Page 31 - BBC Music (January 2020)
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Nicola Benedetti
Highly honoured:
The Queen awards
Benedetti the Queen’s
Medal for Music in 2017
changing, too. ‘They should be symbolic into kids without properly inspiring them There’s some good news, she thinks,
experiences of high-octane excitement,’ to get excited about the subject. And it’s all in that Ofsted (the government’s school
she exclaims. ‘Symbolic because they will because of the absurd amount of testing inspectors) have said that schools won’t get
show what this kind of thing can feel like going on in schools, the prioritisation of top grading in future unless they show that
when done at its best: getting hundreds exams over actually knowing something they are nurturing the creative potential of
of kids together; working at string in depth.’ their students. ‘I wish we could overcome
technique as well as the basics of general What Benedetti wants to see is very this obsession in the education world for
musicianship. It should be exhilarating much the sort of thing that Nicholas things constantly to be graded and tested,’
for everyone.’ Serota, the Arts Council of England she says. ‘But at least Ofsted’s change of
Benedetti is already buoyed up by the emphasis will force schools to give music
feedback she received after the ‘mock- more priority if they want a good grading.’
weekend’ the foundation organised to test ‘I wish we could Controversially, though, Benedetti
her ideas out – especially from primary- doesn’t believe that every child in the
school teachers who were not music overcome this country necessarily benefits by having
specialists. ‘We had letters saying things access to a musical instrument and
like “I taught a successful music lesson to obsession for things instrumental tuition. ‘I question how
all my pupils for the first time in my life”.’ realistic it is to try and impose, en masse,
That’s encouraging. Nevertheless, the to be graded’ the discipline and perseverance of
harsh reality is that those newly-inspired learning an instrument,’ she says. ‘Not
teachers will have to return to their everyone has the dexterity to play the
classrooms and abide by the requirements chairman, argued for in his recent violin, for instance. But basic harmonies
of a national curriculum that has – Durham Commission report on education: and rhythms and how to sing well – they
whether by accident or design – all but a fundamental rethink of Britain’s are things that can realistically be taught to
marginalised music. As you might expect, educational system, with the concept every child in the country.’ That’s echoing
Benedetti has strong views about that, too. of ‘creative thinking’ incorporated into the ideas of the Hungarian composer
‘The whole art of teaching is, or should teaching in all subjects at all levels, from and educator Zoltán Kodály in the 1930s,
be, to draw out of others their own early years to sixth form. ‘Music could I observe. ‘I am a big fan of Kodály,’
creativity,’ she says. ‘It’s the opposite of take the lead in breaking the mould and Benedetti acknowledges.
teaching parrot-fashion subjects that are empowering teachers in a totally different Is she talking to any politicians, north
not your own passion. Yet wherever I go way,’ Benedetti says. ‘The idea would be or south of the border, about her ideas?
I hear everybody complaining about the to unlock an individual teacher’s unique ‘Well, politicians are a little stretched and
GETTY amount of information we have to stuff strengths and qualities.’ stressed right now,’ she laughs. ‘They
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE 33
