The Development of a Musical Youth

Education as a key to music development

The use of music education resources has to be promoted within the industry in order to improve the access and participation rates. I was particularly impressed by the Pianos for Africa initiative that worked in Kampala, Uganda. It was spearheaded by Fiona Carr, a decorated pioneer in promoting classical musical interests within the African nation where Western music was not really a priority. This can give impetus to the belief that music education resources can be used to promote this great art. Often the talent is there but the instruments and training are not available. People that live in the developed countries tend to forget the important things that they take for granted. A good piano is not outside the reach of many average schools in the United Kingdom. A school in Uganda has other priorities including food for the students. For someone to take up this initiative just shows the potential that we are missing.

If there is any way that you can improve access to music education resources within your community then you should take up the challenge. The next Mariah Carey might be sitting in some rural village not knowing what a recording studio is. If you provide the music education resources it might act as a trigger for the talent to come forward. It does not take an inordinate amount of effort and time to get a small project started. You do not have to travel in Africa but can do similar work within your local community. Far too many children grow up without a single musical instrument. Their education is composed of the ubiquitous Pokemon and the hackneyed Lord of the Rings. Where are the flautists? Where are the organists? All this is not possible without the provision of adequate music education resources. This is a charity that can transform the lives of individuals and whole communities. You will get the satisfaction of going to a concert organized by one of your wards.

On a national level no government should be without a department that is responsible for the music education resources within schools. It is all very well encouraging charities to get involved but the responsibilities of the government cannot be abandoned in this way. The administration needs to come out with strategies for delivering the kind of support that the schools need in order to make music a living testament of educational achievement within the community. This is not an impossible task and we can rejoice in the knowledge that it is well within the range of responsibilities that government can undertake. The role of the charities is to complement these efforts with their own provision of music education resources. If the two sides can work together then we can end up with a strong musical culture within the context of the educational system. That is how big ideas can arise from small problems. It is a noble undertaking and one which should have the support of everyone.