Bringing black composers into exam syllabuses

As a former CEO of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), I am not surprised that the exam board should be criticised for the apparent lack of music by black and minority ethnic composers on its syllabuses. It is an easy target. 

As a former CEO of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), I am not surprised that the exam board should be criticised for the apparent lack of music by black and minority ethnic composers on its syllabuses. It is an easy target. However, in some respects your report (UK royal schools of music exam board urged to address colonial legacy, 15 July) is misleading. First, the ABRSM system provides a syllabus, not a curriculum.

Second, the report fails to acknowledge the process by which a syllabus is developed. A syllabus for one instrument can take anything up to four years to develop. That process is meticulous, having to assess hundreds of pieces as to their suitability for the eight grade levels. I know from experience what an extraordinarily difficult process this is.

Melodies by composers like Duke Ellington and Miles Davis can be readily incorporated, as they can be arranged specially to fit the grade level. Many existing pieces just do not work.

Third, ABRSM pioneered an extremely effective jazz exam syllabus in the late 1990s that truly reflects the black origins of jazz and popular music.

The comment from one of those you quote that because of the lack of black composer representation “it is hardly surprising that there are very few black British students at UK conservatoires” places the blame squarely at the door of ABRSM when, in reality, the causes are many. 

Music as a class subject has been marginalised in most state schools, and a proper curriculum that could incorporate aspects of black music and the achievements of minority ethnic composers is unlikely to be achievable under the current government, while the cuts in education spending in the last decade have resulted in a lack of opportunity for black and ethnic minority students to receive instrumental and vocal lessons in schools.Ellington that is standing in the dark:

‘Melodies by composers like Duke Ellington and Miles Davis can be readily incorporated, as they can be arranged specially to fit the grade level.’© Photograph: Erich Auerbach/Getty Images ‘Melodies by composers like Duke Ellington and Miles Davis can be readily incorporated, as they can be arranged specially to fit the grade level.’Leslie East: London•

I hope the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music will use some works by George Bridgetower (1778-1860), whose father was Barbadian. He was a brilliant violinist for whom Beethoven wrote the Kreutzer Sonata, and gave the premiere performance in 1803 accompanied by Beethoven himself. Among other compositions, Bridgetower wrote dances for violin, flute and keyboard which would work very well as exam pieces.Laurie Smith: Carshalton, London,

Reference: The Guardian:Letters 1 hour ago: 22nd July 2020