Lee Gibling

[from BBC]

Musicians are joining up with England’s Schools Secretary Ed Balls to encourage young people to take up an instrument.

VV Brown, Killa Kela and Jamie Cullum have been taking over classrooms at a school in West London to launch “The Year of Music”.

Together, they are staging a mass music lesson which is being transmitted live to thousands of pupils in England.

The event is also supported by Lily Allen, guitarist Slash, N-Dubz, Dannii Minogue and violinist Vanessa Mae.

Mr Balls is calling on schools and local authorities to make a major effort to get more young people into music, so that by 2011 more than two million primary school pupils will have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

He said: “I want to create a generation of talented performers who can sing, dance, play instruments and fly the flag for Great Britain.

“Music is at the very heart of British popular culture – it’s what kids talk about, it’s what they aspire to.

“It’s fantastic that TV talent shows like X Factor attract millions of viewers each week, but young people need to know that they can only become stars by mastering the basics when they’re young and by learning about a range of music – from classical to country.

“This is exactly why we need world class music education in schools.”

Hosted by Konnie Huq, the interactive music lesson features live performances from VV Brown, Jamie Cullum and Killa Kela.

It is taking place at Twyford Church of England School at Acton in west London. The school’s gospel choir won the BBC Songs of Praise Senior School Choir of the Year award this year.

Other artists supporting the campaign include Violinist Vanessa Mae. She said learning an instrument could be extremely rewarding.

“It’s incredibly simple if you’re a kid, or even an adult, and you want to learn an instrument, you just pick it up, and try it.

“Music is a wonderful, wonderful profession to be involved in. It’s basically a hobby that you can treat seriously,” she said.

MOBO nominees N-Dubz said determination was the key: “If you do it yourself, and write it yourself, like we wrote a song today, in four months’ time thousands of people are going to be listening to it and singing along to it. How about that?

“If you put your mind to it you can do anything you want. Look at me, look at him, we came from nothing. You can do it too. Put your mind to it, brother, sister.”

Broadening horizons

The government says research shows that engaging in music can significantly improve pupils’ academic and general development – including language, numeracy, social skills, physical development and emotional intelligence.

It has pledged to invest £330m from 2008 through to 2011 to improve music opportunities for more children and young people.

Mr Balls said: “We want this investment to reach every child, to broaden more young people’s horizons and create more chances for them to both enjoy and learn from music and dance.

“Giving young people the chance to learn about music can teach them more than just the ins and outs of an instrument. It forms an integral part of our culture, and I believe it should be an integral part of every childhood.”