The Musicians’ Union (MU) has commissioned a major piece of research on music education in the UK.
Conducted by Dr Jonathan Savage, Reader in Education at Manchester Metropolitan University, supported by David Barnard, an Education Official at the MU, the research will seek to build on the findings of the MU’s 2017 Education Report, which highlighted challenges relating to access to music education, workforce fragmentation and contradictory government policy. The research will revisit these themes and generate new data by surveying the views of teachers, parents, headteachers and other stakeholders.
Surveys to form basis of MU research on music education
The primary research tool will be four surveys, which will be aimed at:
- Teachers with a responsibility for music who work in schools
- Instrumental music teachers who work in music services, hubs or as independent teachers
- Managers of music services, music education hubs or other organisations that deliver music education to young people
- Headteachers of Primary, Secondary or Special schools
All four surveys can be found at www.musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2018/Jun/Musicians-Union-Research-into-the-State-of-Music.
MU members and non-members alike are invited to complete as many of the surveys as are relevant. The information collected will form the basis of a report and future advocacy but details of all participating individuals and organisations will be kept private.
Anyone wishing to get involved with the research or to find out more can contact:
- Dr Jonathan Savage at jonathan@ucanplay.org.uk
- the MU’s Education and Training Department at teachers@themu.org
Header photo: Instrumental music teachers at a Musicians’ Union training event
