Music in the Secondary School Curriculum Project Archive

Project records, outputs and recordings relating to the Schools Council Project 'Music in the Secondary School Curriculum' including 'New Music in Action', 1972-1985.
Material includes papers concerning the project's genesis and the bid to the Schools Council, correspondence with schools, tape index, photographs, slides, photographic negatives and contact sheets, audio recordings (reels and cassette tapes), film (reels) and video (Umatic) recordings.

The Schools Council project ran from 1972/3 and was directed by John Paynter (University of York, Department of Music). It derived from the influential work by Paynter and Peter Aston 'Sound and Silence' (1970) and both reflected and propelled the ascendancy of creative music making in schools. The project closely involved various Music Department staff, and worked with approximately 200 secondary schools.
'New Music in Action' was also directed by Paynter. It ran courses for teachers (mainly of music, drama and dance). Contributors to the course included Wilfrid Mellers, Harrison Birtwistle, John Paynter, Bernard Rands, George Self and Trevor Wishart. The first course was in 1973. The second followed similar lines and about a hundred students were assigned to a 'Major Project' with one tutor.Throughout the course there was an emphasis on new techniques in class music teaching and new relationships in music, dance and theatre.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

The records were transferred to the University Archive from the Centre for Medieval Studies in July 2017, having been stored at the King's Manor.

The Schools Council project ran from 1972/3 and was directed by John Paynter (University of York, Department of Music). It derived from the influential work by Paynter and Peter Aston 'Sound and Silence' (1970) and both reflected and propelled the ascendancy of creative music making in schools. The project closely involved various Music Department staff, and worked with approximately 200 secondary schools.
'New Music in Action' was also directed by Paynter. It ran courses for teachers (mainly of music, drama and dance). Contributors to the course included Wilfrid Mellers, Harrison Birtwistle, John Paynter, Bernard Rands, George Self and Trevor Wishart. The first course was in 1973. The second followed similar lines and about a hundred students were assigned to a 'Major Project' with one tutor.Throughout the course there was an emphasis on new techniques in class music teaching and new relationships in music, dance and theatre.

The archive has not yet been catalogued.

Includes audio cassette tapes, audio and film reels and Umatic video. Access to such material may be restricted due to technical requirements, please contact the Borthwick Institute for further information.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Further accruals are not expected.

John Paynter, Music in the secondary school curriculum: trends and developments in class music teaching (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press for the Schools Council, 1982).

Published

GB 193