Memorandum submitted by the Incorporated
Society of Musicians
MUSIC, BEHAVIOUR
AND DISCIPLINE
IN SCHOOLS
The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM)
will not be making a full submission to the Committee's inquiry
into behaviour and discipline in schools. However, we raise one
issue of concern within this letter to the committee.
SUBMISSION
1.1 We are deeply concerned by a number
of reports about a school in Derby using "classical"
music as a punishment.[40]
If music is to contribute to good behaviour and discipline, it
must be as a positive stimulant rather than being used to reinforce
negative notions of inaccessibility, exclusivity and boredom.
The use of any particular style of music as a `punishment' is
utterly unacceptable.
1.2 Recent research suggests that music
has a positive role to play in improving behaviour.
1.3 The review of the Wider Opportunities
programme by Professor Anne Bamford and Paul Glinkowski[41]
suggested that in this particular project, music education improved
pupil behaviour and discipline issues in comparison to other class
lessons and that this behaviour improvement was "in some
situations transferred to other areas of the school day".
In addition, school day attendance improved as a result of a motivation
to attend music lessons.
1.4 Alongside this research, it has been
demonstrated that music education has social, [42]emotional,
and health[43]
advantages for children from all social backgrounds.[44]
These will have a knock-on effect on behaviour and discipline.
ABOUT THE
ISM
2.1 We are the professional body for music
and musicians.
2.2 Sir Adrian Boult, Sir Thomas Beecham,
Sir Malcolm Sargent, The Lord Menuhin OM KBE (Yehudi Menuhin),
Sir David Willcocks and Dame Gillian Weir are all past chairs
of the Incorporated Society of Musicians. Our internationally
recognised Distinguished Musician Award, first awarded in 1976,
has been received by Sir William Walton OM, Jacqueline du Pre
OBE, Sir Michael Tippett OM CH CBE, Sir Colin Davis CBE, Sir Charles
Mackerras AC CH CBE and Pierre Boulez.
2.3 Founded in 1882, our 5,400 individual
members who come from all branches of the profession: soloists,
orchestral and ensemble performers, composers, teachers, academics,
a recent Mercury Prize nominee and students. Our corporate membership
of approximately 100 organisations includes Classic FM, the Associated
Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), the Worshipful Company
of Musicians, the Association of British Orchestras, all the conservatoires,
several universities and specialist music schools.
2.4 We are independent of government and
not financially dependent on any third party. Our Chief Executive,
Deborah Annetts, now chairs the Music Education Council, the umbrella
body for music education in the UK.
September 2010
40 Bach to basics regime deters school troublemakers,
Guardian newspaper, Monday 18 January 2010. Back
41
Wow, its music next: Impact evaluation of Wider Opportunities
Programme in Music at Key Stage Two, 29 January 2010. Back
42
Making more of music: an evaluation of music in schools 2005-2008,
Ofsted, 2009:58. Back
43
Choral singing, wellbeing and health, Stephen Clift et
al., Sidney de Haan Centre, August 2008. Back
44
Champions of change Edward B Fiske, The Arts Education,
1999. Back
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