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news_title[0] = "MUSIC TEACHERS NEED HELP WITH DO-RE-ME TO TEACH KIDS THEIR ABC";
news_display_date[0] = "21.06.2007";
news_id[0] = "1688631";
news_teaser[0] = "";
news_text[0] = "* Music charity calls for more teacher training and better <br />  resources as it announces £200,000 for primary schools <br /><br />* New Institute of Education research reveals proven benefits <br />  of an improved music education <br /><br />* Celebrity supporters voice their concerns at the findings <br /><br />Many primary school children are missing out on the wider education benefits of music due to poor teacher training and a chronic lack of resources, according to leading charity, the EMI Music Sound Foundation (EMI MSF), which today announced a financial package worth £200,000 for primary schools.<br /><br />The EMI MSF highlights the fact that many teachers have little or no training in how to teach music as part of their one-year training course and lack the skills and confidence to deliver lessons properly.  The charity also drew attention to the huge disparities in the provision of resources across the country with some schools spending an average of just 22 pence per year, per pupil on music - less than the cost of a packet of crisps. <br /><br />The EMI MSF, an independent charity which is celebrating its 10th anniversary and whose running cost are covered by EMI Group, has worked with schools across the UK and has so far awarded more than £2.7 million to improve young people access to music. The charity’s patrons include Sir Paul McCartney, Sir George Martin, Sir Simon Rattle, Yoko Ono, Diana Ross and Tina Turner. <br /><br />Findings of the groundbreaking research:<br /><br />The EMI MSF’s call for improved teacher training and funding in primary schools is supported by the findings of a new academic research project, carried out by the Institute of Education (IoE) on behalf of the charity. The research showed that music lessons taught by teachers who had received proper training - and who felt more confident - delivered real results for young children including improvements in their ability to listen more carefully, persevere through complex topics and be more confident in all classes, not just music ones. <br /><br />Other key findings from the research demonstrated that: <br /><br />* teachers agreed that music could help to increase <br />  confidence among pupils, particularly those who were not <br />  succeeding in core curriculum subjects; <br /><br />* children’s attitudes towards music, as well as their <br />  specific musical skills, improved; <br /><br />* the group with the lowest musical ability at the beginning <br />  of the research appeared to gain the most in terms of <br />  willingness to learn; <br /><br />* extra music training in the classroom was seen as a way in <br />  which teachers could explore improving students behaviour <br />  and their own classroom management skills; and <br /><br />* head teachers reported that their staff had gained <br />  confidence and skills. <br /><br />For the first time in the UK, the research project examined primary school teachers’ ability and confidence before and after a specially-designed one day intensive music training course and the impact on their pupils at Key Stage 1 (aged between 5 and 7 years old). <br /><br />Professor Susan Hallam of the Institute of Education who carried out the study said: “If more proof was needed about why music education should be taken more seriously, this is it. The quality of lessons and teachers’ confidence in their ability plays a huge part in how effectively children can absorb the benefits of music. If each primary school had access to just one day of specialised music training, this study has shown us that every pupil could see a real benefit. Teaching music is about so much more than learning to play an instrument or spotting the stars of tomorrow; it’s about seeing an incredibly direct link between better music teaching and a step-change in how our children could - and should - be developing.” <br /><br />Ray Bell, Headteacher at Brannel School in Cornwall involved in the project, commented:  ”Picture yourself as a primary school teacher who knows two words of French and has an old grammar book. Would you be able to stimulate a class of under-7s to learn French? No; so why should music - as a language which is proven to have cognitive and social effects even once the child puts down the recorder - be treated differently? We were delighted to have taken part on this project, firstly because it so obviously has made a difference to our pupils’ developments, but secondly because it adds ammunition to this debate.” <br /><br />New offering to help combat the problem:<br /><br />In response to the research, the EMI MSF today announced a new financial package worth £200,000 to improve teacher training and music resources in around 150 primary schools across England. These primary schools will be linked to the 32 specialist performing arts and music colleges currently sponsored by the charity and will benefit from specialist music teacher training plus access to new resources such as sheet music, percussion instruments, ICT to help with composition and listening skills, and music books for young children.