WRITTEN QUESTION E-1963/00

by Maria Sanders-ten Holte (ELDR) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Music teaching in the different Member States

Music is taught at non-professional level by music schools or by primary and secondary schools. In music schools, the emphasis is generally on making music oneself, whilst the teaching of music as part of general education is more concerned with music appreciation. There appears to be good cooperation in some Member States between music schools and normal schools as regards the teaching of music.

In the preamble to its conclusions of 18 December 1997 on music in Europe, the Council stated that music is a fundamental part of the cultures and history of our countries. In the same communication, the Council called on the Commission, with due regard for the subsidiarity principle, to pay particular attention to musical education from a very young age and, possibly, to establish a European information and documentation centre.

1. With regard to this communication, has a comparative study been carried out at European level on the situation with regard to music teaching in the different Member States and whether or not cooperation exists?

2. In this connection, does the Commission have information concerning the administrative level at which decisions are taken in the different Member States regarding the setting up of music schools or the teaching of music as part of general education?

3. Does the Commission know whether music teaching forms an integral part of the curriculum for primary and secondary schools in the Member States, and does it know what the objectives are and what level pupils are expected to aim to reach?

4. Can the Commission say what proportion of the national budget of each Member State is dedicated to culture in general and music teaching in particular?

5. If such information is not available, would the Commission be prepared to initiate a study on this?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

The conclusions of the Council of 18 December 1997 on the role of music in Europe underline the areas of common interest which promote access to and dissemination of music in Europe. Following these conclusions, and in order to make information available at European level, the European Music Observatory (funded in 1998) has carried out several studies, mainly on the movement of national repertoires, the music industry in Europe and public access to music.

Music teaching in the Member States is a matter for the Member States alone and it is therefore dealt with according to the priorities of each Member State. Furthermore, the Commission does not yet have exhaustive information at European level on music teaching in the various Member States. It has now set up working groups on European cultural statistics and, as a result, more precise information in this area will be available from the end of 2001.

It is important to note that the Culture 2000 programme, which is the single financing and programming instrument for the Community's cultural sector, has taken into account, inter alia, the Council conclusions of 18 December 1997 and gives priority in the call for proposals for 2000 to cooperation agreements in the music sector.