This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/6264899.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
£10m cash boost for school music School music gets extra funding
(about 12 hours later)
A £10m package of measures to boost singing and music education in primary schools in England is to be announced. A £10m package of measures to boost singing and music education in primary schools in England has been announced.
The extra cash will allow choir schools to work in partnership with other local schools and fund a national singing campaign. The extra cash will fund a national singing campaign in primary schools led by composer Howard Goodall who has been named as a new "singing ambassador".
Composer Howard Goodall will lead the campaign as a new "singing ambassador". It will also allow choir schools to work closely with other local schools.
A new songbook with a top 30 of songs for whole-class singing is to be compiled, with teachers and children nominating songs for inclusion.A new songbook with a top 30 of songs for whole-class singing is to be compiled, with teachers and children nominating songs for inclusion.
'Right note''Right note'
Education Secretary Alan Johnson is due to give details of the proposals at the State of Play festival at the Roundhouse in Camden, north London, on Tuesday. Education Secretary Alan Johnson gave details of the proposals at the State of Play festival at the Roundhouse in Camden, north London, on Tuesday.
"As well as being worthwhile activity for its own sake, music is a powerful learning tool which can build children's confidence, teamwork and language skills," Mr Johnson is expected to say. It was part of the government's response to the second music manifesto report which calls for an end to the postcode lottery of music education.
Mr Johnson said: "As well as being worthwhile activity for its own sake, music is a powerful learning tool which can build children's confidence, teamwork and language skills.
"A better musical education for pupils can also help them hit the right note in their studies.""A better musical education for pupils can also help them hit the right note in their studies."
The extra money will also fund the roll-out of a programme, called Music Start, designed to engage parents and young children in music Not only does music enhance all our lives, he said, but studies have shown that children who can read music have a greater ability to memorise facts.
The extra money brings the amount of cash invested in music in schools to £95m.
It will also fund the roll-out of a programme, called Music Start, designed to engage parents and young children in music.
The Youth Service Survey 2006 found that 79% of schools said singing is an important part of school life.The Youth Service Survey 2006 found that 79% of schools said singing is an important part of school life.
Music has a tremendous power to bring people together Alan Johnson, Education SecretaryMusic has a tremendous power to bring people together Alan Johnson, Education Secretary
Seven out of 10 schools use singing in national curriculum subjects as well as in music.Seven out of 10 schools use singing in national curriculum subjects as well as in music.
Mr Goodall said: "For me, singing in particular is every child's first, intuitive access to the world of music, but it is also a powerful and often untapped resource for social cohesion.Mr Goodall said: "For me, singing in particular is every child's first, intuitive access to the world of music, but it is also a powerful and often untapped resource for social cohesion.
"There is barely an adult alive who does not wish they could sing with more confidence or that they had had a better start with their voices as children."There is barely an adult alive who does not wish they could sing with more confidence or that they had had a better start with their voices as children.
"The new singing campaign addresses those aspirations at the grass roots - in every primary school in the country.""The new singing campaign addresses those aspirations at the grass roots - in every primary school in the country."
Mr Johnson said that music has a "tremendous power to bring people together, can act as powerful social glue and is a great way to engage children in their education. Music manifesto champion Marc Jaffrey said music education in the UK was a success story built on the hard work and determination of professionals.
"That is why I want to set up a 21st Century songbook for schools, containing songs that every child knows and sings, and new material to enhance what schools already use." But there was still a class-bias in the delivery of music education, he said, which meant it was totally alien to many families.
"More music organisations need to champion social inclusion," he added.
But the Liberal Democrats' culture spokesperson, Paul Holmes, said that only 13% of children at primary school are learning a musical instrument.
"Teaching children to sing must not simply be a cheaper alternative to fulfilling the government's promise of giving every child the opportunity to learn an instrument," said Mr Holmes.