Thank you everybody!

James Rhodes’ nationwide Don’t Stop The Music instrument amnesty has come to an end – and what an exciting journey it’s been.

Don't Stop The Music schools say: "Thank you for our instruments!"

Heartfelt emails, tweets, Facebook messages and photos have started flooding in from the schools participating in the Don't Stop The Music amnesty, as they receive the instruments donated to them by the public.

Julian Lloyd Webber: "ALL children should have access to music"

Julian Lloyd Webber, acclaimed cellist and founder of In Harmony, on why he is backing the Don't Stop The Music amnesty – and what needs to be done...

Joint letter calls for action on music education

Julian Lloyd Webber, Sting and other leading figures from the worlds of music and education have joined James Rhodes to call on the government to end inequalities in music education.

House of Lords: "The arts are integral to education"

The House of Lords held a passionate debate yesterday afternoon on the importance of arts in education – after Education Secretary Nicky Morgan suggested choosing arts subjects reduces young people's career opportunities.

James Rhodes: "Let’s not doubt the value of music and the arts in education"

As the House of Lords prepare to debate arts education, James Rhodes calls on the Government to listen to the debate and act – to show it truly values music in schools:

James Rhodes visits the Don’t Stop The Music hub

Last week, James Rhodes popped into the Big Yellow Self Storage hub where all the instruments donated to his Don’t Stop The Music instrument amnesty are being prepared for delivery to the 150 schools set to receive them.

Inside the Don't Stop The Music Amnesty: The BIG donations

The Don’t Stop The Music Instrument Amnesty encouraged members of the public to dig out their unwanted instruments and get them into the hands of the UK’s youngsters via Oxfam. Now the amnesty has stopped accepting instruments, we look back at some of the most generous donations and supporters.

Musicians remember their first music teachers

A music teacher can be instrumental in nurturing learners’ creativity and building their confidence. Several top artists tell Don't Stop The Music about their favourite or most memorable music teachers.

Press coverage of James Rhodes' instrument amnesty

The Don’t Stop The Music Instrument Amnesty received tremendous public support, with several national newspapers keen to chat to James Rhodes to find out more. Take a look at some of the press coverage the amnesty attracted during its six-week run.

House of Lords debate music education

Last night, the House of Lords put music education in the spotlight in a 72-minute debate, in which James Rhodes’ Don’t Stop the Music campaign was repeatedly highlighted.

Five Things To Do With Your Unwanted Musical Instrument

Missed the Don't Stop The Music instrument amnesty? Don't worry! There are still lots of ways to put your unused instrument to good use. Here are just five of them...

James Rhodes and Jude Kelly talk arts education for young people

Don’t Stop the Music champion James Rhodes took his campaign to the Southbank Centre in London on Saturday, where he was joined by the centre’s artistic director Jude Kelly OBE, to discuss children’s access to culture and the arts.

Consultation offers chance to make Ofsted pay more attention to music

One of the aims of the Don’t Stop The Music campaign is to get Ofsted, the body that inspects schools, to pay more attention to music. Now, thanks to a new consultation launched by Ofsted, an opportunity has arisen to make this case to the decision-makers themselves.

St Teresa's School in Basildon: What Happened Next?

Remember the Essex school featured in the Don't Stop The Music Channel 4 TV series? We speak to Sarah Goldsmith, the inspirational music teacher who was brought in the teach the kids how to play, to find out how the children of St. Teresa’s school in Basildon are getting on...

7 Tips for Teachers: Getting Children Into Music

Sarah Goldsmith was the inspiring teacher featured in the Don’t Stop The Music TV series, who was drafted in to help boost the music department of St Teresa’s school in Basildon. She shares her top tips on how to engage school children in music lessons.

James Rhodes in conversation at Southbank Centre's Why? festival

This Saturday, James Rhodes will join Jude Kelly, artistic director of the Southbank Centre, for an 'In Conversation With...' session all about the Don't Stop The Music campaign.

10 famous people you never knew played an instrument

It's not just professional musicians who master the guitar, piano or clarinet. Here are just a few famous faces who have a secret talent for playing music...

The Don't Stop The Music instrument amnesty is over!

Six weeks ago, James Rhodes launched a nationwide instrument amnesty, to put musical instruments donated by the public into the hands of primary school children around the UK. The response has been incredible…

Behind the scenes: What’s it like to be an Oxfam shop volunteer?

The Don’t Stop The Music instrument amnesty wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of Oxfam volunteers like ‘Music Man Jack’.

10 Top Songs About Musical Instruments

Musicians love their instruments so much, they dedicate whole songs to them. Here are a few of our faves...

Teachers: "Why we've signed James’s petition"

More than 67,000 people have signed James Rhodes’ petition, calling on Education Minister Nicky Morgan to fulfil the pledge made in the National Plan for Music Education – that every child in England should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

Ten of the Greatest... British musicians

The UK has been a trailblazer in the history of music, producing some of the most influential bands and artists of all time. Through the Don’t Stop The Music’s campaign, we're calling for every child in England to have the opportunity to learn an instrument – and so continue our country’s fantastic music legacy.

