The power of music: Arts Council England publishes report on the impact of In Harmony

The power of music: Arts Council England publishes report on the impact of In Harmony

Arts Council England has today (15 November 2016) published a new report by the National Foundation of Educational Research (NFER), reviewing the impact of In Harmony since the launch in six areas across England in 2013.

In Harmony aims to inspire and transform the lives of children and families in deprived communities, through the power and disciplines of orchestral music-making. It is modelled around an immersive experience, where children play instruments together several times a week from an early age, within a whole-school approach. In Harmony is funded by the Department for Education and Arts Council England.

The research was commissioned to explore the impact of In Harmony on children, families, schools and wider communities, and to explore the future sustainability of the programme.

Some of the key findings in the report include:
– In Harmony is enhancing children’s enjoyment of music, their musicianship and technical skills.
– The programme is improving children’s learning skills, such as confidence, concentration and perseverance.
– In Harmony is benefitting children’s social and emotional wellbeing, especially their communication and relationships with others.
– The programme is encouraging greater parental engagement with participating schools.

The full report can be found here

Richard Russell, Chief Operating Officer, Arts Council England, commented: “Over the past four years, we have seen In Harmony offer a range of positive experiences for pupils in areas of low engagement for the arts. Schools committed over four hours of musical tuition as part of the curriculum, so that instrumental sessions became as important as maths and English. Head teachers have been really positive about the programme, saying that it’s changed the entire culture of their schools, developed vital learning skills such as concentration and perseverance, and built much greater engagement with parents.

“Based on these findings, we plan to share the principles and features of In Harmony more widely, encouraging schools, music education hubs and cultural organisations to establish new programmes using orchestral and musical ensemble methods.”