Charity warns music education facing 'tragic' decline

A charity is warning music education is declining at such a rate it is at risk of "disappearing" entirely.

Bristol-based Sound World is concerned there will not be enough musicians and music teachers to "sustain a viable music culture" in the UK unless policies change.

The charity is running a new podcast series featuring leading musicians from across the country amid concerns music could become the "preserve of the wealthy elite".

Meanwhile, the government said it wants to "break down barriers" to music education.

Founded in 2018, Sound World commissions concerts and runs workshops and outreach schemes in Bristol around the sphere of classical and contemporary music.

But director Julian Leeks said the "tragic" decline in participation in musical education went beyond the classical genre.

"Fewer" schools are engaging in music, and disadvantaged students in the Bristol area are "extremely unlikely" to be receiving regular lessons," he added.

A UK Parliament Education Committee report published in 2024 found the number of music teachers recruited for training was among the lowest of any subject.

"The vast majority of people across all forms of music have had inspiring teachers and the vast majority come across music in schools - and it is disappearing," said Mr Leeks.

He said "changes in government policy" means schools now focus on "hitting targets" in core subjects such as Maths and English, rather than arts subjects.

The charity's new podcast series 'A Land Without Music' looks at the state of music in the UK in 2025 and how it can be "safeguarded" for future generations.

They believe music education in schools is essential for young people to develop life skills like self-confidence and communication.

Mr Leeks thinks there has been a shift in the numbers of teachers that can play instruments and that the emergence of "absolutely soulless" pre-recorded backing tracks used in music education is disadvantaging pupils.

He also said the exemption of arts subjects from the English Baccalaureate, which measures the achievement of schools and pupils in certain GCSE subjects, means "only privileged people are able to pursue music".

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said they were "committed to ensuring access to the arts is no longer the preserve of a privileged few".

They added the government was "helping make sure all pupils can discover their musical talents and creativity".