Footballer donates pianos to Manchester schools

Manchester City player Nathan Aké is partnering with music charity Restore The Music and Casio to donate pianos to deprived schools.

From left: East Manchester Academy students with Robert Hatton, head of music, Nathan Aké, and Neil Evans, head of Casio EMI - Restore The Music

Football player Nathan Aké has joined forces with music charity Restore The Music and instrument manufacturer Casio Music to donate pianos to Manchester schools as part of a new Playing for Change initiative. Aké visited East Manchester Academy last week to launch the new project which will see six schools in the city receive new pianos.

Manchester City Council has the third highest rate of child poverty among local authorities in England. The Playing for Change project will donate 10 digital pianos to schools in the city which lack funding for music education. On his visit to East Manchester Academy Aké delivered two Casio CDP-S110 digital pianos to its music department, took part in a Q&A, met the students and played a piece for them. Other schools receiving piano donations will be: Marlborough Road Primary Academy, Dukesgate Academy, Abraham Moss Community School, Our Lady RC High School and Salford City Academy.