The Department for Children, Schools and Families, through its ongoing commitment to providing access to quality music and culture opportunities for children and young people, is committed to supporting music programmes including Sing Up, In Harmony and the Music Manifesto. The National Year of Music aims to celebrate the diverse opportunities available to children and young people across the country, and to continue to engage them through new and interesting music-related opportunities. By the end of the year there should be no doubt that music should be central to every child’s experience.  Taking part in music and associated cultural activity can positively affect a child or young person’s development in various ways – in terms of numeracy, literacy, emotional wellbeing, social inclusion and confidence-building, as well as being a fulfilling and enjoyable pursuit.  England is a world leader in music education and the number of children learning about with, and through music is always growing.  The percentage of children at Key Stage 2 learning a musical instrument through large group or whole class tuition will have increased from 8 percent in 2003 to around 34 percent in 2009. 

A campaign which unites everyone in celebrating, extending and developing participation in music and other forms of cultural activity will provide a national spotlight for all the superb work schools are already doing.  It will also provide and inspire national direction, leadership and commitment, bringing schools, communities and families together to further enjoy the magic of new and diverse types of music. 

The Year of Music campaign will launch on 10^th September with a week’s worth of activity across the country. The ambition for the year is to open up unprecedented opportunities for the Department and young people themselves, to work with a diverse mix of professional musicians, DJ’s, orchestras and performance artists.

You mentioned that this initiative may be something of interest to Parents Online. As I said above, the launch date is 10^th September, if there was a chance of featuring details of this initiative on or after this date (until when this information is embargoed) it would be really great, as we want spread the word to as many parents as possible, and in turn ensure we reach children and get them participating.

If you have any initial questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, my number is below. Or for more details of the launch activities and what’s coming up in the Year of Music you can log on to www.direct.gov.uk/tunein.