‘We believe that every child, in every school, along with all the other members of the school and wider community, should have access to at least one high-quality piano on which to learn, compose, perform, and to enjoy listening to.’
This is the premise at the heart of a new initiative, led by The Musiq Group, who lease hundreds of pianos to schools, hubs, conservatoires and universities up and down the country. Company music director Peter Futcher emphasises the importance of the piano as an instrument within education settings, which, in turn, inspired the ‘One Piano’ campaign: ‘Time and time again, we have heard from music departments across the country, stating how much they really want a piano that “works”. It's the keystone of musical life in a school, and yet, sadly, the state of the piano stock in the majority of schools is really rather poor. In fact, many school pianos date back to the 1950s or before. The cost of maintaining these instruments, let alone improving them, is well outside the reach of the budgets of most schools, and the idea of replacing them is very low down the list of priorities for most business managers.’
Seeking creative solutions
The Musiq Group is now entering its second year, having been established in October 2021 following the acquisition of the assets of a previous company, which provided pianos to schools, conservatoires, venues and individuals. As a trained chorister and organist, Futcher is their specialist musician in-house, working alongside a crew of 20 technicians in the field who are responsible for maintaining a fleet of Steinway, Bechstein, Hoffman, Kawai, Yamaha, Fazioli and other pianos. Even with a growing inventory of over 1,000 instruments on lease to institutions such as the Royal Northern College of Music, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, The Musiq Group is equally committed to servicing single-piano primary schools and everything in between.
Futcher's musical background has involved working as a choral conductor, tenor lay clerk, published composer, and accompanist. As a teacher and freelance musician, he became struck by the need for better-maintained pianos to be available in education settings, which he feels can empower a school and its students: ‘I was a director of music in both the maintained and independent sector for nearly 20 years,’ he says, ‘and have taught classroom composition too, so I understand the challenges on an educational, artistic and financial level. I feel very aware of the growing issue in schools – for example, I will often turn up for a rehearsal or workshop in a school setting only to find that the piano is well past its best. Occasionally, I might bring a high-quality digital piano, or even an upright in the company van en route to another client, and it becomes evident to me how having a good piano can transform the experience for the performers and listeners alike.’
With a nuanced understanding of schools and their needs, The Musiq Group aims to be different from a commercial piano dealer which is solely selling pianos to schools and then moving on. The One Piano initiative is born out of both enthusiasm and expertise, and the aim is to find creative solutions to the barriers which may be preventing piano access and maintenance in UK schools. While new pianos are available to schools from £60 per month through The Musiq Group, they want to acknowledge that this might not be the best route for all institutions. ‘Leasing and servicing arrangements are not our driving force in the One Piano project. We want to make it happen; we want to help schools find their way to a good piano. It might be that a rebuild is the right answer in some cases, or a digital instrument, or a second-hand instrument shared with a trust or a charity. We are driven by the idea of forming relationships, joining the dots through both creativity, and admin!’
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Industry connections
Futcher cites the latest National Plan for Music Education (NPME), and the requirement for music hubs specifically to build on their relationships with the local music industry. The refreshed plan was published by the government in June 2022 and stipulates that music hubs ‘should invite local music employers and organisations to join their partnership, to help facilitate stronger connections between music education and progression into musical careers’. The Musiq Group team feels they are perfectly placed to assist with forming relevant industry connections and pathways, in addition to working towards the goal of getting a properly functioning piano into a school and being able to share their network, skills and ideas: ‘We are well-placed to build bridges,’ says Futcher, ‘and to make those connections work for a school or music hub, advocating for music education in their local community by developing relationships. We will absolutely guarantee that if any school is to get in touch, we will find a way for them to obtain at least one piano.’
If the overriding solution for schools and music hubs is to connect with industry, businesses, and potential funding sources, what types of connections can a piano lease company offer? While The Musiq Group team are clear in their aim, it seems that the course of action will no doubt vary from school to school, and the plan for carrying out the One Piano campaign is to remain flexible and open-minded: ‘It just takes a bit of work, and we are absolutely determined to facilitate this dream as we feel it is totally achievable. We have a network of piano manufacturers, dealers, clients, venues, membership groups and others, and our team are accustomed to working with department heads, bursars, business managers, headteachers, funders, music hubs, parent associations, and other external organisations that are striving to broaden access to music for children and young people. We can utilise these networks and connect people and organisations in order to advocate for getting a piano in to a school.’
Futcher states that he hopes The Musiq Group office can become a launchpad, exploring the list of possibilities for schools and music hubs, realising various options for piano provision and maintenance. It may be that the company can assist with fundraising, such as finding trusts and benefactors, or communicating with parents or performing groups in the area. They can also advise on how to make a music budget go further in educational settings, suggesting the best option for a school instrument based on their technical knowledge: ‘The solution might not even be to use a piano leased by The Musiq Group. We can help with all budgets and all settings and are “brand agnostic” in our work. What is right for one school is not right for another – we feel this very strongly, as it has been proven through our experience working in education.’
‘Play nicely’
While there are currently no plans to teach piano performance or maintenance through the One Piano campaign, the initiative is part of a broader ethos of togetherness within the music industry. Futcher suggests that the key to a stronger sector in arts education is to bring businesses, brands, institutions and individuals together in supporting one another: ‘Everyone needs to “play nicely” – that's the truth,’ he says, adding: ‘Since the beginning of The Musiq Group in 2021, we have been increasingly aware that music education is teetering on the edge of massive change, and we really want to add our weight to the correct side of the scales. As soon as the music industry works more closely together, everyone will benefit, and it is not just about the bottom line for individual businesses if music education is to win.’
The Musiq Group office and showroom is based in Chilham, Kent, but schools from across the country are invited to contact The Musiq Group should they wish to be a part of the initiative. From there, the One Piano scheme will aim to work together with schools and contacts to find the solutions that will help provide access to a suitable piano. Their motto is that funding should not be a barrier, and, with The Musiq Group, it doesn't have to be capital expenditure. Instead, they hope to find creative ways around any school's budget or challenges, and to discuss the needs of each individual case, until every school can lay claim to at least one excellent piano.
