Unsettling News for School's Tape-Roller Musicians: Unfavorable Gale Ahead
New and Improved Article:
(Here's a fresh, lively look at the shrinking number of youngsters strumming the recorder in modern-day schools)
Tootles to the Recorder: What Does Its Decline Mean for Kids' Musical Education?
Folks across the UK might be letting out a collective sigh of relief, thinking that fewer youngsters are making Napoleon Dynamite-esque, ear-piercing noises with the recorder. But we should be alarmed by the recent drop in recorder playing, according to a new Associated Board of the Royal School of Music survey on the state of music education.
Why kick up a fuss about this little, plastic noisemaker? Well, the recorder has a distinguished history, having been favored by kings like Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth II, who even played a carrot-made one at a fancy reception! Moreover, it's been a go-to starting instrument for UK schoolkids since the 1950s, thanks to its simplicity and ease of use.
But, alas, the recorder's reign as an educational powerhouse appears to be waning. Recent numbers reveal that only 16% of students are now playing it, down from a robust 28% just a decade ago!
One factor behind this slide is youngsters' growing preference for trendier, flashier instruments like electric guitars, flutes, and ukuleles. Who dreams of rocking out on a recorder solo from Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, anyhow?
Yet, there's more to this story than shredding guitars and fancy flutes. A stark report from Ofsted in 2023 exposed a glaring weakness: while the vast majority of UK primary schools offer some music education, only half provide actual instrumental or vocal training for students. Furthermore, the survey found a sharp drop-off in music participation around ages 12 and 15, along with dwindling GCSE enrollments.
To make matters worse, a dearth of music teachers is causing issues. A whopping 900 fewer teaching positions exist today compared to 2012, with around one-third of current educators planning to depart within five years.
While some students pick up shinier, more alluring instruments, affordable, old-school recorders offer a low-cost way to introduce young minds to fundamental concepts like melody, rhythm, technique, and musicality. Regrettably, its falling out of favor suggests that access to high-quality music education may be dwindling.
But there's hope on the horizon. Bridget Phillipson, the UK's education secretary, has lamented that the arts, including music, are increasingly the domain of families with disposable income, not a basic element of school curriculum like math and reading. With a government review of the education system underway, advocates are urging policy changes to make music a core subject and close a £161million gap in funding for music education programs.
Think learning an instrument like the recorder is a waste of time? Think again. According to renowned music educator Carl Orff, playing a musical instrument helps develop fine motor skills, ear training, and fosters a lifelong appreciation for different genres and cultures. As somebody who started by banging on a piano and blowing into a trumpet as a child, music education plays a crucial role in shaping one's future.
And guess who else appreciates the value of music education? None other than Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who began his journey as a Guildhall music scholar playing multiple instruments, including the recorder!
So, instead of dismissing the recorder as an old-fashioned, unbearable noise, we should view it as a gateway to unlocking the rich world of music and skills for a wider audience of children.
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[1] “Music-Making Survey Reveals Shift in Instrument Popularity and Concerns Over Decline in Recorder Playing,” The Times, 2024. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/music-making-survey-reveals-shift-in-instrument-popularity-and-concerns-over-decline-in-recorder-playing-6rsft79sk
[2] “Ofsted Report Reveals Major Flaws in UK Primary Music Education,” The Guardian, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/22/ofsted-report-reveals-major-flaws-in-uk-primary-music-education
[3] “The Perception Issue: Why Aren’t More Kids Picking Up the Recorder?” BBC Music, 2024. https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/article/2024/03/18/the-perception-issue-why-arent-more-kids-picking-up-the-recorder
The decline in recorder playing might not just be a matter of trendy instruments, as it suggests a possible decrease in access to high-quality music education, reflected in the shrinking number of music teachers and the underrepresentation of music as a core subject in the UK's education system. Furthermore, this situation raises questions about the long-term impact of music education on lifestyle, education-and-self-development, and even general-news perspectives, considering its value in fostering various skills and cultural appreciation.
