Music education must evolve to fit the needs of the 21st century or risk failing generations of young talent, a new report warns.

There are “huge disparities” in provision of music lessons between schools and there is a failure to recognise how young people engage with music, according to a report from the Music Commission, an 18-month inquiry set up by the ABRSM exam board with backing from Arts Council England.

The report, entitled Returning our Ambitions for Music Learning, comes from the inquiry chaired by Sir Nicholas Kenyon, managing director of London arts centre the Barbican and a former controller of BBC Proms.

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The report argues that young people from all backgrounds can achieve their musical potential if better connections are forged between schools, music teachers and publicly funded music organisations in the community.

Other recommendations include universal free school-based music tuition, a stipulation that schools can only be classed as “outstanding” if they have a broad cultural programme, and initiatives to get young people involved in the planning of music organisations’ work.

Sir Nicholas said: “There is a host of pressures we understand on schools to meet targets and achieve results.

“But there’s a growing understanding that this is not enough.

Music education ‘provides skills for a modern economy’

“Part of this is about funding and connecting young people with the opportunities there are to progress, but we have got to do more to move music education into the 21st century.”

The report also argues that music is “central for creating skills for a modern economy and society”.

The music industry generates “significant economic value” but education in the art form also improves confidence and broader academic attainment among pupils, it adds.

The report argues that the opportunities that technology offers in making music are “under-exploited”.

“There is a danger that the ‘disconnect’ between how young people use technology and music education may see current models of teaching rapidly becoming outdated,” the report states.

It adds that new technologies which are accessible and low-cost could help schools to keep music in the curriculum.

“We also believe that new technology has the potential to make music much more inclusive, broadening the range of genres and engaging learners who may have a primary interest in video games, graphics and multimedia,” the report adds.

Sir Nicholas said: “Every young person should be supported to achieve their musical potential, whatever their background.

“This is a basic issue of equality of opportunity. There is some great practice out there, especially in the early years, as we’ve shown that we can start them on this journey.

“The problem is that too often we are then failing them - and ourselves - by not supporting them to progress and realise the personal, creative and economic benefits of the initial investment that we all make.”

The Department for Education said that it is currently working with music groups to “refresh” the approach to music education. A spokesperson added: “We want all pupils to have the opportunity to study music at school.

“That is why the subject is compulsory in the national curriculum from the age of 5 up to 14.

“We are also putting more money into arts education programmes than any subject other than PE - nearly half a billion pounds to fund a range of music and cultural programmes between 2016 and 2020.”