Making Music UK

Round 2 is now open!
- Electro acoustic guitars
- Pbuzz instruments
- Ukuleles
- Keyboard bundles
- Drum Kits
- Orange crush mini amps

Visit: www.musicforall.org.uk/awards-overv...

From tradition to inclusion: how Bradford Festival Choral Society is reimagining its repertoire

Sharing our Q&A with @makingmusicuk.bsky.social, reflecting on our journey following receiving their Diverse Programming Award.
🙏 Huge thanks to our MD @thomasleech.com for his thoughtful insights
🎼 Let’s remain inclusive, curious and connected
📖 Full piece:
🔗 www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/bradfor...

Freelancers Make Theatre Work - Freelancer Consultation What do you want from an independent organisation for arts freelancers? After five years as a volunteer campaign group, we are beginning to explore evolving into a more structured, national body.…

Arts freelancers, what do you need?

Freelancers Make Threatre Work is exploring becoming a national body and need your input. Take the short survey and help shape the future for freelancers. Your voice matters!

📅 Deadline: 6 Feb

buff.ly/Wb1mWHr

@freelancersmake.bsky.social

A large wind band rehearses in a bright community hall with wooden beams and string lights. Dozens of seated musicians play flutes, clarinets, saxophones and brass while a conductor stands at the front, leading the group. Music stands fill the room.

Composer Katrine Aziz reflects on the first workshop with Redland Wind Band for Adopt a Music Creator, using gentle prompts and observation to build confidence in improvisation and gather ideas for a brand-new commission. 🎶 www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/adopt-m...

Curriculum review update:

🎵 Ebacc to be abolished
🎵 Schools expected to offer enrichment incl. music
🎵 Stronger music foundations recognised

Opportunities for music groups to partner with schools; concerns remain about music teacher training cuts!

More: www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/sustain...

Find out more in this fascinating webinar in which we hear from groups like The Phoenix Voices (recipients of the Making Music Green Award) about how to green you groups and the benefits of doing so.

www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/sustain...

@hutchingsmusic.bsky.social @musicdeclares.bsky.social

From orchestra to movement: Inside the Glasgow Barons The Glasgow Barons' response to the deprivation in its home in the Scottish city's Govan district, has seen the organisation expand to work with locals from senior citizens to refugees to hip-hop…

Such an inspirational read! The Glasgow Barons, one of our member groups, is working at the coalface of community upliftment. This article is packed with information and will leave you spinning with ideas!

www.classical-music.uk/features/art...

@glasgowcc.bsky.social
@creativescots.bsky.social

How did it go?

#Accordion players of the UK! You can vote for Bradford Accordion Band to win a music inspiration award!

@ukmusic.bsky.social @classicfm.com @makingmusicuk.bsky.social @bradfordmusicscene.bsky.social @bradfordmusic.bsky.social @englishfolkexpo.bsky.social

Please consider a vote! 🪗 🗳️ ❤️

A choir wearing red shirts and Santa hats performs Christmas carols outdoors in front of a large, decorated Christmas tree covered with colourful ornaments. A small audience watches the performance, some wearing festive clothing.

Enter the @@classicfm.com Christmas Carol Competition! Submit your group’s carol recording for a chance to be featured on air to millions this Christmas.
Submissions close 24 Nov. Find out more www.makingmusic.org.uk/sspx/project...

Our new website launches tomorrow, Tue 28 Oct! 🎉 There’ll be short downtime during the switch. Check updates: www.makingmusic.site/ and on socials. Once live, you’ll need to reset your password to log in.

'It gave me my voice back': How group singing is helping new mums with postnatal depression New research suggests singing can be clinically effective at treating the symptoms and cost effective for the NHS.

Great article on singing helping to alleviate postnatal depression: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Silhouettes of five people in different colours layered over a background of sheet music, representing diversity in music and composers from varied backgrounds.

This #BlackHistoryMonth, explore music by Black composers and other under-represented voices in our diversifying your group’s repertoire resource:

www.makingmusic.org.uk/resource/div...

A large mixed-voice choir performs on stage in colourful, sparkly outfits. The singers stand in rows under warm stage lighting in a concert hall, with many smiling and singing energetically.

Tax relief for choirs 🎶

Leisure-time choirs deserve the same support as instrumental groups. Help us urge MPs to back this change and unlock new opportunities for choirs across the UK.
More info 👉 www.makingmusic.org.uk/campaigns-an...

We're hiring! Creative Lives is looking for a new Chief Executive.

Creative Lives is looking for a new Chief Executive to lead its programme and team in an exciting new chapter.

✏ Deadline for applying: Monday 24 November 2025

www.creative-lives.org/creative-liv...

A laptop partially closed on a dark surface, its screen glowing with colourful light in shades of blue, pink, and orange against a black background.

We’re launching a new website on 28 Oct! It’ll be faster, easier to use & mobile-friendly. Data freeze: 20–27 Oct (please avoid non-urgent updates). Some downtime during launch. Platform sites unaffected. Updates posted here: www.makingmusic.site?utm_source=b...

