Ed Sheeran has revealed that he is set to take a break from recording his new album, to launch a new music scheme for young people.

The singer, 33, has previously topped the charts with seven huge albums, including his record-breaking 2017 release Divide.

But now, Ed has revealed his plans to launch a new scheme to improve funding for music lessons at schools across the country.

The hitmaker has previously donated millions to his old school, Thomas Mills High in Suffolk, after he was contacted by his old teacher about funding cuts in 2018.

Speaking about the scheem, he said: ‘I started doing that in the county I’m from, and we’ve just now changed to doing it nationwide.

‘I’m now visiting more high schools that really need music funding and you can see what a difference it makes.

‘I’m not an academic person – in the real world I would be viewed as stupid. But I excelled at music and therefore people think I’m good at something.

‘I found it massively helpful to be at a state-funded school that really encouraged that. They’ve basically cut funding for that in England so I’m doing what I can to get funding for it.’

Ed was previously thought to have donated £170,000 to his old school to fund art and music programmes in 2020.

The singer is said to have made the contributions in a bid to help find the next global superstar who can follow in his footsteps.

The A Team hitmaker’s charity Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation has provided the school with cameras, MacBooks and a photography darkroom for its art and IT departments.

According to The Sun, a report from the charity’s trustees said: ‘Following grants to Thomas Mills School, this has enabled them to successfully upgrade their Art, IT and Music rooms for students to improve their educational performance.

‘Soundproofing, a new photography studio and several high-end composition and recording software programs have been purchased and installed.’

The school Director of Music Richard Hanley added: ‘Pupils and staff at this school are fortunate to have a benefactor who knows and appreciates the value of the arts in education, how important they are and how they can indeed change lives.’

The foundation – which aims to help young people who live in Suffolk with grants to help with studying or playing music – has also given £20,000 to a local primary and charity Aldeburgh Hospital League of Friends for a sensory garden project using instruments for patients.

Ed also donated an eye-watering £1 million to his former school in Suffolk to fund a new grant that aims to provide students with new learning resources as well as ‘a new Expressive Arts course in Year 8 introduced this year.’

Last month, Ed was named the most played artist in the United Kingdom for the seventh year, while British artists dominate a new chart compiled by music licensing company PPL. 

The Suffolk-based singer-songwriter tops the list for most songs played on British radio, television and in public places. 

Sheeran has topped the same list on seven different occasions, having sold more than 150 million records across the world since his emergence with debut album + in 2011. 

Acknowledging his placement, he said:  ‘Thank you for naming me the most played artist for last year.  

‘Thank you to my team, not just for me, but for all the other artists you work with – I’m happy that you get this recognition.’ 

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Source: The Wall Street Journal