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health issues. Musicians, actors and other performers regularly face antisocial hours,
loneliness, worries about money and strain placed on relationships due to touring, all of
which can be detrimental to their mental health. This combined with the pressure of
working in the creative industries can lead to performers developing issues with alcohol and
drug abuse as a coping mechanism. Cases such as the death of Amy Winehouse have
highlighted that the music industry and the creative industries in general need to do more to
support performers.
3
The BGCM supports all efforts to promote better mental health within the creative
industries, and highlights the work of the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine
(BAPAM) in treating both physical and mental health issues in performers and Help
Musicians UK for supporting this essential work.
Motion 10
Musicians Union
Music Co-operatives
1
The Musicians’ Union (MU) released its third report into the state of music education in
England in 2016. The report highlighted that yet more instrumental music teachers have lost
their jobs or left the profession due to worsening terms and conditions over the last year.
MU members also highlighted their concerns about the inconsistency of music education
provision across the country due to the varying attitudes of schools and head teachers
towards music.
2
Instrumental music teachers faced with redundancy or worsening terms and conditions
have, in some areas, been setting up co-operatives and independent trusts. These appear to
be working very well and are examples of how high quality, accessible and affordable music
education delivered by a committed and skilled workforce can still be provided. The MU is a
member of Co-operatives UK and is providing advice and assistance to MU members who
wish to set up their own co-operatives. For example, the MU assisted a group of members in
Milton Keynes to form their teaching co-operative following the council's decision to make
the majority of their instrumental teaching workforce redundant.
3
This BGCM believes that every child should be given the opportunity to learn a musical
instrument, as was the aspiration of the National Plan for Music Education, and condemns
all cuts to music education. The GFTU applauds efforts by instrumental teachers and the MU
to form cooperatives and pledges to support this work.