The government has given a boost to investment in music in schools, including the launch of the brilliant-sounding Sing Up programme which wants to get children singing as part of their everyday lives. Singing helps shy children grow in confidence, pushy kids learn how to work in harmony with others (literally) and there's evidence to say it can help with almost every subject under the sun from maths to foreign languages. The teachers I've talked to think it's a great idea and welcome the extra cash, but there's a persistent worry that rumbles loudly on that as long as schools are under so much pressure to meet targets then subjects like music will always get pushed to the bottom of the list.
Nancy is a reporter on Children & Young People Now. She is the magazine's education correspondent.