A STUDENT who taught herself to play the piano has landed a place in the best university music department in the country.

Eden Binks was delighted to receive an offer from Manchester University to study music on a course ranked top in the Sunday Times Good University Guide.

The 18-year-old started tinkering with keyboards when she was 11 but rejected formal lessons as “too boring” and instead took to YouTube to teach herself how to play.

By the time she was 15, her parents Sarah and Jason realised their daughter had real talent despite a lack of formal training.

After approaching the music department at Roedean School in Brighton, Eden was enrolled on a crash course in music theory as the teachers were “stunned” by her ability.

Eden’s mother Sarah said: “She just seemed to love it right from the beginning.

“The music teachers have been incredible by encouraging and supported Eden to believe more in her natural abilities.

“They suggested she join the orchestra on percussion, which she loved, and this helped her enormously with starting to feel more accomplished when reading music and working within an orchestra.

“Now they have given her the opportunity to write her own piece to be played at Brighton Fringe Festival.

“That shows their level of belief in her, which she has taken with great pride.”

Eden said: “It has been an amazing journey for me and I can’t wait to start at Manchester.

“Eventually I would love to become a producer and composer and hopefully work with a variety of different artists.

“I have already discussed with Manchester University how I could pursue both my degree and a solo career and they said ‘Why don’t you pursue your solo career as part of your degree?’ Perfect.”

Roedean music teacher Veronica Fewkes said: “When Eden came to see us, it was evident she was a very talented musician.

“In order to do music A-level, she needed to get up to speed with her formal training and she worked incredibly hard to do that.

“She has continued to flourish and we are so excited she’s been accepted on to a leading music course.”