Musical Instrument Amnesty!
For those not familar with Ronnie Scott’s it is an iconic jazz club that has operated in Soho, London, since 1959. This weekend (22.01.22) the Ronnie Scott’s Charitable Foundation hosted its musical instrument amnesty. The foundation are re-gifting unwanted or unused instruments to young musicians across the UK and around the world. The foundation recognises how important it is for all children to have the opportunity to learn to play an instrument, but also that some children are unable to access this. Donors are given a unique tracking number so they can find out where their instrument ended up, and beneficiaries have included children from Uganda, Nepal, Zanzibar, Palestine and Colombia.
Having grown up in a musical family myself I donated an instrument, arriving to find the place buzzing with activity. It is unusual to visit the club in the day and with the rare opportunity to take a few pictures. I also had the great opportunity to speak with Ada Ologbosere -head of the Ronnie Scott’s Charitable Foundation. A true inspiration!
Tell us about your role at Ronnie Scott’s and how it came about?
The amnesty was born right here at Ronnie’s in 2015! Our charity, the Ronnie Scott’s Charitable Foundation, wanted to highlight the importance of music education which is a right that we feel all young children should be entitled to.
How did you get involved and how has it evolved over the years?
I’ve worked at Ronnie’s for some 15 years so I’m involved by proxy! They call me part of the fabric of the building. It has involved in that we receive more instruments every year. You know that Sam Smith donated his guitar in the past and we’ve received donations from Nitin Sawney and support from Jools Holland.
This year, I’m running the charity and for several reasons, I know this will be our biggest yet. I expect instruments to come flooding through the door! Government funding for music and the arts in general has been halved over recent years. Gone are the days where you would automatically expect your children to take music classes in school. What a tragedy!! I think we should all be doing what we can to help
Charity is needed more than ever in these challenging times including
what the pandemic has presented. Did this create any barriers to organising this year’s event?
I suppose it does, in the sense that we have protocols and we have to be extra cautious and clean in one way or the other, but otherwise we’re not letting the pandemic get in our way. Not for such a good cause!
I am also volunteer for a charity and have witnessed the positive
impact music can have on sometime’s marginalised young people.
Do you have any memorable experiences of how the Amnesty has changed someone’s life?
There are so many, Kingsley but this story here is particularly inspiring:
The instruments donated include everything from piano’s, drum kits,
brass and woodwind! What are the most popular instruments donated and has there been any unusal ones?
It has to be the clarinet for whatever reason. Perhaps it’s one of those instruments that looks easy to play…. I don’t know! I just had someone email with a huge homemade xylophone they found in their house when they moved in. Who made it and where did it come from, is what I want to know!
Do you play any instrumets yourself and what is your favourite?
I don’t, but I come from a musical family so I like to think I have a good ear! My Dad played the piano and saxophone in our household and I go wild for the sound of a violin!
