UK charity ‘Music for All’ have announced that their annual flagship event Learn to Play has returned for 2025, and are opening the opportunity for music providers across the UK to take part in the biggest free music making weekend of the year!
The event is held across the UK on the 9-12 October and is open to everyone; regardless of age, experience and background, providing opportunities for participants to experience a free taster music making lesson from a musical instrument to a singing lesson.
Running for over a decade, Learn to Play aims to inspire, encourage and enable both new and lapsed music makers to enjoy the wide range of benefits of music making, as well as connecting and championing UK music providers such as community groups, retail music shops and music teachers through a shared celebration of music making.
Newly released research implemented by Frontier and the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Arts and Health, found that attending an arts event even only occasionally such as every few months, can have significant benefits to a person’s health. This can include alleviating pain, frailty, depression and dependence on medication. A study of 3,333 young adults aged between 18 and 28 found that those taking part in organised artistic and musical activities felt happier and that their lives had more meaning and value as a result.1
Sonali Banerjee, Music for All’s General Manager explains: ‘Music providers will be aware that engagement with performance-based art, particularly participation in music, has been very well documented over the years as being linked to reductions in depression, anxiety and pain and improved quality of life for many people. Learn to Play activities are needed now more than ever and through these regional music making events, we aim to support vital UK music providers, as well as inspire as many people as possible in experiencing the unique joys and benefits of music making.
The arts enrich our lives, our community and economy, as well as improving our mental health. At Music for All we make it our mission to support disadvantaged music makers with financial resources to access music making, and Learn to Play is a fundamental part of this work.’
Sonali Banerjee continues: ‘We have extended Learn to Play to four days this year which we hope increases opportunities for a variety of music providers to take part. We want to engage anyone who is passionate about widening access to music making so as many people as possible are able to join in the UK’s biggest free music making weekend.’
The Learn to Play event not only allows the provider to join an inspiring national community which advocates the life changing benefits of music-making, but taking part can also be a fantastic opportunity to:
- Raise your profile locally and online through press and social media
- Generate sales in business
- Increase your teaching portfolio
- Recruit new members to your music group
- Engage your community in the joy of music making
Registration is FREE and you will receive:
- Access to an exclusive Learn to Play Provider resource web page to receive the latest guidance to help you run your Learn to Play event(s) successfully and safely.
- Monthly update emails with tips and reminders.
- Your event advertised on our website and included in regional PR coverage where possible.
- A LTP ‘25 Promo Pack delivered to your door, filled with posters, postcards, balloons and stickers!
Errol Bignall, Head of Community Engagement at Communities First, has experienced first hand, the benefits since hosting a Learn to Play event last year:
‘Taking part in Learn to Play was an incredible experience that went beyond just teaching music—it brought people together and strengthened community connections. Seeing participants of all ages and backgrounds unite through music was truly inspiring. The enthusiasm didn’t stop at the event; many expressed a keen interest in continuing their musical journey, which has now become a key part of our Community cafe. We’re excited to keep building on this momentum, ensuring that music remains an accessible and transformative force in our community. Huge thanks to Music for All for their invaluable support in making this possible.’
Music for All believes everyone should have equal access to music making and supports disadvantaged individuals, educators and community projects through cash and instrument award rounds throughout each year.
Kenza Blanca, Musician and Music for All ambassador said: ‘Thanks to amazing providers, Learn to Play offers free music lessons for those wanting the opportunity to start an instrument or pick one back up. I’m supporting Learn to Play because music should be available and accessible to everyone, it can help build confidence and bring people together, it’s a real sense of achievement learning to play.’
Interested in taking part and becoming a Learn to Play ’25 provider? It couldn’t be easier to sign up, simply visit the Learn to Play Provider web page to find out more and submit a registration form.
The Learn to Play ’25 event is generously supported by the NAMM Foundation. Partners include Music Industries Association, Making Music, Black Lives in Music, Take it Away, Play Music Today, and Yamaha Music London.
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Sign our Music Makers’ Charter petition for free to demand better access to music making for everyone: change.org
