Why is music never a top priority?

Why do you think they will prioritise matches over music? Surely if a child is picked for both then it's up to the child to choose?

I can see why team sport events, representing the school in a competitive atmosphere, drumming up solidarity & group feeling, would be rated more highly than music. It's easier to cheer on hockey players than violin soloists.

Perhaps you'd like to read the Ken Dodd theories of education?

My DCs are at a state school where they have 3 music teachers. There are various groups at lunchtime and after school - chamber group, concert brand, jazz, strings, brass, flute etc. 1 of my DDs has given up netball club this year as it clashes with 1 of the groups she does - but they can't do everything. The main thing I used to find annoying is that they don't set for music so lessons in years 8 and 9 were often ruined by children who had no interest in music constantly messing around (for some reason yr 7 when they were all learning the keyboard was ok). Yrs 10 and 11 are gcse classes so everything fine in those years.

Luck of the draw is the word ... my DSs got absolutely nothing at primary, then had everything on earth in secondary. Complete fluke. Shouldn't be like this and I don't see what difference the new hubs will make to schools. There's often excellent provision outside school but it can cost an arm and a leg ... it shouldn't be like that. Despair.

Music has never really been a priority where gov is concerned. Some schools can see the importance and others just don't get it. The ones that can work tirelessly and budget as much as they can.
I am not a conservative and hated Thatcher but it is she who got music into the curriculum. Apparentely, so the story goes during a speech written by the then minister of education she wrongly stated that music was to be a priority. She really meant to say Maths, and this is why we had music, so good for a while.
We ended up leaving the school system due to lack of musical opportunities and it appears to be the best decision to date. One of dds private music teachers also teaches in schoosl and is treated appaulingly by some teachers, who clearly see her as disrupting their classroom. She is left in corridors for up to 10 mins, when the parents are paying for the lesson, that only lasts for 20 mins.
I think unless some minister has a passion for music its the luck of the draw where schools and music are concerned.

Could be any number of things- not that I think it's right. For example, where I teach, we have one music teacher but five PE. There's only so much one person can do. In our area, county music services have been bulldozed by the coalition, so when we have peri teachers in school, it's by private arrangement and can be expensive. It's a difficult one to defend- I blame resources. It makes me . I'm Head of Performing Arts- one music teacher and one drama teacher (me) in the dept. With the best will in the world, we can't run more than we do presently (recorder ensemble, 3 choirs, drama group and a school production at the mo)

What gives you the impression they will prioritise hockey over orchestra ? . Not what I've experienced. Yes, sometimes pupils have to choose, but that is due the impossibility of being in 2 places at once.
Where I live, there are all sorts of school ensembles and orchestras to cater for all levels of musician, unlike sport, where only the elite get to play for the County.