National Learn to Play Day 2016
National Learn To Play Day is back for its fifth successive year on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th March 2016. It will be bigger and better, with more FREE taster lesson and more music venues, schools, shops, celebrities, musicians and local dignitaries than ever before across the UK. Organised by Music for All, the charity of the UK musical instrument industry, in partnership with the Musician’s Union, the Arts Council England ‘Take it away’ scheme and Making Music, the aim of Learn To Play Day (LtPD) is to encourage people of all ages and experience to join in this musical learning experience and be inspired to start or get back to playing an instrument.
LtPD 2015 saw one hundred and twenty nine venues give more than twelve thousand FREE lessons, (including one person flying in from Russia to take part in an Ian Paice Masterclass at Drumwright!), two hundred families took part in the Bromley Youth Music Trust day and more that one hundred children took part in music lessons at the Old Vinyl Factory. Other hugely popular events were Korg at the MK Dons stadium, Fender at the Southbank Centre, Spider Music at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff and special events at Absolute Music stores, which saw more than eight hundred visitors on Sunday 22nd March 2015
Supporters of LtPD and the charity include Gareth Malone, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Al Murray, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), Rick Wakeman (Yes), Rick Astley, Ian Paice, Glenn Hughes & Steve Morse (Deep Purple). Patron of Music for All is Jools Holland who is ‘delighted to help Music for All in their quest to inspire more people to participate in music making’.
If you have ever wanted to find out more about playing a musical instrument LtPD is the perfect opportunity. Go to the nearest participating music shop, school, venue and book one of thousands of FREE taster lessons that will be on offer and take a step nearer to your goal. All lessons are delivered by fully qualified music teachers on a vast array of instruments that includes guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo, drums, keyboards, violin, piano, trumpet, oboe, percussion and many, many more. Many events will also have special ‘on the day’ promotions and offers, live music, special guests as well as expert advice.
Full details of the event, including participating venues and local appearances, will be found atwww.learntoplayday.com over the coming weeks. To find out more about the charity, Music for All, go towww.musicforall.org.uk or visit Music for All’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/musicforallcharity.