Guidance

Top tips for learning scales

Scales strike fear into the heart of many musicians. Here we hope to give you a little bit of insight into why they are so important and how you can make them a lot more fun to learn.

How to choose a teacher

Finding a teacher can be a daunting task. Finding the right instrumental or vocal teacher is not simply a case of choosing the person nearest to you with the most qualifications; you need to find someone you get on with, someone you trust to help you achieve your as yet un-explored potential.

Taking a Grade 1 exam? Find out what to expect

Don't worry - an instrument exam is about having a positive, supportive experience whilst achieving a milestone in your learning.

Why leisure-time music making matters

Why leisure-time and community music making matters (and why it could be useful for you to know how to say that)

The evidence bank

A range of reports, resources and further reading that provide evidence of the wide-ranging benefits (to individuals and communities) of lesiure-time music. Useful for funding applications, campaigns and general advocacy.

6 tips for protecting your hearing – an aid for musicians and groups

Whether you are hard of hearing, looking to protect your hearing for the future or trying to ensure none of your group members come to harm, we have gathered top tips on how to get the best from your auricles.

How to pay performing rights (PRS) fees

This guidance will outline when you need to pay performing rights fees and how to pay them.

Tips for making music in prisons

Philip Emery, director of charity Changing Tunes and member of Beckenham Concert Band, gives a how-to guide for making music in prisons.

Should your group be a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO)?

The SCIO is a legal structure for registered charities in Scotland. It provides limited liability and separate legal identity to organisations which do not wish to incorporate fully. This guidance outlines the benefits and obligations of becoming or converting to an SCIO

Setting your group up as a charity

We can help advise music groups on establishing charitable status. There are advantages to gaining charitable status and also some consequences to be aware of that are covered in this guidance.