Ed Sheeran has spoken out against cuts to music education in state schools, saying he benefited from the tuition he received as a student. The singer-songwriter, 27, posted a screenshot of an online article on The Financial Times website in which UK Music, an industry lobby, said a decline in music lessons in schools risks the development of successful pop stars like Sheeran and Adele. I benefited hugely from state school music, as I’m sure many other UK musicians have. UK Music has said cuts to state school arts budgets mean budding musicians are increasingly dependent on private school teaching and funding from their parents in order to pursue their talents. But UK Music has argued that rather than encouraging pupils to take up musical instrument lessons, the scheme is likely to “benefit those who have already been identified as exceptionally gifted”.

Source: Irish Examiner September 15, 2018 18:45 UTC