Next month will see the launch of what could be a landmark annual event in which people start learning to play an instrument they have never tried before.Called National Learn to Play Day, the event will see music retailers open their doors on March 31st to anyone coming in off the street and encourage them to try out a musical instrument.
As the MIA best multiple retailer of the year 2011, Musicroom will be heavily involved with 15 stores across the country hosting events on the day. The stores taking part are listed at the foot of this article.
From the electric guitar to the piano or the maracas, the day will hopefully inspire people of any age to start learning an instrument they have always wanted to try or even find something they had never thought of before.
The day is run by musical instrument industry charity Music for All and comes as 15 million people in the UK either want to play an instrument or used to, perhaps when they were at school.
“Music for All knows how much music can change and enrich people’s lives,” explained Paul McManus, chief executive of the charity.
“We are hosting the annual Learn to Play Day to allow as many people as possible to experience the wonderful world of making music.”
Musicians are encouraged to inspire people and show them that despite what they might think, they are musical and can get a decent note out of an instrument.
People will not just be left to play on their own. Free lessons will be given on a variety of instruments by music teachers and customers will also be able to receive advice on how they can then go off and start learning.
In addition, instrument manufacturers will be on hand in participating stores to provide the instruments for the day and hold special offers to further entice people to pledge to take on a new hobby.
While the popularity of Gareth Malone’s The Choir has encouraged more people to join singing groups, schemes like this one could spark a rise in the number of adults joining bands and orchestras with the instrument they once played at school.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81hoOhk00RE
What musical instrument have you always wanted to play? Do you think National Learn to Play Day will encourage people to pick up an instrument?
16 Musicroom stores are taking part in Learn to Play Day: Brighton, Bristol, Dundee, Edinburgh, Exeter, Hatfield, Leeds, Lincoln, London, Norwich, Nottingham, Poole, Portsmouth, Salisbury, Stratford and York.
As the MIA does not exist in ROI, musicroom Dublin be hosting a teachers day with live music on 31st March.