Music Makers' Charter

Making some noise this grey February 🎺
Tell us your favourite musical joke in the comments!

#MusicforAll #MakingMusicChangesLive #Music #JokeOfTheMonth

Did you know that learning an instrument or writing a song and lyrics can allow children to express themselves creatively while developing coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety? That’s why we need more music-making opportunities for everyone: www.change.org/p/music-makers-charter

Thank you, Sounds of Intent, for supporting our Music Makers’ Charter! Join us by signing the petition on change.org - It’s free and only takes a minute 🧡
www.change.org/p/music-make...

#TurnUpTheVolume #MusicMakersCharter #MusicForAll #Musicmaking

Why singing is surprisingly good for your health From boosting the brain to reducing pain, joining others in song can bring some wide-ranging benefits.

We love reading about all the amazing benefits of music making! Sign our Music Makers' Charter to advocate for equal access to music-making opportunities for everyone—it only takes a minute! 🧡

www.change.org/p/music-make...

www.bbc.co.uk/future/artic...

We’re thrilled to have supported Londonderry Bands Forum through a Music for All grant, helping them bring the power of music to their pupils. Please consider donating to us to help us continue to support all of these amazing projects in the future: musicforall.enthuse.com/donate#!/

And 32% of music creators in 2024 were affected by Brexit - up 4% from 2023

It has been a momentous week for education policy in England which will impact music education for years to come

The ISM has been through all of the documents released this week and picked out the key things musicians and music teachers need to know ⬇️
www.ism.org/news/curricu...

We’re thrilled to have supported Caledonia Brass through a Music for All grant, helping them bring the power of live music to NHS dementia wards at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, and Lightburn Hospital.

MUSIC EDUCATORS 📢
We've just launched the ISM's 2025 Music Education Survey.

We're asking all music educators in England about their setting, experiences and views on the future of music education.

Take part and share with your network 👇
https://loom.ly/5V6wtsM

In 2024, the Department of Education catastrophically rejected Lords' call to scrap the EBacc

While this ignored a wealth of evidence highlighting the damage to music education, the ISM has continued our hard campaigning to defend music in UK schools ⬇️
www.ism.org/news/dfe-rej...

More and more music lessons are being scrapped from school curricula: not everyone knows about the incredible benefits of music-making for children and adults alike. Swipe to learn more!

Source: artisfoundation.org.uk/news/how-mus...

Did you know that it is a myth that arts students end up without a job after their studies? A subject like music, for example, teaches invaluable transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, perseverance, and resilience—all of which are fundamental to the working world.

Research found music to be an accessible communication tool for people with communication impairment. It improves quality of life whilst allowing for interpersonal connections.
We need to raise awareness of the benefits of music-making. Join us!
www.change.org/p/music-make...

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) asked 2000 adults about the arts, with interesting results: young adults value the arts highly and think they helped shape them into the people they are today! Sign for more equal music-making opportunities:

www.change.org/p/music-makers-charter

We are proud to have supported New Cangle School with a Music For All grant to buy recorders and ukuleles!

🗣️ They say: ‘The children who have joined ukulele club have been so enthusiastic that many of them now have their own instruments! so they can work on their music at home too!’

In 2025, the number of UK students choosing to study music at A-level decreased by a further 1.4%, continuing a shocking downward trend since 2010! This needs to end: we need opportunities for music-making to everyone. Sign if you agree: www.change.org/p/music-make...

UK musicians are predominantly white, middle-class, and London-based. But if we want a diverse, thriving music industry, we need to start investing in early, equitable music education – in every school, for every child. Sign if you agree! www.change.org/p/music-make...

Did you know that music therapy not only increased the levels of social interaction and engagement of dementia patients, but also led to them needing less sedatives and painkillers?

Help us raise awareness for the benefits of music making today! www.change.org/p/music-make...

In our modern society, our fight/flight/freeze response is out of balance. Prolonged stress tension can even damage our cells, with serious complications for our health. Good news: calming music can help!

Source: makeadifference.media/physical/f-t...

Chart showing that enrolment in arts A-levels has reached its lowest recorded level in 15 years, having fallen by 31% since 2010.

🚨 NEW: the share of A-level entries in arts subjects has reached a new low

🔻 SO: enrolment in arts A-levels is now 31% lower than it was in 2010 (and under half of what it was for the performing arts)

Research found that music can be a non-pharmacological method of relieving chronic pain. But why? One theory is that it encourages the release of endorphins, another suggests that music distracts the patient through their memories.

Source: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

We’re proud to have supported Drake Music Scotland’s Digital Orchestra: Youth Central in Dundee!

Thanks to our grant, students at Kingspark School explored iPads, BSL, and head-tracking tech to compose music and build confidence. One young person even created sound using just their eye movement!

Thank you to all the incredible people who’ve signed our Music Makers’ Charter! Our next goal is 500 signatures 🙏 Have you signed yet? It only takes a minute 🧡
www.change.org/p/music-make...

#turnupthevolume #musicmakerscharter #musicforall #petition #musicmaking #supportus

Pale orange background panel showing number 5 in a series and titled Arts Employment. Definition reads "A society in which the arts are healthy is one in which people can sustain a decent living from their work creating or supporting art.”

And finally… 5 of 5 of our annual arts health check is Arts Employment, with @artsemergency.bsky.social 🛟

Great news from Northern Ireland to start this week!
The Department for Communities and Arts Council of Northern Ireland have launched a £750,000 Musical Instruments Programme to support individuals, bands and music groups with instruments and equipment.
Read more: tinyurl.com/54zt6tnm

We know that we need to exercise our bodies, but did you know that exercising our brains is just as important? Research shows that it can significantly reduce the risk of conditions such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. So pick up that guitar or dust off your old instrument. Your brain will thank you!

This week @bambosmp.bsky.social secured an important debate on the Future of Music Education.

Bambos highlighted the lack of funding for music education in state schools and how accountability measures have caused a decline for music in schools 👇

We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Julia Jones for supporting our campaign. And you can too! Simply click the link and sign our petition! It only takes a minute 🧡

www.change.org/p/music-make...

#turnupthevolume #musicmakerscharter #musicforall #petition #musicmaking #supportus

Hear And Now collaborated with a largely South Asian diaspora in Leicester to explore stereotypes, memory, and shared intergenerational language, creating music and performance pieces through collaborative workshops.

Thank you to all the incredible people who’ve signed our Music Makers’ Charter! Our next goal is 350 signatures 🙏 Have you signed yet? It only takes a minute 🧡
www.change.org/p/music-make...

#turnupthevolume #musicmakerscharter #musicforall #petition #musicmaking #supportus