Making Music UK

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...

Learning disability charity Soundabout extends collaboration invitation Holly Radford-James, Chief Executive Officer of Soundabout, talks to us about their Emerging Leaders project and how your music g

Soundabout’s Emerging Leaders project ensures Learning Disabled musicians are represented in the music workforce. Now they’re inviting Making Music groups to join a virtual song collaboration.

Learn more: www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/learnin...

PRS: Overview If your music group performs in public, you may need to pay royalties to the composers whose works you use. This is where PRS for Music comes in. Understanding how PRS fees work ensures your group…

Unsure whether your group needs to pay royalties or not? Take a look at our nifty PRS overview and clear your mind! www.makingmusic.org.uk/resource/prs...

Classical music jobs available now:

• General manager of artist network
• Finance and data administrator at choir organisation
• Development manager at arts venue

Many more here:

www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/arts-jobs

Concert at Leicester Cathedral on 22nd October 2017 Kirpal Singh Panesar - Tar Shehnai Bhupinder Chaggar - Tabla Join us for a special evening celebrating divine light through music with renowned… An Evening of Music and Light - Bhairavi

A final post to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month - our member group Sitar Music Society sent is this video. Explore of the moods and melodies of Indian classical music!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCd9...

Farnham youth choir to perform at BBC Proms - BBC News The group of 30 singers aged 13 to 21 will be performing at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday.

So exciting to hear! Congratulations to our member group Farnham Youth Choir!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Two people sitting at a table reviewing documents and writing notes, with printed papers and a notebook spread out in front of them. Both are wearing polka dot blouses.

Policies aren’t thrilling, but they’re vital for running your music group well. We’ve listed key policies with resources and templates to help you get started:

www.makingmusic.org.uk/resource/gro...

A large orchestra in rehearsal, viewed from above and behind the conductor. The conductor stands on a podium with arms raised, leading a full ensemble of string, woodwind, brass, and percussion players. Several people sit in the foreground with open scores, observing.

Looking for composer schemes to kickstart your career or try something new? @alterclassical.bsky.social has rounded up UK opportunities to help composers at different stages find the right next step.

Read more: www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/features/uk-...

Music for All’s funding round 4 of 2025 is NOW OPEN!

- Physical mobility
- Mental health and loneliness
- Choral groups
- Working with early years
- Recorders

For more info & to apply, see here: www.musicforall.org.uk/apply-for-fu...

Deadline for applications: 24 September 2025 at 12 noon.

A conductor wearing an orange "Make Music Day UK" t-shirt leads a group of musicians during an outdoor performance in a park. Several people watch or pass by in the background, with trees and striped deckchairs visible.

On 21 June, musicians across the UK filled parks, markets, libraries and heritage sites with live music for Make Music Day 2025. Thousands joined in this global celebration of music-making. See how our members took part:

www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/make-mu...

Photo of someone playing a black grand piano. Only the player's hands are visible. There appears to be someone seated next to them. They are reading from sheet music and the player's hands appear to be in a graceful pose.

How can music groups better support autistic musicians? Insights from our recent event explore how structure, communication, and small adjustments can make a big difference.

www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/insight...

#DisabilityPride

Silhouettes of five women in various colours (teal, orange, brown, pink, and blue) overlapping against a beige background filled with vintage sheet music. The image symbolizes diversity and representation of female composers of colour in music.

Is your group looking for new material to play? We've put together a thorough directory of resources you can use to diversify your repertoire. Have a look and be inspired with new and diverse music to play!

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

Connecting disabled musicians with adapted instruments Rachel Wolffsohn, General Manager of music disability charity The OHMI Trust

Did you know that musical instruments can be adapted so that people with physical disabilities are able to play them? Read about how Esther was able to play music again after a devastating loss.

www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/connect...

#DisabilityPride

It is Community Centre Week from 19 to 25 July. Local community centres are crucial to the leisure-time music sector (and other sectors). This week is about community power, so share this post and celebrate your local community centres! @barbaraeifler27.bsky.social

The Sitar Music Society – 10 years on! Atulkumar Patel, MBE, a Trustee of The Sitar Music Society, talks to us for South Asian Heritage Month about his society'

Atulkumar Patel, MBE, shares how the Sitar Music Society is keeping Indian classical music alive in Leicester. From baithak concerts to music schools, it’s all about connection, artistry and passing the joy on.

www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/sitar-m...

#SouthAsianHeritageMonth

Making a difference – How to campaign on a local issue (online event) 25th Jul 2025 10:00 | What do you do when a service, building or fund you need is under threat? This event brings together people in music groups who have successfully campaigned to change something…

Want to campaign for your music group but not sure where to start? Hear from groups who’ve done it and learn what really makes a difference. Join our free online event on 25 July for inspiration and advice.

www.makingmusic.org.uk/event/making...

Pathway to the Orchestra | Tŷ Cerdd │Welsh music Tŷ Cerdd is calling self-taught / untrained artists, composers and music-creators who would like to learn how to work with orchestral performers. This will be second iteration of Pathway to the…

Are you a music creator based in Wales and looking to learn how to write for orchestra? @tycerdd.bsky.social 's Pathway to the Orchestra programme could be for you!

www.tycerdd.org/pathway-to-t...