This January, members of Music for All’s awards subcommittee had a challenging task ahead. There were 67 applications for the Harris Foundation Schools Progression Award and all were deserving in their own right. Eventually, however, the subcommittee was able to settle on seven. These schools will be awarded much-needed funding to go towards music provision.
Making a difference through music
Launched last year by the charity Music for All, the Harris Foundation Schools Progression Award is supported by the Harris Foundation for Lifelong Learning. From a young age, children can gain valuable social, emotional and intellectual benefits through making music. Increasingly, however, budgets for music provision are being squeezed. Schools across the UK are struggling to fund the music opportunities that they would like to offer and that their children need. Here is where awards initiatives, such as those offered by Music for All, become more than a nice-to-have – they are a necessity.
Offering choice and variety
The seven schools who are receiving funding through the Harris Foundation award represent a variety of needs and situations. They cater for children across a broad range of ages and they span a range of geographical locations.
The reasons for funding are varied too. Invergarven School in South Ayrshire, Goodmayes Primary School in Greater London, The Wordsley School in the West Midlands and Pot Kiln Primary School in Suffolk are using their grants to purchase new musical instruments. From guitars to glockenspiels to djembes, these will offer pupils enhanced access to music-making.
Selly Park Girls’ School in Birmingham, meanwhile, is purchasing additional technology to improve its music technology suite. This will give students a musical outlet even if they find performing difficult due to personal or cultural reasons. It will also be fundamental for Key Stage 4 composition.
Lache Primary in Chester will be using its grant to fund staff training and family sessions, plus sessions with project partner ‘Live the Beat’. Finally, Eggar’s School in Hampshire is putting the funds towards its ‘Tomorrow’s Music Makers’ project. This will be for Years 7 & 8 and run by class music teachers.
Skills for the future
Jonathan Harris, chairman and founder of the Harris Foundation for Lifelong Learning, firmly believes in the transformative power of music and the work of Music for All. He comments: ‘Once music-making is infused into a youngster’s world, it is a skill for life. This skill can be called on at any time to offer support, connection, confidence and much more.’