Birmingham Researchers: "Schools Should Be Switching Mozart For Stormzy"

22 May 2019, 06:53 | Updated: 22 May 2019, 07:05

Schools need to exchange Mozart for Stormzy as part of an "urgent transformation" of the music curriculum which sees grime and hip-hop make their way into classrooms, a report suggests.

National charity Youth Music is calling for schools to shake up the way music is perceived and taught, following a major four-year research project.

The study, by researchers at Birmingham City University, found that more inclusive music-making can help improve levels of attendance among disengaged pupils, while supporting their personal and social development.

Matt Griffiths, chief executive of Youth Music, said: "We've seen the benefits of students exchanging Mozart for Stormzy as part of a re-imagined music curriculum."

#LISTEN New research by @youthmusic and @MyBCU is encouraging schools to ditch 'Mozart for @stormzy' in a shakeup of music lessons #HeartNews pic.twitter.com/FXOapdZQcw

— Heart West Midlands News (@HeartWMidsNews) May 22, 2019

Published during the charity's 20th anniversary year, the Exchanging Notes research report was produced in collaboration with Birmingham City University and funded by the National Lottery via Arts Council England.

The four-year programme saw Youth Music invest in 10 new partnerships between music organisations and schools nationwide. By the end of the programme, seven partnerships remained.

Over the four years there was an increase in participants performing better than expected in maths - from 14% to 21% - and in English - from 15% to 28%.

Researchers said it is not possible to attribute direct causality between participation in Exchanging Notes and improved literacy or numeracy attainment.

But they said it helped to open the door for learning.

The charity is now urging the Department for Education to adopt a new model of music in schools that reflects the diverse musical interests of young people today.

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "We want all pupils to have the opportunity to study music at school - that's why it is compulsory in the national curriculum from the age of five up to 14.

"We are currently working with music groups and practitioners to refresh the national plan for music education and develop a high-quality model music curriculum."