Keyboard Studies Programme
The Hamish Ogston Foundation is providing £750,650 over five years to expand the Keyboard Studies Programme within the Diocese of Leeds. The programme comprises of four elements:
Establishing the largest and highest-quality teaching school in the UK for the classical accordion. This instrument is widely taught in Europe and Asia to give children the independence of a portable instruments and has been used successfully in the UK in many rural primary schools to learn the basics, as a transition to larger keyboard instruments and, ultimately, to inspire some young people to progress to learning to play the piano and even organ;
Establishing the largest and highest-quality teaching school in the UK for the melodica. This small air-powered keyboard instrument offers one of the most comprehensive introductions to keyboard studies, following the Japanese model where every primary school child is taught the basics of keyboard playing;
Developing three bespoke tutor books for organ, accordion and melodica, to support the teaching and learning of the young students; and
Capital contributions to facilitate the installation of 2 pipe organs; the purchase of 3 electronic practice organs; refurbishment of 4 upright pianos and the purchase of 16 classical accordions.
It is our aspiration that the programme will support children from the UK to study at top international universities or conservatoires, furnishing them with the foundations to be skilful, multi-talented individuals within the music profession.
Diocese of Leeds Schools Keyboard Studies Programme to Cambridge University: Testimonial
“Being a student and Leeds Cathedral Organ Scholar in the Keyboard Studies Programme truly changed my life. It gave me the chance to work on my performance with some of the best names in the UK and get my accompanying skills up to a professional level with the Schools Singing Programme youth choirs. The practical experience and skills developed during two years at the cathedral enabled me to go from a Bradford state school pupil to the Organ Scholar at St Catharine's College, Cambridge. I am now incredibly proud to be returning as a full-time Choral Director in the National Schools Singing Programme in the Diocese of Leeds, founded and supported by the Hamish Ogston Foundation. It will be so fulfilling to provide young people from Yorkshire with the same life-changing opportunities that I gained so much from as a teen.” - Caius, 22.
Caius is now returning as a full-time Choral Director of National Schools Singing Programme. Visit https://www.hamishogstonfoundation.org/music/national-schools-singing-programme for more information on our music initiatives and partner institutions.