Musical instruments have a profound power to unlock untold expression in all kinds of people.

Every kid deserves the right to learn an instrument.

Picking up a guitar saved my life and to this day gives me joy every time I pick it up.

Musical instruments are the perfect thing to bring kids together.

It’s a terrible shame that instruments are going unused when there is somebody somewhere whose life could be transformed by it.

There is just something amazing about having the skill and being able to make your own music.

I really passionately believe that every child has a right to express themself in music.

Once you pick up an instrument and you know you love it, you will never stop playing it.

Music is quite a wholesome activity ... you’re not behind the bike shed, you’re inside creating.

You can’t expect a kid to learn maths in their head ... The same thing is true of music.

We wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t have had access to music growing up … so it’s really important you don’t cut that off at source.

My actual first instrument was a kids-size bass guitar, which I played in my first punk band in NYC.

Music is one of our greatest exports. Unless we keep that up in the schools then that tradition will die away.

Having access to music at schools is really important for us ... music's great to meet people and express yourself.

Music is therapeutic to me ... If something’s really got me down, there’s a song I can sing that will pull me right out of it.

We're cheating our children of a great future if we don't allow them to get involved in music.

When I was in Year 4 I was given a violin. I really loved playing although I was never really that good.

I’ve got a lot of friends who started with nothing and gained a lot through music.

Keep the music alive.

I was so lucky to grow up playing instruments ... It's a part of the brain nothing else gets to.

I got a lot of encouragement ... I remember staying after school to learn keyboards and experiment with music.

Music changes lives; it’s changed mine. It inspires; gives purpose, confidence and joy.

Music is a big part of British culture. Without support children can’t become the next Jessie J or Tinie Tempah.

When I was six years old, I was lent an old saxophone. I was instantly drawn into a new world.

Art and music were the only two ways [I had] to express myself properly and to be an individual.

A gentleman that believed in me and started letting me do gigs at his pub bought me my first guitar when I was 13.