Starting a music group: Overview

At Making Music we work with over 3,700 music groups around the country so we have a pretty good overview of what’s out there, how running a music group works, and some of the common challenges that groups face today. Even with so many groups already out there we hear from people interested in starting up new groups all the time.

There are many things to think about when starting a new group and it can be difficult to know where to start. There is no set formula for how it works and each new group will progress at a different rate and in different directions depending on who is involved, their previous experiences, and what the main aim is for the new group.

This resource explores how to go about starting a new group. It is a collection of ideas and tips structured in a way that we hope will help you to move forwards with your plan from the beginnings of an idea to your first rehearsal and beyond.

This resource is split into four sections:

  1. Outlining a vision for your group
  2. The practicalities
  3. Finding members and creating group culture
  4. Making your group sustainable

We understand the challenges that come with starting a new group and are always happy to talk to groups in the making about their plans. We have lots of resources and guidance beyond this series that may be helpful to new groups and so in recognition of this we have a 50% discount available on membership with Making Music for groups who have started in the last six months.

We hope you find this resource useful – if you’d like further advice or to talk about joining Making Music then we’d be more than happy to help, even if just as a sounding board, over the phone or via email. You can call us on 020 7939 6030 from Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm, or email us at info@makingmusic.org.uk


We hope you find this Making Music resource useful. If you have any comments or suggestions about the guidance please contact us. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the content of this guidance is accurate and up to date, Making Music do not warrant, nor accept any liability or responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of the content, or for any loss which may arise from reliance on the information contained in it.