As I write, the country is on coronavirus lockdown, and music teaching is only possible online. Many of us are facing significant challenges, like suddenly having to home school our children, or struggling to access financial support from the government. Classroom teachers have the additional stress of still being out on the front line, putting themselves at risk to teach the children of key workers.
There are positives, though. The speed with which much music tuition has moved online has been a credit to teachers, parents and students alike. It has been good to see so many schools and music services/hubs develop internet teaching protocols so quickly, while sector support organisations have acted fast to help teachers move smoothly to digital ways of working. For those who cannot teach right now, for whatever reason, the government must provide income support for as long as needed.
A sad reality after all this will be massive national debt, which is likely to impact the whole of society for years to come. We wait to see whether the new National Plan for Music Education – for which we were all scrambling to fi le consultation responses just a few short weeks ago – will now materialise. This is a critical matter for the continued funding of music education hubs, and we must hope that the machinery of government can spare a few cogs and pistons – and pounds – to keep this area of policy running.
Many of us will have had new realisations at this strange time, born of plentiful time to reflect. I have been gratified to observe the extent to which music and the arts have successfully rallied the nation's spirits through live-streamed concerts, virtual choirs, televised theatrical productions and more. Such activity shows that the arts can nurture public wellbeing on a large scale, which I hope secures them a central role in our post-pandemic future.
This is my final issue as editor of MT. It has been a pleasure to return to the hot seat for a while, and I am delighted to be passing the magazine to the capable hands of Claire Jackson. I wish health and happiness for you all, and the resumption of more normal times for everyone.
