County's music education gets 拢1.7m boost

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The project in Berkshire will be supported by 拢1.7m in arts funding

A new music hub for children and young people to provide quality education will open after it secured funding.

The Berkshire Music Hub secured 拢1.7m from Arts Council England.

It will be led by the Berkshire Music Trust but will be delivered in partnership with the Slough Music Service.

A total of 43 music hubs will be set up across England to support children and young people in and out of school.

Berkshire Music Trust's CEO Dawn Wren said: "[The music hub is] not necessarily about learning a musical instrument. It鈥檚 about how you can engage with music.

"It鈥檚 about composing, creating your own songs and enjoying music in any shape or form.

鈥淲e鈥檙e particularly keen to support children with additional needs.

"We鈥檙e really passionate about the benefits of music and what this funding will enable us to do for children and young people."

She added: 鈥淲e all know the power of a great song. The sun鈥檚 shining, you whack on a tune and it just lifts your spirits. And that for me is key in terms of music.鈥

Of the 拢1.7m funding, about 拢1.3m will go towards providing the music education service itself, and another 拢436,000 will be spent on musical instruments, equipment and technology.

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