DON’T STOP THE MUSIC - CHANNEL 4

Internationally-renowned pianist James Rhodes is passionate about the power of music to change lives and is shocked at the state of music education in the UK.  A primetime Channel 4 series launches nationwide instrument amnesty campaign.

The series:

A new two-part Channel 4 series –Don’t Stop the Music – follows James as he trials the amnesty in a primary school in Basildon, investigates the issues, gathers allies and gears up to go nationwide. St Teresa’s is in special measures and had a music budget of precisely zero pounds. Resources are already stretched to the limit and the school is determined to focus on numeracy and literacy and turn around its academic record.  James wants to convince staff that music lessons can help to achieve that goal, not distract from it. He wants to show through direct action just what putting an instrument into the hands of a child can do. 

The campaign:

In 2011, the government’s National Plan for Music said that “Children from all backgrounds and every part of England should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument”. But James has found that for thousands of kids, that’s simply not happening – so he’s on a personal mission to persuade the government to fulfil the promise made in their plan, and ensure that in the long-term, his amnesty isn’t needed.

Series Director/ Producer - Tom Coveney

Producer - Vivienne Perry

Location Producer - Rose Walton

Line Producer - Larissa Hickey

Multiplatform Executive Producer - Annabel McLeod

Executive Producer - Jeremy Lee

Fresh One Productions - tx 9th September, 16th September 2014