Manchester City’s Nathan Aké launches music education initiative, Playing for Change

Manchester City footballer Nathan Aké has teamed up with Casio to launch a new music education initiative, Playing For Change.

Playing For Change is said to be a “groundbreaking donation project” aiming to improve music education provision at disadvantaged schools and colleges across the UK.

The pilot programme was first launched in February with the donation of 10 Casio pianos to six schools in Manchester, including East Manchester Academy, located in “one of the city’s most deprived areas”, which were hand-delivered by Aké himself.

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The initiative will now expand across the UK with a goal to donate two Casio pianos every month to disadvantaged schools and colleges around the country for a year.

Aké, who plays for both Premier League club Manchester City and the Dutch national football team, is a self-taught pianist after learning to play during the COVID lockdowns.

He cites the “improved mental wellbeing and focus” that has come with learning the piano, explaining: “Every child deserves the opportunity to experience the gift of music, regardless of their background.”

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“Learning to play the piano during lockdown was a revelation for me,” he says. “It gave me a sense of calm and focus during a difficult time, and it continues to bring me joy and stress relief, especially between games.”

Pianos will be delivered to schools in need of instruments, providing access to music which is “historically largely limited to children from affluent families”.

The scheme hopes to bring benefits such as the development of social skills, discipline, patience, and confidence, and provide a head start into music careers.

UK-registered education institutions can apply for the scheme here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter