After many months of planning and research, Music Lifeline in Rye is pleased to be launching a new programme of grant support to help young children have free access to music. A lot of work has been taking place behind the scenes in the past year but in a week of very bad news about the future of music our launch seems more timely than ever.
It was exactly a year ago that John Hart, founder of Music Lifeline wrote in Rye News “rather than just worrying about the decline in music provision in education, it was time for me to do something about it“.
Music in crisis
With nursery schools closing at a rapid rate this year and state schools having to make difficult financial choices, music has slipped even further down the priority list. Just this week the BBC axed the BBC singers and orchestras which The Telegraph has described as “a total assault on classical music”, a view endorsed by Sir Mark Elder, on Sunday morning in BBC’s Broadcasting House, who also decried the reduction in Arts Council Funding.
Music Lifeline is not just committed to classical music. “We want children to be inspired by a range of musical instruments, which will set them up for a life. We hope by starting with pre-school children we may spark an interest which will lead them on to learn an instrument, join a choir or play music with others”
Pre-school grants to run music sessions in – apply now
Local nurseries or child centres in the Rye district are now invited to apply for a grant to run some music sessions on their premises. We know that many nurseries have previously run music sessions but are no longer able to do so as a result of the funding cuts. If you already have a music teacher who could run these sessions we will be able to fund eligible nurseries. If not and you would like us to run a workshop for you we will work with you to arrange that. See www.musiclifeline.org.uk for further details and how to apply.
Parents – loan of instruments
Thanks to our previous appeal and the generosity of local people who have donated unused instruments, we now have a bank of instruments, plus we are buying new ones to add to the mix. We still need keyboards in particular. If your child has been offered free music lessons and you’d like free access to instruments, please get in touch.
Join our team
We are looking to build our team. If you are a music teacher or musician, or just passionate about music, we’d love to hear from you.
See www.musiclifeline.org.uk or contact musiclifelinerye@gmail.com
Image Credits: John Hart (Shutterstock) Shutterstock – paid .