UK charity Music for All is delighted to announce the return of its flagship event, Learn to Play, this autumn. Recognised as the UK’s largest free music-making weekend, the event gives aspiring musicians of all ages the chance to try an instrument, develop new skills, and enjoy a free taster lesson with expert guidance.
The Learn to Play event is held in venues in all corners of the UK across four days from Thursday 8th October to Sunday 11th October and welcomes everyone, regardless of age, experience and background. Participants will be able to experience taster lessons in a range of musical instruments to singing lessons.
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.
Learn to Play arrives at a time where music making opportunities are difficult to access due to continued cuts to arts education – resulting in many schools failing to meet basic music curriculum needs for young people.
Sonali Banerjee, Music for All’s General Manager explains: “This year’s funding landscape presents a great challenge for the UK arts sector. With performing arts teaching grants having been reduced to zero and specialist training institutions facing cuts of up to 50%, the pipeline of future talent is under real pressure. Music Hubs continue to be impacted by decreased funding for the seventh consecutive year, meaning unavoidable reductions to provision and opportunities.
Learn to Play is therefore needed more than ever; our regional music‑making activities offer access to those who might otherwise never experience the unique joy and proven wellbeing benefits of making music.
Engagement in music has long been linked to reduced depression, anxiety and pain, and improved quality of life. At Music for All, we remain committed to ensuring that disadvantaged music makers can access the financial resources they need to begin or continue their musical journey and Learn to Play remains a fundamental part of this mission.
Through our year‑round awards programme of cash grants and instruments, Music for All supports disadvantaged individuals, educational organisations and community groups with vital provisions and remains committed to our vision of ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy of making music.”
Music for All believes everyone should have equal access to music making and supports disadvantaged individuals, educators and community projects through an extensive awards programme of cash grants and instruments throughout each year.
Kenza Blanca, a British Moroccan Afro-Amazigh-Arabian singer-songwriter and Music for All ambassador explains: ‘I am so proud to be an ambassador for Music for All and support their Learn to Play events whole-heartedly. 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.’
If you would like to take part in Learn to Play ’26 and experience the joys of music-making visit the Learn to Play website, select your closest venue using the interactive map and register interest directly with the venue.
The Learn to Play ’26 event is generously supported by the Richer Sounds Foundation. Partners include Black Lives in Music, Making Music, Music Industries Association, Music Mark, Music Teachers Association, Rockschool, Take it Away.
To get the latest updates on Music for All and the Learn to Play ‘26 event follow us on our social channels: Facebook, Instagram , LinkedIn, and Bluesky
Music for All Patron: Jools Holland OBE
Ambassadors: All Murray, Angelica Bell, Ann-Marie Minhall, Cathy Newman, Chi-chi Nwanoku CBE, Emanuel J Burton, Gareth Malone MBE, Hannah Rankin, James Buckle, Jamie Cullum, Jonathan Harris CBE FRIC S, Jools Holland OBE, Kate Rusby, Kenza Blanca, Lord Michael Bichard, Manvinder Rattan, Orphy Robinson MBE, Parv Kaur.
For more information, go to:
www.musicforall.org.uk,www.facebook.com/musicforallcharity,www.instagram,com/musicforallcharity, www.linkedin.com/company/music-for-all-uk