Rattle cry

The UK government has been very misguided in reducing the status of music in the curriculum for primary schools, according to conductor Sir Simon Rattle. Music in schools has now become one of his main concerns, and he has been appointed to the Dept for Education and Employment's National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education. He feels that music should be a central part of what children are taught, but recognizes that teachers are under great pressure and will probably not focus on music unless they are forced to do so.