….and not just for future opera singers-turned-accountants!
Why music matters – Imagine the scene:
A young, ambitious student passionately singing an aria in a school music room, dreaming of taking centre stage at the Royal Opera House.
Fast-forward a couple of decades, and she’s not belting out Puccini anymore—she’s balancing tax returns. That’s me, a former opera singer turned accountant. Now there’s a career move no one saw coming in O-Level music class!
But here’s the point: Music education isn’t just about creating future performers or tax-savvy sopranos. It’s about equipping kids with discipline, creativity, and a confidence boost big enough to survive even the toughest HMRC deadlines.
So, it’s fantastic news that children in deprived areas will now have access to free music lessons. Music changes lives: it teaches you to collaborate (ever tried playing in a band where everyone does their own thing?), manage your time (practising scales and homework—ouch), and, if you’re lucky, wow audiences or future clients.
However, before we all burst into a celebratory rendition of Ode to Joy, let’s ask a tricky question:
What happens to the schools NOT in this scheme?
While targeting underfunded areas is essential, we can’t ignore that music provision everywhere has been hitting some bum notes.
School budgets are tighter than a double bass string, and fewer pupils are taking GCSE music. Just this year, a school that nurtured the renowned Kanneh-Mason siblings saw its music program axed—cue protests, pickets, and very out-of-tune anger.
Then there’s the VAT elephant in the room: adding VAT to independent school fees. Love them or loathe them, some of these schools are centres of excellence for music, offering financial support to less privileged kids with bags of talent. Slapping on a 20% surcharge risks turning those opportunities into a pipe dream for many.
Here’s the thing: music is about opportunity—for everyone. It doesn’t matter if a child is destined to be the next Maria Callas, a chart-topping pop star, or, indeed, an accountant with a hidden penchant for high Cs.
Music education needs sustainable funding, inclusive policies, and—critically—enough music teachers who aren’t overworked, underpaid, and wondering if they should switch to accountancy too.
Music doesn’t just shape future performers; it shapes well-rounded people.
So, whether you’re singing scales, filling spreadsheets, or just humming along to your kids’ recorder practice (earplugs are recommended), let’s ensure every child gets the chance to find their rhythm.
Because who knows? Today’s trumpet player might be tomorrow’s tax expert. And trust me—that crescendo is worth investing in.
Final note: If you happen to be a music teacher, performer, or freelancer in need of some tax advice, I know a thing or two about balancing your books—and hitting those high notes.
Just wait until February though, as I’m busy filling in forms for my clients’ tax returns for the next 6 weeks!
Yours in harmony,
Louise
