a bank of around 40 qualified and dedicated peripatetic music and arts teachers deployed to deliver quality one-to-one and group tuition.
We see first-hand that children love learning an instrument, singing and participating in music lessons at school; whether it’s purely for enjoyment, or as a chosen career path, the well-being and, pardon the pun, harmony that brings should not be underestimated. And many thousands of supremely talented youngsters emerge from school having mastered a particular instrument.
So, let’s talk about music and protecting the next generation.
We’ve found during lockdown, through surveys and speaking to our children, that music has offered a lifeline to many, helping to get them through the tough times of the pandemic, offering a release and enabling them to express themselves and focus on something that they love in the long lockdown months, which, let’s face it, have been incredibly tough on our young people.
There is currently deep concern that music will suffer as a result of the pandemic, with the head of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, James Williams, warning that Britain’s orchestras will face a shortage of homegrown talent in a decade due to the devastating impact of coronavirus on music lessons. In addition, Royal composer Paul Mealor has launched a campaign to save music lessons at schools from being axed as a result of deep financial cuts resulting from the Coronavirus crisis.
There’s no two ways about it; the arts are currently in dire straits, with all theatre and live performances suspended indefinitely, and the likes of Lord Lloyd-Webber warning government ministers the sector is at the ‘point of no return.’
This, of course, is a global issue, but one which, as we are forced to prioritise what should or shouldn’t be allowed to go ahead in attempts to stem the spread of the virus, risks causing devastating effects on the next generation of talent.
According to the Arts Council England’s 2019 report ‘Contribution of the Arts and Culture Industry to the UK Economy’ (based on data provided by the Office for National Statistics), the arts and culture industry contributed £10.8bn a year to the UK economy, £2.8bn a year to the Treasury via taxation and generated a further £23bn a year and 363,700 jobs.
But with rehearsals and performances unable to go ahead due to current government guidance, it’s a sector that’s been hit hard, financially and with the loss of talent, as furloughed and redundant theatre and music artists seek alternative income.
This is devastating; it’s such a life-enriching sector, to both performers and audiences, providing incredible mental health benefits all round. Not to mention a massive source of income.
Many young people who were interested in the arts previously may not have been fortunate enough to be able to access tuition, either due to availability or financial constraints, which has been the case in deprived boroughs such as Sandwell, where we are based. In the current climate, affordability is a huge factor, but it shouldn’t just be a preserve of the affluent.
Similarly, those students that were heading for a career in the arts may well be rethinking their future prospects with the sector in hardship; will it ever fully recover in our lifetimes? They may start to look for a ‘safer’ option, thus losing an entire generation of talent and potential – and that’s a huge loss to everyone.
We’re in a position where we stand to potentially lose the current generation of talent – and is the next generation at risk too?
The benefits of this sector to youngsters are far reaching. Music lessons at all ages are proven to offer many benefits, including fun, reading, listening, memory, social and fine motor skills, early maths, confidence building, study principles, discipline and commitment, mental health, positive activities, teamwork etc.
Darren Henley OBE Chief Executive, Arts Council England noted: “Alongside literacy and numeracy, another skill needed in our workforce today is creativity. Cultural education subjects help young people to unlock their innate creativity, enabling them to become more rounded and confident human beings.”
He added: “Studying cultural education subjects, such as art and design, dance, drama and music, sparks creativity across the curriculum, encouraging young people to be inquisitive, disciplined and determined. Wherever children start in life, a high quality cultural education in every school should be a right, not a privilege.”
Parents are facing massive financial challenges, and when some may be struggling to put a meal on the table, pricing is very sensitive when it comes to music and arts tuition, which often fall outside of ‘normal’ school provision and require additional expenditure. And that’s coupled with schools’ affordability when budgets are even tighter – councils in England are currently facing a £2bn coronavirus funding shortfall.
The challenge now is to stop tuition from being diminished any further than it already has; we need to keep talking to schools so that it doesn’t get deprioritised and wider about the benefits it offers. We need to raise awareness of the importance of music tuition as an essential, not just something nice to have.
With all of this in mind, ensuring continued priority to music and the arts is essential.
We risk losing an entire next generation of performers and for those who simply benefit from the participation – invaluable life enrichment could be lost at a time when children have already missed out on so much, due to lockdown, on time and attention with the potential for huge mental health issues.