Befriending Performance Anxiety: Five Tips for Managing Negative Thoughts | Online - Xenia Pestova Bennett Free taster webinar introducing the Befriending Performance Anxiety programme. Recognise and reframe negative thoughts
 before, during and after performance Build confidence (Re)discover the joy of pe...

This looks like it's going to be an interesting and useful session!

xeniapestovabennett.com/events/intro...

Photo showing a saxophone player's legs and instrument, with a music stand and two sheets of music visible on the floor. It is overlaid with text saying: Immediate Pieces / call for scores / Be part of our new online anthology of pick-up-and-play music / Deadline 1 December

📣CALL FOR SCORES
💥Immediate Pieces
Be part of CoMA’s new online anthology of pick-up-and-play music
We’re curating a new collection of contemporary pieces to suit players from a range of backgrounds – ones that can be performance-ready in under an hour. 🧵1/2

Making Music are the UK association for leisure-time music, with over 3,700 member groups, representing around 200,000 hobby musicians, of all ages, abilities and musical interests. We support… MM Awards 2025 ceremony

If you couldn't attend our Awards ceremony last week (or just want to watch it again), now you can! Watch it on our YouTube channel and give us a subscribe please while you're there.

youtu.be/UiM1W5uRcWo

Music for All’s funding Round 4 is now closed.

If you missed the chance to apply in this round, keep your eyes peeled on our website/socials for the opening of Round 5, opening mid-October.

#MusicforAll #MakingMusicChangesLives #Community #Grants

YouTube video by KT6 Vocal Group Dreaming of You @ London Waterloo (Jun'24) - Quaggy Community Choir & KT6 Vocal Group

Excited to share my arrangement of "Dreaming of You" by The Coral has been shortlisted for a @makingmusicuk.bsky.social Award 2025 🎉 Judged on this brilliant performance by Quaggy Community Choir & KT6 Vocal Group: youtu.be/7jyECL52fNY ❤️ Big thanks to the singers who nominated me!

@jakealexandermusic.bsky.social has joined @bsky.app AND is nominated for an award with @makingmusicuk.bsky.social ! Best of luck xxx

A hand with yellow-painted nails holds a tilted martini glass, spilling a stream of silver glitter against a pale pink background. The person wears a white lace sleeve.

Our Making Music Awards ceremony is next week 24 September from 7pm to 8:30pm. It's online and free to attend. Will we be seeing you there?

Reserve your tickets: www.makingmusic.org.uk/civicrm/even...

A group of people standing in a circle place their hands together in the centre, showing unity and teamwork. They are wearing colourful knitted jumpers.

Today, 5 September, is the International Day of Charity. Tell us in the comments what charitable acts you take to support your music groups? #InternationalDayofCharity

A group of four musicians perform outdoors. One plays a drum, another a bagpipe-like wind instrument, another a double-reed wind instrument, and the last holds a percussion instrument. They wear coordinated outfits with dark vests over white shirts, and appear to be enjoying the music together.

Music groups help communities connect across divides. A new report from the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion shows why shared spaces for activities like music are vital. Find out more and about #MakeSpaceForMusic:

www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/do-musi...

Barnet Band: a story of adaptability, community and musical growth As part of Making Music’s 90th anniversary celebrations, we’re speaking to some of our long-standing member groups ab

Barnet Band’s story spans 125+ years, from prize-winning brass to thriving community wind band. As part of our 90th anniversary, we spoke to Sue and Ian about the band’s history and future. Read more: www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/barnet-...

Close-up of a vintage-style silver microphone lit with red light, with blurred colourful lights in the background.

Outstanding entries have been shortlisted, and anticipation is high. Join us online for the Making Music Awards Ceremony on 24 Sept, hosted by our President Debbie Wiseman OBE. Free to attend: www.makingmusic.org.uk/event/making...

A smiling young person standing in nurse's attire next to a hospital beds and holding a flute.

A young person standing in a grocery store next to an aisle with packets of crips and holding a baton.

A young person smiling broadly and holding a violin in a playing pose. They are sitting in an office with a white desk with an open laptop on it.

A young person sitting on a massage table in a brightly lit room and holding a violin.

Did learning an instrument at school give you skills you still use at work? We’re supporting #AnOrchestraInEverySchool & want your views. Take our 5–10 min survey before 8 Sept: www.surveymonkey.com/r/LPJWCBT

Community is alive! In June, our CEO Barbara Eifler, spoke at a conference in the Czech Republic about 'associations as a significant phenomenon

Read our latest blog on some surprising similarities and differences between leisure-time groups in the UK and continental Europe:

www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/communi...

Farnborough Symphony Orchestra’s story of community, continuity and ambition As part of Making Music’s 90th anniversary celebrations, we’re speaking to some of our long-standing member groups ab

As part of our 90th anniversary celebrations, we're profiling some of our members such as Farnborough Symphony Orchestra. Read all about their remarkable story of community, continuity and ambition!

www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/farnbor...