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<p>Information regarding the total number of children who have learned to play musical
instruments at school since 1997 is not held centrally. However, according to the
data for 2016/17, recently published by Arts Council England, 711,241 pupils learned
to play instruments together as a whole class through the music education hub network.
The equivalent figure for 2012/13 was 531,422.</p><p> </p><p>Music is compulsory in
the National Curriculum for pupils aged 5-14. The National Curriculum programmes of
study for music say that children should be taught to play instruments in key stages
1, 2 and 3. In maintained schools, pupils also have an entitlement in key stage 4
to study an arts subject (which includes music) if they wish.</p>
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