12th December 2024
A once-in-a-generation parliamentary inquiry into music education has released its report today, with a wide range of recommendations to advance music and arts education and training in New South Wales.
“This report is a major milestone for music education in NSW and its recommendations would go a long way to addressing the issues that prevent many students in NSW schools having access to a quality education in music,” said AMA Executive Officer, Alex Masso. “I see the recommendation to develop a Music Education Plan as the heart of this project and the foundation on which many other recommendations can be implemented.”
“A child born when the National Review of Music Education was released in 2005 would have finished school by now, many of the issues in that report are still present and can be found in this report almost 20 years later. This is an opportunity to give the next generation greater access to quality music education, whoever they are and wherever they go to school. Let’s get started.” said Masso.
The Australian Music Association provided a substantial submission to the inquiry and gave evidence at a hearing. The AMA is also part of the Advisory Group for Music Education Right From The Start, which has spearheaded advocacy around this issue and this committee in particular.
The AMA called for dedicated funding for schools and financial support for students learning music, these are not part of the recommendations but the proposals to improve access to music in primary schools show a lot of potential to support the current and next generations of children in NSW.
The report is over 200 pages long. AMA Executive Officer Alex Masso has written an initial response to the report.