<br /><br />The funding is also a result of the charity observing huge variations in the resources available for music in the different schools which have recently approached it for help. Out of 64 schools which applied to the EMI MSF for funding in March 2007, twelve had a departmental spend of £200 or less on music, which would only cover the cost of two quality glockenspiels. Of those schools, the average budget available for music resources per pupil was just 22p. <br /><br />Janie Orr, Chief Executive Officer of the EMI MSF added:  “Under current guidelines, many primary school teachers only have access to a few hours of training in music during their year-long training course and some may have not received any training at all. Given that there is now an obvious link between better teacher training and better all-round cognitive and social development amongst pupils, we call on the government to ensure that all primary music teachers are equipped with the right skills and resources to help children make the most of music.” <br /><br />”While we welcome the increased public investment in music education, we are concerned that because this funding isn’t ring fenced, and there is such pressure on resources from other areas of the curriculum, much of it will be diverted away from music. We believe that it is important that Key Stage One teachers get the right support so that younger pupils can get the rounded education they deserve.” <br /><br />Eric Nicoli, Chairman of the EMI MSF said, “Disappointingly, music is still the poor relation on the curriculum in many schools across the country. This is a shame as music is an activity which genuinely engages children and helps them develop in so many positive ways. Music offers an opportunity to perform which can help with team work, communication and build confidence. Britain is renowned as having produced some of the world’s finest musical talent and we should offer all our children the chance to enrich their creativity through music. Every child has the ability to be musical and to appreciate the process of making music and they shouldn’t be denied that very special opportunity at the start of their education.” <br /><br />Music stars lend their voices in support:<br /><br />The EMI MSF Chairman was recently joined by charity supporter and soul singer, Beverley Knight, and EMI MSF Trustee and leading music broadcaster, Paul Gambaccini, at a music lesson in a West London school. The group saw for themselves the pressures that primary school teachers are under and just how effective and enjoyable a well-taught music lesson can be for young children. <br /><br />EMI MSF supporter and EMI artist Beverley Knight said:  “Last week I took part in a music lesson at St Mary’s Primary School in Kensington and watched a class of 7 and 8 year olds learning to play drums and sing songs. My first involvement with music was through my family and church but kids who aren’t exposed to music at home rely on school to teach them. That’s why it’s really important for teachers to get a proper amount of training in the subject so they can deliver exciting and uplifting lessons.” <br /><br />In support of the debate, respected medical academic and researcher, Professor Lord Winston, added:  “Hearing is the first sense to develop and music plays a vital part in shaping the development of a child. Virtually all children are musical and it is important that they are allowed to explore and develop their ability from a young age to help them grow. Learning an instrument can benefit a child in many ways, and playing in an orchestra or band is also a good way for children to experience team work and collaborate in an exciting way, as well as developing manual skills.” <br /><br />The Institute of Education and Professor Susan Hallam will continue to investigate and analyse the effect of teacher training on pupils in primary schools and the final report is due for completion in August 2007.<br />";
news_thumb_image[0] = "/ms/imagerepository/newsimagespublic/1689262";
news_title[1] = "EMI Music Sound Foundation presents in celebration of its 10th Anniversary";
news_display_date[1] = "16.02.2007";
news_id[1] = "1662555";
news_teaser[1] = "NATASHA MARSH<br />ALFIE BOE<br />NATALIE CLEIN";
news_text[1] = "An all-star line-up of EMI Classics artists will join <br />Thomas Kaurich, Head of EMI Classics UK<br />in concert with the Kensington Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Russell Keable<br /><br />at<br /><br />CADOGAN HALL<br />5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ<br /><br />Friday 23rd March 2007 at 7.30pm<br /><br />tickets: £12, £18 & £25 | Advance ticket reservations<br />email: Dorcas.Erskine@emimusic.com<br /><br />This event is being arranged by MSFC Limited on behalf of EMI Music Sound Foundation, a charity registered in England (Charity Number: 1104027)<br />    <br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br />";
news_thumb_image[1] = "";
news_title[2] = "Celebrating 10 years of giving in 2007";
news_display_date[2] = "14.02.2007";
news_id[2] = "1661414";
news_teaser[2] = "\"Bringing more music to more young people\"";
news_text[2] = "You may find you are starting to read more in the press this year about the Music Sound Foundation. Indeed, you may have read the news story here about the appointment of a Press relations company to help us celebrate out 10th anniversary.<br /> <br />By simply reading this, you have shown you already know about us, what we do, how you can help and how we can help you. Indeed, since we started our work in 1997, we have never been short of good applicants for our funds, and, thanks to the initial investment in the Foundation, have never - unlike so many other wonderful charities - had to struggle to survive.<br /> <br />However, after ten years of hard and we think, good work, we feel this important anniversary is the right time to put across our message to a wider audience. This is particularly relevant as we reach the natural end of Special School sponsorship and start our new initiative.<br /> <br />We believe that, while there is a good awareness of music at secondary school level, at primary school it is still a struggle. Primary schools operate of much smaller budgets, and, unless there is a teacher - and it is rarely more than one - who is musically gifted and with the desire to teach, most have to survive, either with no music lessons at all, or with simple unaccompanied singing. Even teachers who can play a piano are hampered by the inability of the school to afford one for the school.<br /> <br />We are currently undertaking detailed research at primary schools to determine the best possible way in which these schools might benefit from the Foundation, and expect the initial findings to be available in the summer.<br /> <br />In addition we are hoping that a wider knowledge of our existence, and some specific fund-raising events we are in the process of organising, will result in an initial sum of money that will make a difference to the interest in music of every primary school child in the country.<br /> <br />As they say, watch this space!";
news_thumb_image[2] = "";