This week on Nicola Benedetti’s journey of video tutorials, the violinist takes a trip outside her living room and into the home of the children of the Oasby Music Group. Founded in 2013 with just 7 beginner young musicians aged 5-8, the organisation now has 13 ensembles aged 4-18, with 74 children at its core, and many others who join for courses and holiday activities. Several tutors work regularly with the young musicians and older players help mentor the younger ones. 

Benedetti says, ‘Their founder and teacher is Laura Gardiner, whom I work and communicate with on a daily (sometimes hourly, often minutely basis) on all matters relating to education. She and I attended school and Suzuki class together in Ayrshire, and it is my pleasure and honour to work with such a brilliant, dedicated and relentless advocate for music and for teaching…the camaraderie yet discipline of Oasby Music Group is nothing short of inspiring.’

OMG, though based in Lincolnshire, teaches children from 7 counties, the furthest away travelling for nearly 2 hours to be there. 70% of the children come from state schools and the group has representatives from 42 different schools.

In this video Benedetti gives us a snapshot into her day with them.

  • See the full series here

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