Music prodigy Nicola Benedetti plans to engage with Labour leader Keir Starmer regarding the future of music education.

Nicola Benedetti, a leading violin soloist of the current times, recently spoke to our website's Ritula Shah about music education and her own musical upbringing. The renowned musician expressed her optimism about the potential for change under the new Labour government, stating that there is a lot of opportunity now to make a difference for the next generation of young music lovers.

Benedetti shared her belief in preserving the pure love for music while encouraging discipline in practice. She recalled her own experiences, such as learning Elgar's "Salut d'amour" at a young age, which left her in tears. However, she never questioned her passion for the violin, having liked it from lesson three.

The Scottish artist also emphasised the importance of daily practice, a lesson she learned early on when told she could play the violin, but only if she practiced every day. She advises parents of young children learning an instrument to encourage this discipline, but also to protect their child's positive relationship with music more than the instrument itself.

Benedetti is not just a proponent of individual practice; she is also a strong advocate for collective music-making. She believes that listening to music and joining an ensemble can bring a social vibration to the experience of music. This belief led to the establishment of the Benedetti Foundation in 2019, a music education charity that creates mass music-making events for everyone. Since its inception, the foundation has worked with 75,000 people aged two to 92.

In light of the disappearance of music from schools in many state schools across the country, Benedetti suggests that what is not needed is more advice and reports, but rather a better structure for music education. She plans to reach out to the Culture Minister, Lisa Nandy, and potentially the prime minister to help shape the future of music education. However, the name of the culture minister serving under the new Labour government with whom she wishes to discuss the future of music education is not identified in the provided search results.

Beyond her advocacy for music education, Benedetti is currently directing the Edinburgh International Festival. Her passion for music, both as a performer and an advocate, continues to inspire many, and her efforts towards music education reform are eagerly awaited.

Music prodigy Nicola Benedetti plans to engage with Labour leader Keir Starmer regarding the future of music education.