News / music
Disadvantaged primary schools in Bristol to receive free music education
Bristol Beacon has announced its aims to provide access to quality teaching and instruments for primary school pupils across Bristol through its education initiative, the Earthsong Programme.
The programme will predominantly focus on areas of Bristol that are deprived or where English is recognised as a second language.
Spanning across five-years, the programme will target children from year two to year six across 13 Bristol primary schools and hopes to provide an entrance into music for 4,500 children.
is needed now More than ever
Primary school children in Bristol who have minimal access to musical education will benefit from the Earthsong programme free of charge – photo: Dominika Scheibinger
The programme has been created with the belief that every child should be able to be a musician, and that developing musical prowess at an early age will result in a lifelong fondness for music.
A varied assortment of 2,000 instruments will be introduced into schools including ukuleles, violins, glockenspiels, penny whistles and percussion.
After a successful trial at Minerva Primary Academy school in 2019, the programme was integrated into the school curriculum after a large philanthropic donation from the Earthsong Foundation of around £400,000 – the first of its kind in the UK.
Suze Pole, co-founder of the Earthsong Foundation said: “The aim of the Earthsong Programme is to give a joyful, really good quality music education to children in primary schools. Music is so important because it helps us to access our inner feelings that we might not even know we have.
“It helps us to articulate our feelings, it helps us connect with other people. Music breaks down boundaries, it unites communities and promotes a sense of cohesion and joy.”
The Earthsong Foundation also hopes to expand its education in primary schools by providing access to teaching on herbal medicine and environmental regeneration.
The hope for the programme is not only for children to consider themselves as “musical activists” but also for improvements in other subjects.
The Bristol Beacon director of creative learning and engagement, Phil Castang says there is a “massive disparity between schools” in terms of how much is being spent on music education, leading to a “real inequality in the opportunities children have.
Earthsong aims to provide the next generation of musicians and music teachers – photo: Dominika Scheibinger
“We need to make inclusion front and centre, with all children being able to access music education.”
With the Earthsong Programme reaching the end of its third year, an event for the children to celebrate is planned in St George’s Bristol for June 13, where many children will be able to perform on stage for the first time in front of friends, family and locals.
Listen to Earthsong on BBC Radio 3 Music Matters
Main photo: Dominika Scheibinger
Read more: The bid to make Bristol a zero emission transport city
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
