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SAVE THE MUSIC BOUTIQUE!!!
The Music Boutique is a music school like no other. Housed in two former shops along the Lambeth Walk, it’s the life’s work of Osho, a former Special Needs teacher & furniture designer /maker with an eye for artefacts and curiosities.
Osho has curated a unique and cosy space where children of all ages are taught music in a child-led way by specialist tutors and established jazz musicians.
If you peer in the window, on any given afternoon, you’ll see kids
playing drums, electric guitar or the grand piano, in warm lighting, surrounded by an incredible collection of memorabilia, antique furniture, wood carvings, posters and vintage Fisher Price toys.
Each lesson is entirely bespoke & handcrafted to the individual child.
In their ability to meet each child where they are and follow the child’s curiosity, and build a relationship with the child, the tutors at The Music Boutique are a joy to watch at work.
For example Joshua (aka INSXGHT, often found performing at the Jazz Café and Ronnie Scotts’ and known for his work with children with SEND) might be found improvising a piece with a pupil whilst in the adjacent room, Rosyln (by training a classical pianist) might be found picking up on a child’s determination, weaving together games with preparation for music grades and scholarship exams.
For nearly 30 years, this little school has offered a one-of-a-kind intuitive & innovative child led approach for children to develop a love for music. It’s also a local hub; and safe space where elderly people stop for a rest and former pupils pop their heads round the door to say hello.
Sadly, the Music Boutique is in danger of closing down in less than two weeks.
What’s going on?
All was well until the Covid 19 Pandemic when the Music Boutique was forced to close its doors, losing 100% of its income.
Unfortunately, despite Government issued Pandemic Code of Conduct,
the landlords (Watmos) continued to demand full rent which became impossible to pay. And with the 40% hike in utility bills the debt has grown.
Osho has repeatedly attempted to negotiate a payment plan, oTering up payments in instalments. Watmos have refused each request – and are only willing to accept a ‘lump sum’. Over half-term, Watmos obtained a court order giving 28 days (from February 11th to March 11th 2026) to raise £52,824.16 plus £27,000 in legal costs.
Osho has managed to raise around £10k through donations from close family and friends ...However more is needed to save the school, and time is of the essence!
What can you do?
If you, or someone you know, is passionate about music – and music provision for children, here are a few ways to help:
1. Make a donation - The Music Boutique are running a Crowdfunder fundraiser (link below) where donations big and small can be made. There is also a list of experiences which can be bought. The aim is to raise enough by the 11th March 2026 –to allow the schooltokeepitshome.
The Music Boutique Crowdfunderhttps://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/BWdq7GYn?utm_campaign=sharemodal&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=shortlink
2. Give your time (and talents) - If you’re a poet or musician willing to perform a private fundraising gig for 15 people please let us know and we can help arrange this!
The space is open to come visit /perform over the next 10 days.
DATE AM PM
SATURDAY 28th FEB 3-11pm
SUNDAY 1st MARCH 2-6pm
MONDAY 2nd MARCH 11.30-2.30pm 6.30-9.30pm
TUESDAY 3rd MARCH 11.30-2.30pm 6.30-9.30pm
WEDNESDAY 4th MARCH 11.30-2.30pm 7.30-10pm
THURSDAY 5th MARCH 11.30-2.30pm 7-11pm
FRIDAY 6th MARCH 11.30-2.30pm 7-11pm
SATURDAY 7th MARCH 3-11pm
SUNDAY 8th MARCH 2-6pm
MONDAY 9th MARCH 11.30-2.30pm 6.30-9.30pm
TUESDAY 10th MARCH 11.30 2.30pm 6.30-9.30pm
If you would like any further information, please contact Osho:
ADDRESS: The Music Boutique, 159-161 Lambeth Walk, London, SE11 6EE.
My name is Roslyn and I am a piano tutor. I specialise in infant tuition from 4 months old. Yes, I know, unbelievable! However that is until you witnesss the magic that is ‘See, Learn, Do’, a Music Boutique trademark tutoring style specifically developed for the teeny tiny pupils that I am fortunate to tutor.
As far as I’m aware there is no other dedicated bespoke facility offering what we do in the way that we do it within our local area of south London.
I am so grateful to do what I love, and love what I do. I hope my pupils will look back on the bespoke tuition I have given them with joy and laughter and a love of music.
I have learned to be an interpreter of sound with how I communicate with all my pupils at the Music Boutique, be that using the piano itself, my voice the bells and other percussive instruments such as the mbira (thumb piano). I am constantly learning new approaches and refining what I have learned.
Our approach to pupil tuition of being bespoke and handcrafted for every child that steps into the world of the Music Boutique is so very needed given the current times we are in.
The Music Boutique is an incredible enchanted little music school based in the historical Lambeth Walk, incidentally made famous for the stage production of ‘Me And My Girl’ written by Mr Lupino, whom Lupino Court, opposite the Music Boutique, is named after.
On meeting and speaking with Osho little did I know of the circumstances that helped to mould the place that I am now a part of.
From a disturbingly abusive painful and brutally violent foster care experience, Osho has created a real refuge that encourages a nostalgic, musical and educational experience. Above all else, the Music Boutique Experience is about the love of family, togetherness and the development of emotional intelligence.
We will always be focussed on protecting, encouraging and nurturing the children that have the good fortune to be tutored at the Music Boutique.
Through the carefully curated visual displays of toys, books, comics and classic twentieth century design furniture, and ephemera of yesteryear. There are memories that are cross generational, some happy and some not so, but still a part of our current consciousness.
Through magical, musical memories, grandparents, parents and children alike are touched by what we call the Music Boutique Experience
This is a wonderful clip of Juno, one of my first Tiny Tinkle pupils and shows you can never be too young to have an appreciation for music:
My colleague Joshua is particularly incredible with our special needs pupils. His calm, attentive and innovative manner is a life line for pupils whom absolutely love their tuition with Joshua. We are also firmly of the belief that children with SEN should be able to lead as independently and a joyful a life as possible. Piano tuition, specifically due to its many areas of cerebral development can contribute hugely to this life long process. The Music Boutique has always been inclusive, holistic and child centred when it comes to non high support spectrum autism.
For many of our families, the Music Boutique is much more than just a piano lesson. It’s an oasis that provides a multi sensory therapy experience for all generations.
We are tucked away from the hustle and bustle in one of London’s somewhat historical backwaters, the legendary Lambeth Walk, known for the stage musical production of the same name ‘Lambeth Walk’.
Although we love and appreciate all that the Music Boutique represents, we are not living in a dream world and know that the hard reality is that we need to raise funds to keep the doors open. Otherwise, like so many other amazing small artisan businesses, the Music Boutique WILL close. Of course, not without a fight, but there is only so much we can do by ourselves.
We need your support to help continue with creating magical, musical memories in a place like no other. Our dream is to leave a legacy by making a beautiful impact on the world via the children that we educate through music.
Please share your stories and love for this enchanting little music school on social media and help spread our magical, musical memories created by the Music Boutique Experience.
Trying to leave this current world a little bit better than we found it.
Such a place is a rare find and certainly not to be lost!
Please share! Recommend a new pupil and/or donate to help keep an incredible little music school open.
A little from a lot of people will help us to continue creating magical musical memories