| answer text |
<p>The new national curriculum for music is designed to ensure that all pupils in
maintained schools have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, to perform
and to progress to the next level of musical excellence. Music remains a statutory
subject for all children between the ages of 5 and 14.</p><p>At key stage 1, children
should be taught to play tuned and un-tuned instruments musically. At key stage 2,
they should be taught to play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, playing musical
instruments with increasing fluency, and expression. At key stage 3, pupils should
build on their previous learning through playing and performing confidently with increasing
fluency and expression.</p><p>At key stage 4, children have an entitlement to study
an arts subject, and maintained schools are required to offer at least one arts subject,
which can include music.</p><p>Academies' funding agreements require them to offer
a broad and balanced curriculum. We trust headteachers to understand the benefits
of, and deliver, a high-quality music education.</p><p>In addition, we are providing
£171 million funding for 123 music education hubs across the three years 2012-15 to
improve the quality and consistency of music education in England. One of the hubs'
core roles is to ensure that every child aged 5-18 has the opportunity to learn a
musical instrument through whole-class ensemble teaching. Hubs must also provide opportunities
for pupils to play in ensembles and perform from an early stage, and ensure that clear
progression routes are available and affordable to all young people.</p><p>In the
first year of the music education hubs, nearly half a million children were given
the opportunity to learn a musical instrument for the first time and hubs organised
almost 15,000 school choirs, orchestras and bands in conjunction with schools. More
than a third of those children who learned a musical instrument for the first time
have continued learning to play. As hubs work with more schools, we want to see that
number rise.</p><p> </p>
|
|
