Analysis: ‘I think the sports agenda is over-riding the arts agenda’
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I’ve seen local teachers underwrite the tuition for children because their families can’t afford access to teaching.
There is a perception sometimes that getting music lessons is an elitist thing for middle-class kids that’s not really necessary. That’s just not true.
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Hide AdAccess to music is not just about creating a generation of genius future musicians. It’s not just about finding the next Nicola Benedetti, even though it will help that to happen, too.
It’s about giving children a sense that music is something that you can do with your pals and with your family; that it’s an amazing, real, tangible and creative thing that kids can be involved in together. It has all sorts of other spin-off benefits in terms of physical and mental well-being, but the whole idea of being a part of something is immensely important.
When I learned to play an instrument as a child, I learned to commit myself to the idea that music is something that people naturally do together. I took piano lessons at school, and there were amazing teachers within my community who ran music events, and through that I started performing in a local village band.
Today, there’s a tremendous willingness amongst teachers to offer lessons and get children involved – they just need a bit of back-up. We need to get rid of this idea that music is not for everybody. Of all the subjects children are taught in school, there’s a perception that music is the least important. It’s not. It’s hugely important. On the back of the Olympics there has been a lot of discussion about sport for kids but that needs to be matched with a sense of access to musical opportunities as well.
At the moment, I think there’s a sense that the sports agenda is over-riding the arts agenda. Of course money should be invested in sport, but we need a balance in terms of access to music.
There is a notion that music is all about celebrities, that music is about watching people on the telly.
We need to give kids a sense that music is something you don’t have to spectate on, but something you can get involved in. Making music is not an extraneous bonus – it’s a core human activity.
• Karine Polwart is a Scottish singer-songwriter