Shining a light on musical talent in Brighton

It is the perfect destination then for Casio’s nationwide Action in Music campaign, fronted by Mercury Award nominated singer Laura Mvula, that aims to shine a light on young musical talent and the people who have helped inspire and nurture that talent.

She said: “Learning to play piano with my music teacher from the age of eight played a huge part in developing my musical style and gave me the confidence to become the artist I am today.”

So far Action in Music has visited schools across the country to promote the importance of music in education and encourage students to nominate their favourite teachers for Classic FMs Music Teacher of the Year Award.

Jack Terroni, 29, a product marketing executive at Casio, said: “We really wish to see more children and students have access to music in education and celebrate the work of music teachers in the UK.”

This week they arrived at Brighton College, home of a new, state of the art music department. What quickly became obvious was the student’s high level of talent and dedication for music.

Carlson, 15, a pupil in Year 10 performed part of a Rachmaninoff concerto. He was inspired at the age of six by his first piano teacher in Hong Kong and has since been captivated by what he describes as the expression of emotion and challenging nature of the instrument.

Ryan Hepburn, a music teacher at the school said that there is a perception that music is not an academic subject, but the opposite is true, with many transferable skills learnt through music that can be carried into further education.

Ella, 17, a student of the lower sixth form is interested in pursuing music as a career. A pianist and singer, she has ambition to study at a conservatoire and eventually enter the world of musical theatre.

Perhaps music in education does receive less attention than the core subjects in schools, but what the students at Brighton College have demonstrated, is that given the right teaching, music can be more than just a hobby. It can inspire a passion for learning and a career path in its own right.

For more information on this campaign, visit: www.actioninmusic.co.uk