Leading British composer James MacMillan has criticised the government there for the decline in musical-instrument learning in comprehensive schools. MacMillan, appointed as composer and conductor of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, made his comments during rehearsals for his debut concert with the orchestra in Manchester. He called for music to be returned to the core of the national school curriculum. In recent years, children learning a musical instrument have had to pay for lessons outside of the classroom - and many parents do not consider music a priority, MacMillan said. "The involvement by pupils from comprehensive schools has decreased and that is a matter of shame which I think a Labour government especially would want to address," he said.