Lang Lang promises ‘100s of keyboards’ to deprived London schools

Lang Lang promises ‘100s of keyboards’ to deprived London schools

News

norman lebrecht

April 20, 2022

The Chinese pianist has pledged to revive piano teaching in British state schools.

His Lang Lang International Music Foundation has given 30 keyboards to Winns Primary School in Waltham Forest, where half the children are from deprived minority backgrounds.

The initiative replicates his  Keys of Inspiration project in China where 200,000 children have been given access to keyboards. It follows a curriculum written by Lang Lang and Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music.

Lang Lang, 39, told The Times: ‘I was so surprised by how music classes are never a guarantee. The schools and teachers are incredible, and are so dedicated to providing their students with everything they can. But it shocked me how access to music education can be so limited.’

Comments

  • John Borstlap says:

    Finally some execution that really makes a difference.

    • CRWang says:

      Let’s wait and see. It might be just another PR move by Lang Lang. Get married, have a baby, donation pledges are all part of the branding image strategy.

      • Petros Linardos says:

        Like him or not, Lang Lang has really donated money to the benefit of others.

        I can think of countless marketing moves that benefit only the interested party and the businesses involved. This is not one them, regardless of its downsides.

        If there were even the slightest suspicion of fraud, Slippedisc would have been reporting them.

        • Hugo Preuß says:

          I completely agree. While I am by no means a fan of his playing, one should give credit where credit is due.

          And so what if it benefits his image? Others in need of an image boost (or ven not in need of one) are more than welcome to match and surpass him in this generous action.

  • Jobim75 says:

    Maybe he will be remembered for this and not for his playing.

  • M McAlpine says:

    Funny but whatever this guy does the whinging starts!

  • Piano Lover says:

    …next step is to put his wife at the head of the foundation and in comes the money.

  • margaret koscielny says:

    This is a lovely, generous gift as well as a prod to the conscience of all of us, musicians or music-lovers.

    Orchestras are known for their generosity toward other musicians whenever there has been a strike or a lockout.

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