at 8:34PM
A trade deal with the EU means that many music industry executives can continue to enjoy their Christmas break without worrying too much about the immediate consequences of Brexit in 2021.
The deal is being signed by EU chiefs in Brussels and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, followed by a vote in the UK Parliament (December 30).
While there will be widespread relief in the music industry that an agreement was reached ahead of the December 31 deadline, questions are now being asked about what it actually means for touring artists and musicians.
Almost a year ago, then Culture Minister Nigel Adams avowed that free movement for artists would be “absolutely essential” post-Brexit. It was a comment that was met with howls of derision: Adams, of course, was a Brexiteer. Ending freedom of movement between the EU and UK was at the heart of the pro-Brexit campaign.
Covid has only exacerbated the loss of music-making in schools. It must be made available to all
‘If this situation is allowed to persist, music-making will become the preserve of those who can afford it.’ Photograph: Rob Walls/Alamy
‘If this situation is allowed to persist, music-making will become the preserve of those who can afford it.’ Photograph: Rob Walls/Alamy
Tue 22 Dec 2020 13.25 EST
Last modified on Tue 22 Dec 2020 15.21 EST
For anyone connected with a school, the last couple of weeks should have been a harried pile-up of nativity plays, choir performances, talent shows, crumbling mince pies, off-key carols. One school did make a nativity film in the Cumbrian hills. Others “sang” in sign language. But a report by the Incorporated Society of Musicians found, alarmingly, that 53% of primaries and 63% of secondaries that normally hold a festive concert at the end of the first term of the academic year did not do so.
2020-12-16T09:31:00+00:00
The UK education authority’s latest report highlights the effect of the pandemic on students’ music education provision
UK education authority Ofsted has released a report confirming the impact on music education wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings show that:
some school leaders are focusing on theoretical elements of music for some pupils, owing to concerns about organising safe access to practical work – even though other schools have successfully adapted in order to overcome these problems;
many primary schools were delaying teaching music in class until later in the year and a number were not offering it remotely;
Opinion: Ann Fotheringham - More needs to be done to get music back into schools and across the community
More needs to be done to allow children to sing and perform music safely in school DURING the very first Christmas show we attended at our boys’ primary school - a glorious mash-up of the Cinderella story and a traditional nativity - the Star of the East got a fit of the hiccups in the middle of her scene with the earnest shepherds. She got through it, trooper that she was, and retreated to her spot at the back of the stage for the next few choruses. Unfortunately, with every hiccup, despite her best attempts to stifle them, her sparkly deely-bopper headband gave a little wiggle, causing much mirth amongst the watching parents.