Coinciding with International Repair Day, music retailer Millers Music, based in Cambridge, announces the launch of its piano donation initiative: Piano Equals. The new programme aims to tackle unequal access to music education and sustainability in the music industry. They aim to repair and reuse thousands of older, quality pianos across the UK before matching them with a local school or community organisation. At the heart of the initiative is the aim to support the growth of a more equitable and sustainable music industry.

Several local school and organisations have already benefitted from the Cambridgeshire pilot. Millers Music believe that everyone should have access to music and want to implement a positive change in the inequalities in the industry. For example, Cambridge Acorn Project, a therapeutic service provided for children and families in Cambridge. Hannah Chapman, Cambridge Acorn Project deputy CEO, said: ‘Access to enrichment such as playing a musical instrument is really important for children’s positive outcomes as they grow up, and for those living in financial hardship it is often more difficult to access these enrichment activities. Thanks to Piano Equals we are able to remove these barriers to music, which can lead to positive outcomes in children including increased self-confidence, improved mastery and good mental health.’

Simon Pollard, Managing Director at Millers Music, said: ‘We believe every child deserves access to high quality musical instruments, but inequality in music education is widening. Studies have shown that music has the power to transform people’s lives, and at Millers Music we believe that increasing access to high quality instruments is fundamental to this vision. Not only can a piano donation inspire and unleash musical creativity but also makes quality instruments more accessible and sustainable for all. Piano Equals aims to facilitate this by sharing our expertise and resources to reuse thousands of unused pianos and give the gift of music.’

Based on the government’s greenhouse gas report from 2020, the incremental carbon cost of using an existing instrument saves an estimated 97% of the carbon footprint of shipping a new one from across the world. As a part of Let’s Go Circular, Cambridge’s annual sustainability event, Millers Music will be hosting an all-day instrument repair workshop on Wednesday 30 October at the Grand Arcade in Cambridge.

To donate an instrument or apply for a donation visit here.

To register interest for the instrument repair workshop, visit here.