National Learn to Play Day March 31st 2012!

Music for All, the charity of the UK musical instrument industry has announced the first, annual, National Learn to Play Day

On this day, the UK's musical instrument shops will open their doors and offer free instrument "taster" lessons to the general public.

There are 15 million people in the UK that either want to play an instrument or used to play one. The Day is designed to welcome people into music shops and to inspire them to get playing. 

Paul McManus, Chief Executive of Music For All commenting on the event said, "Music for All knows how much music can change and enrich people's lives. We are hosting the annual Learn to Play Day to allow as many people as possible to experience the wonderful world of making music".

The charity is also proud to have partnered for the event with the Musicians' Union, Arts Council England's Take it away scheme, MusicTeachers.co.uk and Musicradar.com.

The school music lessons with no… music

An Ofsted study based on evidence from inspections of 90 primary and 90 secondary schools from 2008 to 2011 reported that there is simply not enough music in music lessons!

Ofsted's chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said: "Inspectors looking at music teaching in nearly 200 schools saw quality ranging from outstandingly good to extremely poor.

"Too much time was spent talking about tasks without teachers actually demonstrating what was required musically, or allowing the pupils to get on with their music making."

A spokesman for the Department for Education said the government had published the first National Music Plan in November last year and this had addressed many of the issues raised by Ofsted.

"It ensures that in future every child has the chance to experience a high-quality music education and the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and sing," he said.

BBC Young Musician of the Year 2012

Clarinettist and Flautist reach final 25 in BBC Young Musician

18 year-olds Jordan Black (clarinettist) and Luke O’Toole (flautist) are two of five woodwind musicians who have made it through to the finals in Cardiff next month. They will perform in the category finals to be held 5-9 March in Cardiff.

The categories are: keyboard, brass, strings, woodwind and percussion, and there are five musicians in each category final. The winner of each category will then go through to the semi-final on 11 March before just three performers are selected to take part in the BBC Young Musician 2012 Final. The category finals will be broadcast on BBC Four and the semi-final and final will both be broadcast on BBC Two.

Both are excellent performers and have done fantastically well to get this far in the competition. We wish them both the best of luck!