Trumpeter Alison Balsom: “Learning music is not a luxury”

She’s won three Classical BRIT Awards, was crowned Gramophone Artist of the Year 2013 and has just released her latest album (‘Paris’) but acclaimed trumpeter Alison Balsom still finds time to campaign for better music education.

Sir Paul McCartney, Sting, Sir Tom Jones and Ronnie Wood back the amnesty!

Oxfam Supporter Sir Paul McCartney, Sting, Sir Tom Jones and Ronnie Wood are the latest stars to add their support to the Don’t Stop The Music Instrument Amnesty.

Oxfam Esher: "We received 13 violins in one go!"

Esher in Surrey was the first branch of Oxfam to be inundated with instruments for the Don’t Stop The Music Amnesty. In fact its very first contribution was from a retired music teacher who donated 13 violins!

James Rhodes Responds to Nicky Morgan’s Conference Speech

Yesterday, Nicky Morgan gave her first major speech as Secretary of State for Education at the Conservative Party Conference.

10 Of The Greatest... Child Musical Prodigies

Some children have amazing musical skills from a young age. We pick ten of the most jaw-dropping young performers of recent decades...

James Rhodes: "?It's time to stop viewing music and the arts as second-class subjects"

This year I went back to primary school. Not to polish up on my reading, writing and arithmetic, but to find out just what the state of music education is for our children. I was not expecting what I found.

Music teacher Amanda Mitchell: "Don't Stop The Music is just a starting point"

You may recognise Amanda Mitchell from episode one of Don’t Stop The Music, in which the music specialist led her ‘orchestra’ of bins and biscuit tins and told James about her £2.20-a-head music budget.

Oxfam: Music Builds A Sense of Community

Thom Bleasdale is the Bookshop Manager at the Victoria branch of Oxfam. He tells us how music helps build a sense of community – in Oxfam's work and his daily life...

The Story Behind the Amnesty... Finding the Schools

Hundreds of schools answered James Rhodes’ callout for instrument amnesty participants. Here’s how it all began…

Stars back the Don't Stop The Music Amnesty

Don’t Stop The Music has 'struck a chord' with top-name musicians, including Jessie J, Tinie Tempah, Labrinth, Neneh Cherry, Newton Faulkner and KT Tunstall, who have all lent their support to the instrument amnesty.

Dick Stead donates clarinet

Executive Chairman of Yodel – the official parcel carrier for the Don't Stop The Music instrument amnesty – donates his treasured clarinet at Oxfam Marylebone.

Oxfam on the power of music for social change

?Proms conductor calls for more access to classical music for children

Conductor Sakari Orama ended the 2014 BBC Proms by calling for more children to have the opportunity to hear and learn classical music...

Labrinth donates his guitar to the amnesty

Singer-songwriter Labrinth visited Oxfam's shop on Marylebone High Street to donate his acoustic guitar to the Don't Stop The Music instrument amnesty.

50,000 sign James Rhodes’ petition

An incredible 50,000 people have signed James Rhodes’ petition, calling on the government to deliver on its promise to give all primary school children in England the chance to learn a musical instrument.

Newton Faulkner: "I did nothing but play guitar for six months"

He's known for his percussive playing style and hits like Dream Catch Me, Teardrop and I Need Something, but singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner was a relative latecomer to the world of music...

I signed James Rhodes’ petition because…

It only launched on Monday, but already more than 40,000 people have signed James Rhodes’ petition calling on the government to deliver on its promise to give all primary school children in England the chance to learn a musical instrument.

The Don't Stop The Music Instrument Amnesty has begun!

Do you have an instrument lying unused in a cupboard or your attic? It’s time to dig it out, dust it off and donate it to James Rhodes’ Don’t Stop The Music instrument amnesty.

Ricky Wilson: "I was by far the most flamboyant violin player"

Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson remembers his school days – when he first learned the benefits of stealing the limelight...

“The Importance of Music”: The Government’s National Plan for Music Education

In 2011, the government unveiled a National Plan for Music Education, setting out its plans for the teaching of music education in England until 2020. Its title: The Importance of Music.

New National YouGov poll finds government failing to deliver on music education promise

Findings reveal government’s commitment to give all children in England the chance to learn a musical instrument is not being met in nearly 1/3 of primary schools surveyed.

10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About James Rhodes

James Rhodes is the heart and soul of the Don't Stop The Music project. Here are ten facts you should know about the man they call “the pianist with the rock star attitude”.

10 Of The Best... films about kids learning music

Inspiring music teachers, talented kids, musical prodigies... the big screen has them all. We pick ten of the best films about music education...

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

Singer-songwriter KT Tunstall on the amazing musical opportunities open to her at school, and why all children today should have the same chances...

Labrinth backs the instrument amnesty at Basildon gig

Chart-topping singer-songwriter Labrinth performed for the lucky people of Basildon in Essex, as part of the filming for the Don’t Stop The Music TV series...

150 schools join the Don't Stop The Music Instrument Amnesty

This July, the Don't Stop The Music team sent out a request for UK schools in desperate need of instruments – and they responded via the registermyschool.co.uk site in their hundreds!