Guidance | Making Music

Guidance

Diversifying repertoire – research resources

For groups looking to diversify their repertoire, this resource provides some links to online directories and publications to assist your research into under-represented composers.  

Over the past few years, we’ve been talking to members about diversifying their repertoire, and playing more work by under-represented composers. The drivers and benefits of this are various; from addressing the inequity in the classical canon, to finding fresh musical challenges, and connecting with new audiences. Have a look at these case studies: 

Webinar recording: Get seen, get heard – supercharge your group’s marketing using the Making Music website

In this recording of our webinar (original event 16 June 2025), we talked about how members can use the Making Music website to maximise their group's visibility and impact.     

In this practical session, we covered:

What does bespoke mean when it comes to a concert tour?

Our corporate member Rayburn Tours talk to us about how they tailor their concert tour packages to fit your music group.

Bespoke is a funny word. It’s a term that feels quite high-end, luxurious, and first class. We want to show that bespoke doesn’t mean we only target a high-end audience; it means that we cater to your needs, whatever type of group you are. We want to turn your vision into a reality.  

Touring historic destinations with military ensembles

Our corporate member Rayburn Tours share their guidance on how to tour historic destinations with musical military ensembles.

Transporting instruments from the UK to Europe

Our corporate member Rayburn Tours share their best practice tips on transporting instruments when your member group is on tour.

How to promote your business post-tour

Our corporate member Rayburn Tours share their tips on how to continue promoting your music group after a tour.

Things to do before enquiring for a concert tour

Our corporate member Rayburn Tours share their valuable insight on the things a member group needs to do before enquiring for a concert tour.

Touring with your music group: Overview

Whether it be performing in cathedrals or embracing local culture, concert tours present choirs, bands and orchestras with fantastic opportunities to develop and perform to international audiences. Understanding how to plan a tour ensures its smooth running. 

Resources (available for Making Music members)

Guidance (in collaboration with RayburnTours)

PRS: Overview

If your music group performs in public, you may need to pay royalties to the composers whose works you use. This is where PRS for Music comes in. Understanding how PRS fees work ensures your group remains compliant while supporting the creators behind the music you perform. 

Who is PRS for Music? 

PRS for Music is the UK’s royalty collection society for songwriters, composers, and music publishers. It collects fees from those who publicly perform or play copyrighted music and distributes these royalties to the creators. 

Webinar recording: Climate Change Network

For our seventh meeting in our Climate Network series (original event 9 May 2025), we heard from some inspiring speakers on some useful tools music groups could use to become more sustainable.

The speakers for this event were: