Tag: Music for All

Scots enjoy free music lessons

On the weekend of 26th September, people of varying ages and abilities from Scotland got involved with this year’s Learn to Play Day event.

Organised by the charity Music for All, people across the UK travelled to music stores and community centres, to take advantage of a range of free music lessons. For the first time, those who could not attend in person were able to join in the fun by learning through tutorials on Music for All’s YouTube channel. 

These featured the likes of the band Skunk Anansie, David Tench the musical director of The Voice UK, Rob Rolfe of Enter Shikari, Vasko Vassilev and Hetty Snell of the Royal Opera House, and more.

In Scotland, Kenny’s Music store in Aberdeen and Glasgow and The National Piping Centre gave people the chance to try a variety of musical instruments.

The purpose of the annual Learn to Play Day weekend – supported by Music for All’s patron, Jools Holland OBE – was to give everyone the opportunity to pick up and play a musical instrument. While some of the attendees had never played before, others hadn’t since childhood so were rediscovering the joys of playing.

The instruments featured in the online videos include guitar, drums, violin, cello, clarinet, keyboard, ukulele, piano, trombone, bagpipes and beat boxing on a flute! 

These can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa4rkITZgSkr1kzYiDXkTqQ/videos

A venue spokesperson said: “Due to the pandemic, last year’s annual event sadly didn’t take place, so we were delighted to get involved this year and give people a chance to pick up and play an instrument.

“The music industry is such an incredible community, and we are happy to be so involved in helping it grow across Scotland.”

Tony Followell, Chair of Trustees at Music for All, said: “Being able to offer free access to music lessons for one weekend meant we could help to encourage people to try a musical instrument for what might have been their first time.

“There is so much pleasure to be had and proven health, happiness and wellbeing benefits associated with making music. We hope that those who took part continue to learn.  Those who weren’t able to join in still can by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Thanks to all venues and people that took part.”

Learn to Play ’21 is generously supported by the NAMM Foundation and partners include Music Industries Association, Musicians Union, Making Music and Music Mark.

Free music lessons coming to Edinburgh this weekend

‘Learn to Play’ is back this weekend and offers free music taster sessions to encourage new and lapsed music makers to experience the joys and benefits of making music. 

The initiative, by the charity Music for All, will take place at the Music Room Edinburgh will offer free 10-15 minute music lessons.

A number of tutorials will also be available to subscribers of Music for All’s YouTube channel from the 25th September.  These will feature the likes of the band Skunk Anansie, David Tench the musical director of The Voice UK, jazz multi-instrumentalist Orphy Robinson, and more.

By offering free music lessons at venues across the county, in person or, for the first time, online, allows all ages and abilities to gain easy access to a wide range of musical instruments and fulfil their dreams of learning to play an instrument. 

Some of Music for All Ambassadors and supporters include Ace from Skunk Anansie, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Jools Holland, Chi-chi Nwanoku and Jamie Cullum.

Learn to Play ’21 has been growing in popularity. A record 10,000 people picked up and played a musical instrument during the last event in 2019.

To see video messages of support from Orphy, Ace, David, Sheku and Chi-chi subscribe here Music for All UK charity – YouTube.

Jools Holland commented, “Making music is very important to me. It’s my work, my pleasure, my friend, companion and therapist. The charity Music for All believes passionately in the unique power of music to change lives, and that’s why it runs Learn to Play, which last time provided over 10,000 free introductory lessons in 120 venues across the UK.

“So, if you’re a budding or lapsed musician, or you’d like to be a venue that holds a Learn to Play event on September 25th and 26th, please visit the Music for All website and sign up. Thank you.”

Tony Followell, Chair of Trustees at Music for All, said: “Being able to offer free music taster sessions to everyone is so very important. People may not have had the opportunity to pick up an instrument in the past and experience what joy can be found in making music.

“We encourage the people of Edinburgh to book their places today to discover what could be a new hobby or even career. Spaces are booking up fast so act now to avoid disappointment. We look forward to meeting and teaching as many people as possible.” 

Learn to Play ’21 is generously supported by the NAMM Foundation and partners include Music Industries Association, Musicians Union, Making Music and Music Mark.

To find a free music lesson close to you visit 

https://musicforall.org.uk/learntoplayday/

and click on the interactive map.

Learn to Play Day

FREE music lessons for all initiative coming to Scotland

Learn to Play Day – a free national event to encourage everyone in the UK to start making music – is coming to Scotland this March.

Supported by Jools Holland OBE, and run by charity Music for All, the 2020 Learn to Play Day will take place on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March, and will see music shops, teachers, venues and schools throughout the county partner with leading musical instrument brands to offer thousands of FREE music lessons.

So far, participating venues include:

  • Eiger Music at Windsor Community Hall in Glasgow
  • Acoustic Music Workshop in Perth
  • Loch Leven Music Tuition in Kinross
  • Musicroom Edinburgh
  • Music Broth in Glasgow

Further venues are set to be announced over the coming weeks.

Since being launched nine years ago, the Learn to Play Day initiative has helped thousands of people pick up and play a musical instrument. Many had never played before, while others played as a child but gave up.

Held in partnership with the Musicians’ Union, the ‘Take It Away’ scheme and Making Music, the Learn to Play Day initiative has been growing in popularity with a record 10,000 free lessons held during last year’s event.

Jools Holland said: “As Patron of the Music for All charity, I’m delighted to lend my support to National Learn to Play Day on March 28th and 29th.

“It’s a pleasure to be able to share the joy of music, and this special day allows thousands to get involved as venues all over the country offer music lessons for free.”

Fellow artist Jamie Cullum added: “National Learn to Play Day gives everyone a chance to play an instrument, even if they’ve never played before.

“This wonderful day introduces thousands to the magic of music making, and often reunites people with a lost passion for playing. Get involved and perhaps discover a skill you thought you didn’t have!”

Paul McManus, CEO at Music for All, concluded: “While we all may have different tastes and preferred genres, there is no doubt that music is something that is universally loved around the world.

“Our Learn to Play Day events are all about spreading the joy of playing a musical instrument and inspiring those of all ages to take up something that will not only have health benefits for the future, but that also brings so many people together.”

To find a FREE music lesson near you, simply visit https://musicforall.org.uk/learntoplayday/

Just a month to go before Learn to Play Day

Supported by Jools Holland OBE, and run by charity Music for All, the 2019 Learn to Play Day will take place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March, and will see music shops, teachers, venues and schools throughout the country partner with leading musical instrument brands to offer thousands of FREE music lessons. Continue reading Just a month to go before Learn to Play Day