Lang Lang Donates Hundreds of Pianos to Schools

Founded in 2008, the Lang Lang International Music Foundation (LLIMF) offers music education to children across the world, aiming to make music a part of every child’s life.

Titled “Keys of Inspiration” (KOI), the program will see permanent piano labs set up — firstly in schools across Britain — with 20 to 30 electric Roland pianos. Additionally, a musical curriculum written with The Royal Conservatory of Music will be included, plus training and support for music teachers, access to the KOI Educators Network, and Big Ear Games — KOI’s official music-learning app.

The first UK school to receive a piano lab is the Winns primary school in Waltham Forest — which is London’s twelfth "most-deprived" borough, where just over half the residents are from a minority ethnic background. 

“We were able to identify many similarities between state schools in the UK and public schools in the U.S. in terms of the way access to music and arts can be extremely limited when budgets are cut,” Lang Lang told the Guardian. 

“I was so surprised by how music classes are never a guarantee,” he continued. “The schools and teachers are incredible, and are so dedicated to providing their students with everything they can. But it shocked me how access to music education can be so limited.”

According to the Guardian, KOI was inspired by Lang Lang’s projects for students aged seven to 12 in the U.S., where he placed piano labs in 86 schools, giving 70,000 kids access to keyboards; and in China, where he installed pianos in 104 schools, reaching 110,000 children.

Oli Rose, LLIMF’s global development director, explained that such programs have seen incredible and powerful transformations in youngsters — directly affecting behavior and boosting mood and self-confidence.

The initiative also involves the Christopher Burch Keyboard Award, which will provide 600 keyboards to the most promising KOI students across the nation every year. The award involves a personal keyboard and the chance to continue piano studies at home.

Each year, KOI school partners will be granted up to 10 of these awards for their most dedicated piano students. The aim is that by 2025, LLIMF will donate over 3,600 keyboards to state elementary school students, according to their website.

“When I visit our partner schools and see the joy on the students’ faces or hear from our teachers about the progress students are making, I’m reminded of why we created this program — to give children an opportunity to discover what they’re capable of achieving and to lift up their voices through music,” Lang Lang said.