As a professional musician, music PhD student and musician's right activist I thought I'd send over my view on the draft terms of reference for the music education enquiry.

I feel the committee needs to consider music education services that not only teach instrument and theoretical skills but also to explore the business aspect to music. As someone who researches popular music and been part of education processes I have often found there is a distinct lack of engaging with popular music performers. This is often based on an institutional bias drawn upon concepts of 'high art', and thus education funding tends to overlook popular music programmes and practices. Popular musicians need the ability to learn an element of music business skills including promotion, recording, and how to make transactions for performances. These business elements can also engage those who enjoy music but don't feel instrumental performances is the route in music for them.

I wondered if the committee would make considerations into:

- The position of Popular Music when it comes to funding music education services

- The funding of music business skills

- Routes into the music industries for those who don't wish to perform

I am passionate about the inclusion of these skills and of solidifying the place of musicians as skilled workers and would hope to see the Welsh Assembly make a commitment to respecting the professionalisation of musicians to pursue contracted work and careers, in a way that the city council of Seattle has adopted. My PhD research has examined how the city government in Portland, Oregon have worked on way of innovating music education and sustaining a music scene that respects the musician as a career choice and not a hobby. If I can contribute in any way to this process please let me know.