Unlocking Potential

Partnerships with orchestras vital to unlocking children's potential, shows new report

British orchestras report highlights immense impact of music on young lives

Partnerships between Britain's orchestras and thousands of schools across the country play a vital part in supporting children's learning and development. That is the conclusion of a new report launched by the Association of British Orchestras (ABO). Unlocking Potential describes how children have become more alert and engaged at school through involvement in music workshops; how teachers have seen music enhance children's creativity; and how exposure to orchestral music when young can lead to a musical career at the highest level.

The report also describes the example of Rachel Merloo who ten years ago attended a concert in her school given by the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO). Inspired by that performance, she began to learn double bass and is now trialling as a principal double bassist with the LPO alongside the very musicians that originally made such an impression on her.

Among the examples highlighted in the report are:

• The Hallé Orchestra's World Music for Little Ones and Scottish Chamber Orchestra's Supersonic Bear Hunt, groundbreaking initiatives developed with education professionals, which give primary school children their first taste of concert music.
• London Symphony Orchestra's pioneering On-Track programme in which the orchestra works with 10 East London Boroughs giving schoolchildren the chance to create live performances.
• The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment's flagship Creation project where the orchestra, composer and a Royal Society scientist work in schools in London, Norfolk and Suffolk to inspire greater understanding of science through music.

Director of the Association of British Orhcestras Mark Pemberton said:

"Every professional orchestra in Britain is involved in some form of education work. Often this takes place in deprived or hard to reach areas, helping to give the widest range of children access to orchestral music. Every day and in every community children are developing their life skills and academic potential by learning and making music.

At a time when public resources are stretched, these innovative approaches to delivering high impact work with our young people show the value of building long term partnerships, especially with individual schools."

Hon Ed Vaizey MP, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative INdustries said in praise of the report:

"It is no surprise that seeing and hearing orchestras has such a positive impact on young people. We know that music can make a huge difference to educational success, with behaviour, well-being, confidence, team working and concentration skills all proven to improve with good music provision. I welcome this report, and its finding that British orchestras are reaching young people at every stage in their lives."

Further Information

Unlocking Potential can be downloaded by clicking here

For more information about the Bear Hunt click here

For more information about the Association of British Orchestras click here