Severn Arts’ Learn to Play drop-in music event taking place in Worcester’s new performance arch on Saturday 8 October is being opened by the Mayor of Worcester.

The music event, designed to encourage and inspire potential music makers to come and have a go on lots of different instruments and try out a range of digital kit, is taking place from 1 – 4pm inside Arch 27, Croft Road, Worcester and on the Severn Arts travelling Music Box which will be parked outside Arch 25.

Local charity ONSIDE Advocacy will also be supporting the event and will be on hand to talk about what they do and how they may be able to support you or someone you know.

Severn Arts and ONSIDE Advocacy are the Mayor’s two nominated charities for the year.

Anyone interested in coming along and having some musical fun as well as seeing inside one of the newly refurbished arches, is invited to come along. The event is free and no booking is needed.

Debbie Fawcett, Severn Arts Director of Learning said: “The past two years have shown how important music is to all our lives and how it can bring people together even in the most difficult of circumstances.  On Saturday we aim to share the unique joys and benefits of playing an instrument with as many people as possible. In Arch 27 we will have lots of different instruments from the brass, woodwind and string families for everyone to have a go at holding, blowing and playing! And the Music Box is full of digital kit to try out. We’re delighted to be part of Music for All’s Learn to Play ’22 event, and really hope we get lots of people calling in." 

Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Adrian Gregson said: “The Learn to Play project is a great opportunity to get involved in music and I am really pleased that it gives firm evidence to my mayoral theme this year of art, culture and sport being key ways to tackle issues of health and well-being. The two Mayoral charities are fitting together well in this event. Additionally, and also as Chair of the Arches project, it gives us a chance to showcase the Arches again and the huge potential there is in Worcester to make music, be well, and have fun.”

Learn to Play is a national initiative organised by Music for All. Music for All believes everyone should have equal access to music making. The charity supports disadvantaged music makers by providing cash grants for tuition and instruments and by donating instruments directly. The Learn to Play ’22 event is generously supported by the NAMM Foundation and other partners include Music Industries Association, Musicians Union, Making Music, Music Mark and Black Lives in Music.

OBE Jools Holland, Patron of Music for All said: “Making music is very important to me. It’s my work, my pleasure, my friend, companion and therapist.  The charity Music for All believes passionately in the unique power of music to change lives and that is why it runs Learn to Play.”

For more information about Music for All and Learn to Play '22 visit www.musicforall.org.uk