Learn to Play Day – Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 March 2019

This year we achieved our goal of giving 200 free taster lessons on more than 20 different instruments in just one weekend!

It was wonderful to welcome so many people to the shop and hear their stories. For some it was a dream come true to have a go on an instrument they'd always wanted to try. For others it helped them overcome the practical or psychological barriers associated with starting a new instrument or returning to one they used to play. And for many children and their parents it was the perfect way for them to try out several instruments before committing to a course of lessons at school.

We have supported Learn to Play Day – organised by the charity Music for All to encourage participation in music – since it began in 2012 and this was our biggest one yet. We managed to find space and time to accommodate individual and joint lessons on piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, balalaika, and all the major woodwind, brass and string instruments, including harp, as well as our fully-booked group ukulele lesson for 30 beginners of all ages.

As ever, we couldn't have done it without the wonderful teachers who so generously volunteered their time and expertise: these included students from the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Manchester, musicians and teachers from all over Manchester, as well as vocal and instrumental specialists from Forsyth:

Lou Armer and Mike Byrne (group ukulele) • Kathryn Burke (recorder, flute, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, trumpet, cornet, trombone, ukulele, balalaika) • Holly Calder (piano) • Lauren Collings (trumpet, cornet, tenor horn, French horn) • Lottie Gleadall (voice) • Malcolm Goodare (cello) • Lucy-Rose Graham (voice, piano, cello) • Matthew Jones (flute) • Carl Leighton (piano) • Mark Leighton (classical, acoustic, electric and bass guitar) • Johanna ShuTing Leung (clarinet) • Emily McArthur (recorder, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone) • Helen Milroy (violin, viola) • Joe Nickson (bass guitar, double bass) • Alice Dwyer Roberts (harp) • Joe Sharples (trombone) • Michael Welton (guitar, ukulele, violin) • Christine Zhou (piano)

We are also very grateful for the musical stationery and toys kindly donated by ABRSM, Breitkopf & Härtel, Music Distribution Services GmbH, Oxford University Press and Schott Music Ltd. These were greatly appreciated by the learners who received them in their goody bags along with our own special discount vouchers.

Above: Photos by Rachel Burt of the group ukulele lesson lead by Lou Armer of Lou and the Llamas and Mike Byrne of Levenshulme Uke Up