Join the BBC's Virtual Orchestra

The BBC wants you to Get Playing

BBC Music today launched Get Playing, a project that aims to inspire and bring together amateur musicians across the UK, while helping people discover or rediscover the joys of music making. The initiative is a partnership between BBC Music, Making Music, ABRSM (The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) and Music for All.

Get Playing includes a series of music-related activities that current and lapsed amateur musicians can take part in, starting with the Virtual Orchestra conducted by the world-famous Marin Alsop. The ensemble will perform the Toreador Song from Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen. To join the orchestra, download your part from the BBC website (there are parts for everything from Accordion to Violin, including bagpipes, harmonica, sitar and ukulele) and then film yourself playing  there’s a very useful video of Alsop conducting that you can watch while you perform, so you get the tempo right! Follow the instructions to upload your video. The final film, with the best clips, will be screened at Proms in the Parks on 10 September. 

Conductor Marin Alsop said: “For me it’s incredibly important to support amateur musicians because music is a way to connect, communicate, transcend barriers, transcend differences and perhaps it’s a way to promote tolerance and peace in a world that desperately needs it.”

Would you rather perform to a live audience? There is a great selection of Come and Play events organised by Making Music members, as well as Learn to Play events organised by Music for All. There will also be a selection of masterclasses from performers and music teachers, available on the Get Playing website. Don’t miss the tips on practice from super-talented pianist James Rhodes.