Nick Gibb on Music

On September 25th we ran the launch event for Elemental and its sister platforms at an event kindly hosted by Westminster City School. You can read more about it in this recent MUSIC:ED article.

The keynote speech was given by former schools minister Sir Nick Gibb who used the occasion to put the weight of his words behind the importance of music in a great education.

We've taken a few key moments from the speech to highlight Sir Nick, one of the most widely respected voices in the knowledge rich movement, outlining his belief in the worth of a superb musical education. You can hear the clips in the links below:

1) 'any education that sets out to ensure that students grapple with the best that has been thought and said must include music':

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RTueJYAd4N8XoxN3klV7TnSkNSB9Pysf/view?usp=sharing

2) 'it is of central importance that the musical culture of our country is sustained, funded and nurtured.... the musical culture of this country is a gem of which we should be immensely proud'.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e2kiiDWiWmpTFvqSyC7CCjVLK1PqZhRo/view?usp=sharing

3) 'And so the knowledge movement needs movement in its mission to provide our young people with the best education possible.'

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ujtdpUCh07lbRkyx_QKhWAExmDxaAfyq/view?usp=share_link

Sir Nick also pointed out how many of the country's best schools put music at the heart of their education, whether it be private schools like Eton/Westminster or the clutch of high performing music departments in west London's state schools (schools like Cardinal Vaughan, Twyford, the Oratory, Pimlico Academy, St Marylebone and WLFS).

The argument for music in schools need constant reinforcement and we were very happy that Sir Nick used this occasion to stand behind school music.