It’s about time we recognized the value of other subjects. Yes, of course anyone with any sense knows that Music is the only actually important area of study in life, but hear me out: other subjects do have value.

Mathematics, for instance, can be very beneficial to musicians in working out musical structure, how to combine rhythmic patterns and subdivide beats, and when analysing Lutosławski, Messaien and several other mathematically-aware composers. Maths is also excellent at a higher level for developing the kind of abstract thinking skills which many gifted musicians find comes naturally to them.

Languages can also be a very beneficial area of study. In the sense of being able to translate song lyrics written in other languages, or in reading tempo and expression markings in Italian, French, German etc, of course their usefulness is clear. However, learning languages properly also prepares the brain to order thought differently: each language reflects a mindset, a prioritizing of concepts and values, and this is useful when applying to interpreting music. Getting inside the syntax of music is a similar skill, and linguistic skills may well equip musicians to tune their ears and hearts to deeper elements of what a composer is saying.

History is another potentially-useful field of study since an awareness of historical context can inform musical interpretation. Similarly, social sciences such as anthropology may provide insights into a composer’s world and enable performers to better understand their musical world, reflecting as it surely does, its times and cultural contexts.

The list goes on: Science provides key thinking skills and ways of analyzing the world which are useful to the thinking musician; a good command of English is invaluable for musical criticism; Philosophy attempts to put into words many of the truths which music manages to convey without them; Physical Education tones the muscles required for performance… indeed it is hard to think of any subject which cannot be justified for inclusion in a school curriculum for its knock-on benefits to musical education.

So I urge Academy Trusts, Education Authorities, Headteachers, School Governors and the Secretary of State for Education not to restrict the curriculum by pushing non-arts subjects out. They are useful in developing students’ intelligence, nurturing skills which are of immeasurable use to musicians, and are quite likely to improve the performance of musicians of all levels.

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I’m fed up of reading articles which try to justify the study of music only in terms of how it benefits intelligence and performance in other subjects. Music is worth studying in its own right, as part of growing as a human being, just as surely as other subjects are beneficial to human flourishing.

Only, obviously, less so than music…