Since the announcement of a new non-statutory Model Music Curriculum (MMC) for KS1-3 on Friday morning as most teachers were preparing to break up for Easter, #modelmusiccurriculum has been filling music educators’ Twitter feeds.
Teachers have expressed relief over many of the guidelines given in the new curriculum, including the one hour of classroom music per week, the rejection of a carousel approach, and the fact that clear guidelines on repertoire and progression have been provided at all.
Well, I like this bit from today's #modelmusiccurriculum "Music should have a minimum of one weekly period the whole way through Key Stage 3. Carousels are not a substitute that fits with the values of comprehensive education" Yay, secondary schools, stop it, now!
— Martin Fautley (@DrFautley) March 26, 2021
Julian Lloyd Webber, who was involved in developing the model, wrote in a letter to The Times: ‘Initial reaction to the curriculum has focused on the recommendation that children should not only hear, discuss and play music but should also learn the basics of how it is written.
‘Some music teachers question the wisdom of this as if knowing the alphabet is somehow disadvantageous to learning a language.’
While music educators seem generally pleased that the new curriculum exists, some are voicing concerns, including those referenced by Lloyd Webber.
Briefly summarised and not exhaustively, some of the additional issues raised on Twitter include:
- The funding provided to hubs remains the same (£79m) as previous years, while the expectations in the classroom - particularly for non-specialist primary teachers - appear to have increased, which is raising concerns over how realistic it is to achieve this kind of curriculum in all schools.
- Some teachers feel that the Ebacc and its detrimental impact on music in schools could have been mentioned in the document.
- Tables within the document suggest that children do not need to be introduced to terms such as ‘crescendo’ and ‘rests’ until Year 4 - some teachers have said that their younger pupils know about these things already.
- Some of the repertoire choices have been questioned for different reasons. Teachers have asked why Row, Row, Row your Boat has been suggested as appropriate for Year 5, and others have pointed out that Five Little Monkeys has its origins in racism.
- Some feel that guidance for teaching music with ages 0-5 should have been included.
- The inclusion of terms such as ‘African vocal music’ and ‘African songs’ is seen by some as outdated.
- It's been pointed out that the Middle East and the West Indies are listed as countries.
- Some music educators have described the curriculum as a ‘missed opportunity’ to make reference to wider societal issues that children experience or are aware of and about which music can serve as a vehicle for discussion or change.
With it's origins coming from blackface minstrel shows, denegrating Black and Indigenous peoples, y'all probably shouldn't have included this one.... #modelmusiccurriculum @educationgovuk pic.twitter.com/dFiWGaDPfh
— Nate Holder (@N8Holder) March 26, 2021
With a new funding period for Music Education Hubs beginning this week, some people have also voiced concerns over the updated grant payments terms, which read: ‘We are asking Hubs to then show how you intend to support [the MMC] through your delivery, communications, and support for schools, where appropriate’.
The mainstream media has also been accused of fuelling the fire by publishing headlines about the curriculum which may mislead those who do not read the document in full.
I feel like we are not perhaps shouting the message loud enough that the #ModelMusicCurriculum is non-statutory. As an educator it would be irresponsible not to read and consider it, same as any other relevant DfE document, but if you then decide it’s not for you, that’s ok!
— Elizabeth Stafford (@DrLizStafford) March 27, 2021
Generally, it seems that many in the music education world are glad to see the new MMC and are hopeful about the difference it might make to children's music education, but are willing to acknowledge that it may have its flaws.
Teachers are still awaiting the new National Plan for Music Education, which remains on hold due to COVID-19.
The Model Music Curriculum can be viewed here.
Do you want to share your views on the new curriculum with us? Email music.teacher@markallengroup.com.
