The story of Learn to Play, our FREE Music Taster Day
FREE Music Taster Day hosted by Sheffield Music Hub
Saturday 11th October Learn to Play, FREE Taster Music Day!
For the second year Sheffield Music Hub are taking part in Music for All’s Learn to Play! They are offering young musicians from across all of Sheffield and South Yorkshire the chance to join them for FREE music lessons and taster sessions.
Application Form for your FREE Lessons and/or Taster Sessions here!
Why are Sheffield Music Hub participating in Learn to Play 2025
Sonali Banerjee, Music for All’s General Manager explains: “Learn to Play arrives at a time where music making opportunities are difficult to access due to current continued real terms cuts to arts education - resulting in many primary schools failing to meet basic music curriculum needs for young people. These cuts impact the future of the UK arts scene, and the creative potential of the next generation as well as the people who deliver quality arts education in the UK. At Music for All they make it their mission to support disadvantaged music makers with financial resources to access music making, and Learn to Play is a fundamental part of this work.”
Ian Naylor, Head of Music Education Sheffield says: “At Sheffield Music Hub we aim to help as many young people as possible understand the unique joys and benefits of learning an instrument. We believe that every child, regardless of race; gender; where they live; their levels of musical talent; parental income; whether they have special educational needs or disabilities; and whether they are looked-after children; deserves the very best music education. Being a part of Music for All’s Learn to Play ’25 helps us to give as many children as possible the chance to get involved.”
Learn to Play 2025 is a national event facilitated by Music for All and taking place across the whole country! Running for over a decade, Learn to Play aims to inspire, encourage and enable both new and lapsed music makers to enjoy the huge benefits of music making, as well as connecting and championing UK music providers.
Music for All is a UK charity that aims to inspire and enable both new and returning music makers to enjoy the many benefits of making music. It connects music providers across the country—from community groups to music teachers—through shared celebration.
Music for All supports equal access to music making and provides grants and instruments to disadvantaged individuals, educators, and community projects throughout the year. The Learn to Play 2025 event is generously supported by the NAMM Foundation.
Details
Sign up for your FREE Lessons and/or Taster Sessions here!
Deadline to Apply: Wednesday 8th October, 5pm
On Saturday 11th October, 10am - 4pm we’ll be offering:
- FREE bespoke instrumental lessons with our expert teachers
- Brass, woodwind, and strings “Give it a Go” stalls where you can try out a variety of instruments
- FREE taster sessions, such as a choir taster session and Let's Make Music taster session for your youngest musicians (4 - 7)
Bespoke instrumental lessons for Baritone, Cornet, Drums/Percussion, Euphonium, Piano/Keyboard, Trombone and Trumpet are now SOLD OUT!
Lessons for Acoustic Guitar, Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Electric Guitar, Flute, Guitar, Recorder and Violin are still available. Please apply by Wednesday 8th October 5pm.
How to take part
We are offering FREE 20-minute instrumental lessons so that your young person can get a bespoke taste of what it is like to learn an instrument with one of our expert teachers. Please sign up for a lesson here.
We also have a selection of FREE taster sessions so that your young people can get a taste of learning music as part of a group.
- 10am - 10:45am Let's Make Music Taster Session (Ages 4-7)
Our Let’s Make Music group is a fun, informal music group. It is usually for 5–7-year-olds but for this session we are welcoming 4-7-year-olds so that your young person can get a taste of what it is like to be a part of the group. We enjoy games, sing songs, play percussion instruments and listen to music as well as creating our own. This helps us to learn how to read rhythms and keep a steady pulse, how to read simple musical notes and how to play music in a group with others. All this will help us if we take up a musical instrument when we are older! Come and join our relaxed and friendly group and start a lifelong love of music!
- 1pm - 2pm Junior Voices Choir Taster Session (Years 2-5)
Led by Sarah Carroll and Jonathan Lazell, this fun, inclusive choir is perfect for younger singers to learn songs, make friends, and enjoy music.
- 2pm - 4pm Folk Music Taster Session (Years 3 - 7)
Led by our partners Soundpost.
Would you just like to turn up?
If your young person doesn't know what they would like to play, or would like to have a go on other instruments you can simply pop in to "Give it a Go". We will have stalls set up for these instruments: Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Cornet/Trumpet, Drums, Euphonium, Flute, Keyboard, Oboe, Saxophone, Tenor Horn, Trombone, Tuned Percussion and Violin.
About our partner Music for All
Music for All is a UK charity that aims to inspire and enable both new and returning music makers to enjoy the many benefits of making music. It connects music providers across the country—from community groups to music teachers—through shared celebration.
Music for All supports equal access to music making and provides grants and instruments to disadvantaged individuals, educators, and community projects throughout the year. The Learn to Play 2025 event is generously supported by the NAMM Foundation.
