*
banner

Greater diversity call for music exam repertoire

Research finds 99% of pieces on the Associated Board syllabuses were by white composers.

dIVERSITY
  The research has been undertaken for a forthcoming study

The Guardian newspaper has reported that over 4,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) to include "black composers who have shaped the course of western classical music", after research found that 99% of pieces on its syllabuses were by white composers.

Exclusion

The petition says the exclusion of figures such English conductor and composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Joseph de Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, amounted to the "erasure of people of colour"from history.

The Royal Academy of Music (RAM), the Royal College of Music (RCM), the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal Northern College of Music deliver more than 650,000 exams and assessment each year in 93 countries around the world.

Study

However, a forthcoming study by Austin Griffiths, a senior teaching fellow at University College London (UCL) found that white composers wrote 98.8% of the 3,166 pieces on the latest exam syllabuses for 15 instruments.

Only 14 (0.4%) of pieces for the piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, tuba, or harp were by composers of African heritage, with another 23 by Asian and other minority ethnic composers.

Only 14 (0.4%) of pieces for the piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, tuba, or harp were by composers of African heritage4BR

Origins

The Guardian reported that Anna Bull, a sociology lecturer and author of Class, Control, and Classical Music, said the "overwhelming whiteness"of the ABRSM syllabuses reflected its colonial origins.

She stated that: "As a result, it is hardly surprising that there are very few black British students at UK conservatoires."

Find out more

To find out more about this story go to: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/15/uk-royal-schools-of-music-exam-board-urged-to-address-colonial-legacy?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Fjord

Echoes of the fjord to be heard in Stavanger

April 3 • The Gala Concert at the forthcoming European Championships in Stavanger will evoke the folk music sounds of the fjords with a brass band twist.


Andrea Price

Andrea Price appointed to Kapitol Music Panel

April 3 • The critically acclaimed musician joins the Kapitol Music Panel to help select future Regional and National test-pieces.


SEWBBA

Welsh bands urged to attend Safeguarding seminar

April 2 • A special Safeguarding Training Seminar is to be hosted by the South East Wales Brass Band Association this weekend, with bands urged to attend.


Cheltenham

Cheltenham National Final schedule announced.

April 2 • The weekend of the 13th and 14th September will see 75 bands take to the stage.


Hathersage Band - Hathersage Village Spring Concert

Saturday 5 April • Hathersage Methodist Church, Main Road, Hathersage S32 1BB


Bilton Silver Rugby Band - Bilton Silver at the Musicals

Saturday 5 April • St Andrew's Church, Rugby CV21 3PT


Rushden Town Band - Hope Spring Concert

Saturday 5 April • Hope Methodist Church, Linnets Lane, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire NN10 8DE


Regent Hall Concerts - The Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 25 April • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Under Gaia

Saturday 26 April • Mansfield Palace Theatre. Leeming Street . Mansfield. Nottinghamshire NG18 1NG


Putney and Wimbledon Brass Band

April 3 • Putney & Wimbledon Brass Band is on the rise! We're off to Cheltenham for the 3rd year running and will be promoted to the 2nd Section. We need YOU to help us go even further! We play ambitious music under a great conductor and are a very sociable bunch.


Simon Langton Brass

April 1 • Due to forced retirement - Simon Langton Brass (Conductor Keith Demetriou Twyman) has a vacancy for an experienced back row cornet player. Position is negotiable as is a willingness to share your experience with our next generation of cornet players!


Ibstock Brick Brass

April 1 • Midlands Area Champions IBB have an opening for a full-time Tuba player (position negotiable) . . Ambitious and enjoying a varied concert/contest program, IBB are looking forward to the third section finals 2025. Rehearsals Mon/Thu in Coalville, M1 J22


Andreas Kratz

Mus.B (hons)
Conductor, Adjudicator, Teacher


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd