Save Our Norfolk School Music

Tory Norfolk is planning to cut music in schools and especially the Schools Music Service. The Music Service works with over 8,500 children and young people every week, in little villages, towns and the City. As it says on the Norfolk’s own website; “Music is a powerful, unique form of communication that can change the way pupils feel, think and act.”

You have only to see the music that comes from the schools, and the music that comes from over 20 Music Service orchestras, bands, and ensembles from all over the county, from the Norfolk County Youth Orchestra and Norfolk County Intermediate Youth Orchestra, the Norfolk Students Jazz Orchestra, the Wymondham Area Schools Brass Band and the other Jazz Ensembles, and others like the Norfolk Keyboard Orchestra, Norwich String Ensemble, to the Norfolk Schools’ Wind Band & Symphonic Wind Band, to know how important they are to the pupils, the schools and our whole County. The teaching of music develops pupils' ability to listen and appreciate a wide variety of music and to make judgements about musical quality. It increases self-discipline and creativity, and fulfilment.

Most orchestras in Britain contain Norfolk Music trained players, and of course we have Alan Brind the 1986 BBC Young Musician. Norfolk Jazz graduates have been nominated for and won Mobo, Mercury and other awards, plus Norfolk musicians are found in orchestra pits in theatres and West End musicals. Many have been on tour with artists like Eric Clapton, Peter Gabriel, Van Morrison and the late Johnny Dankworth. And let’s not forget those who are the mainstay of amateur groups, play for friends, or just now for their own pleasure, and relaxation, and are passing on their skills to others. Do we want to cut all that?

Of course, the County Tories are cutting far more important things They are putting lives in danger by switching off the lights and cutting our Fire Engines and fire fighters; cutting the Sensory Support unit for deaf and blind people; making our older people’s lives far worse in so many ways; attacking young people’s futures with the cuts in transport, and much, much more. But the parents of the children who will suffer the Music cuts may have voted Tory or Lib Dem and they have got to stand up and fight for their children’s future, and stand up and fight for so much more that Tory Norfolk are bent on destroying.