In the UK utilitarian schooling was for those that couldn't afford to pay for private education. And even then, after the war until Thatcher's revolution, state-educated primary schools had strong musical tuition.
I attended a state primary school between '65 until '71. Not only did we, as 7 year olds, have a school orchestra (with which I ended up performing at the Albert Hall) they also lent out instruments to the less well-off pupils, which they could take home and practice upon. Thanks to this education, which stemmed from the ideas of the Labour government of Attlee, I got a partial musical scholarship to my private secondary school.
I wonder which "tradition" you speak of. The "British tradition" of schooling before the C19th was private and Classically orientated: Latin, Greek, Scripture, and some Music in the form of Choral singing. No Sciences, little Mathematics beyond arithmetic, and for most folk as basic as their parents or sponsors saw need. But Music has always played a huge part in British culture. Before radio and television, every home in England that could afford it had a piano, as you will know if you have any appreciation of British social history, or have read your Austen.
When mandated basic education for all was introduced, in 1880, for 5 to 10 year olds, it was bound to be as described: basic. Humanities, Classics, Music, and the nascent Sciences were luxuries afforded by the rich. For a few years after WWII and until Thatcher that changed: but we're now back to where we started. Excepting, I must add, that I am a currently a music teacher in a Primary School, and thanks to various charities, and many involved parents, music tuition, including "difficult" classical music, is available on a first-come-first-served basis to each pupil who is interested and whose parents can afford it. And there are some who for reasons of parental poverty, have their music lesson fees defrayed.
Also, in the UK, there is one taxpayer funded specialist music school in London. Most music schools are private, and therefore expensive: the BRIT School is free for those fortunate enough to attend.
But I will say that if you reckon that in this modern era folk are prepared to subsidise such luxurious educational standards out of their taxes, and roll out a programme like El Sistema nationwide, then America must be a very different place to the one I have been viewing from this side of the pond, and the one that the UK is desperately trying to emulate in a rush to the lowest cost option, despite the fact that El Sistema has made inroads into classical music teaching and appreciation in the UK.
Now, Soviet Russia had a damn fine music education system if you like results. But woe betide the young pupil who didn't practice hard enough.
If education is about raising cultural awareness, well…you get what you pay for. Eton College has three or four orchestras, and it isn't as if music is the core of its curriculum. Surprise that, isn't it?
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Date: 15/1/13 18:01 (UTC)I attended a state primary school between '65 until '71. Not only did we, as 7 year olds, have a school orchestra (with which I ended up performing at the Albert Hall) they also lent out instruments to the less well-off pupils, which they could take home and practice upon. Thanks to this education, which stemmed from the ideas of the Labour government of Attlee, I got a partial musical scholarship to my private secondary school.
I wonder which "tradition" you speak of. The "British tradition" of schooling before the C19th was private and Classically orientated: Latin, Greek, Scripture, and some Music in the form of Choral singing. No Sciences, little Mathematics beyond arithmetic, and for most folk as basic as their parents or sponsors saw need. But Music has always played a huge part in British culture. Before radio and television, every home in England that could afford it had a piano, as you will know if you have any appreciation of British social history, or have read your Austen.
When mandated basic education for all was introduced, in 1880, for 5 to 10 year olds, it was bound to be as described: basic. Humanities, Classics, Music, and the nascent Sciences were luxuries afforded by the rich. For a few years after WWII and until Thatcher that changed: but we're now back to where we started. Excepting, I must add, that I am a currently a music teacher in a Primary School, and thanks to various charities, and many involved parents, music tuition, including "difficult" classical music, is available on a first-come-first-served basis to each pupil who is interested and whose parents can afford it. And there are some who for reasons of parental poverty, have their music lesson fees defrayed.
Also, in the UK, there is one taxpayer funded specialist music school in London. Most music schools are private, and therefore expensive: the BRIT School is free for those fortunate enough to attend.
But I will say that if you reckon that in this modern era folk are prepared to subsidise such luxurious educational standards out of their taxes, and roll out a programme like El Sistema nationwide, then America must be a very different place to the one I have been viewing from this side of the pond, and the one that the UK is desperately trying to emulate in a rush to the lowest cost option, despite the fact that El Sistema has made inroads into classical music teaching and appreciation in the UK.
Now, Soviet Russia had a damn fine music education system if you like results. But woe betide the young pupil who didn't practice hard enough.
If education is about raising cultural awareness, well…you get what you pay for. Eton College has three or four orchestras, and it isn't as if music is the core of its curriculum. Surprise that, isn't it?