Schools should teach children about Stormzy instead of Mozart

A music charity is calling for schools to exchange Mozart for Stormzy suggesting hip hop and grime need to be added to the curriculum.

National charity Youth Music is urging the Department for Education to change the way music is taught at school to reflect the ‘diverse’ musical interests of young people today.

A major four-year research project found ‘disengaged pupils’ were more likely to attend class if they had more interest in the music genres being taught.

It also found more inclusive music-making supported their personal and social development, with hip hop and grime music encouraging students to attend class.

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.’

Youth Music – now in its 20th year – says grime, electronic music and hip hop are still not played in most classrooms but the genres could transform lessons, with help from music industries.

The Exchanging Notes research found young people who were at risk of exclusion at the start of the programme maintained high levels of attendance throughout the four years.

There was also an increase in participants performing better than expected in maths – increasing from 14 per cent to 21 per cent, and in English from 15 per cent to 28 per cent.

Researchers said although it’s not possible to directly attribute the improvement between participation in Exchanging Notes and improved literacy or numeracy attainment, it helped to open the door for learning.

Youth Music has now called on the Government for an ‘urgent transformation’ of the current curriculum to create a more musically inclusive one.

These include the Government issuing an ‘unequivocal’ message about the value of music, ensuring music is available for all at school, and collaborating with music partners.

Mr Griffiths added: ‘Schools can offer an inspirational music curriculum that better supports social and emotional well-being, the music industry talent pipeline grows and is more diverse, and young people’s lives in music are completely connected both in and out of school.’

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.’

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