University of Oxford says ‘there is no truth’ in the claim that sheet music will be scrapped

Originally reported on in an article in the The Telegraph, further stories have since evolved around documents written by Oxford’s music faculty members. The documents were written by individuals as part of a consultation process in the faculty’s efforts to decolonise the curriculum. 

Since the original story, claims have been made that the University intends to scrap sheet music and ‘western music notation’ due to its ‘complicity in white supremacy’. 

MT contacted the University for comment and a spokesperson said: ‘There is no truth in the “sheet music” claim.’

‘It has been incorrectly reported that the University is considering removing sheet music from its curriculum. This is completely incorrect and no such proposal or suggestion has been made about sheet music or western musical notation.’ 

The spokesperson also clarified that many views attributed in the media to ‘professors’ in the plural came from one individual involved in the consultation process. 

Oxford’s music faculty intends to release details of its new curriculum within the coming months. 

A statement from the University reads: ‘For the past couple of years, the faculty of Music has been planning some exciting new elements to our curriculum in consultation with our staff and students, which we will be pleased to publish in the summer once they have University approval. 

‘While retaining (and in no way diminishing) our traditional excellence in the critical analysis, history and performance of the broad range of western art music, we are exploring ways to enhance our students' opportunities to study a wider range of non-western and popular music from across the world than is currently on offer, as well as music composition, the psychology and sociology of music, music education, conducting, and much more. We look forward to sharing our curriculum in the coming months.’

The University will be taking up these matters with the papers involved.