For many of us, school music lessons bring memories of piano scales or Bach pieces, yet some artists are now advocating for a broader curriculum that celebrates the contributions of Black British music.
In a recent BBC interview, Jordan Stephens of Rizzle Kicks, and Youth Music Awards Rising Star Richard Carter, shared their thoughts on the subject, highlighting the power of Black British music in their personal journeys.
Stephens says it was Black British artists who initially inspired him.
“I didn’t find any of my identity through what I learned in school at that time,” he shared, stressing the importance of diverse representation in education.
Carter echoes this sentiment, noting he might have been more connected to Black British music if he had learned about it in school.
“It would be cool if that stuff was taught as opposed to just teaching me about Mozart and Bach,” he explained, citing grime legends Skepta and Jme as essential influences in modern British music.
The Department for Education is conducting a review set to be published next year, which could offer a curriculum that reflects a more diverse society.
Meanwhile, Wales has already mandated Black history in schools, including a National Plan for Music Education.
Malorie Blackman, the author and former Children’s Laureate, has also advocated for Black history to be taught year-round across the UK.
Still, Stephens cautions against defining Black British music as a separate category.
“There are British artists that happen to be Black that have contributed an infinite amount to our culture,” he says, emphasizing that all British music should be celebrated as part of the nation’s heritage, without segregating it by the color of the artist’s skin.
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