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Take it away work with music retailers to provide interest-free finance for the purchase of musical instruments and equipment, helping to ensure that more people can access instruments and learn to play.

With the pandemic still present in our lives, many of us will be missing our usual, seasonal music celebrations whether it’s attending a local carol service, singing or playing in a festive performance or Christmas social events. To help recreate some of these, and find alternative ways to celebrate the holiday season we have pulled together some ideas from our members to help inspire you and keep musical activities thriving at Christmas. 

Guidelines covering how music groups can get back to rehearsing and performing are being published in the different nations of the UK: 

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown up huge challenges for choirs, bands, orchestras and all other kinds of music groups, whether that’s staying connected with members, learning how to rehearse online, recording performances, assessing the risks of meeting in person and making sure everyone is safe, all while working out how to protect your finances. So we have created a range of resources to help your group to pick up again and thrive in these uncertain times.

We know how important music groups are to the people in them. It goes beyond the music, and is as much about social connections, wellbeing and shared creativity - all of which have been hit hard by coronavirus (COVID-19). However, people are finding fantastically creative ways to stay in touch and keep making music. 

Despite the COVID-19 lockdown, many of us who are fluent in the language of technology take it for granted that we can still carry out much of our daily lives through the internet, from banking to food shopping, to meeting our friends and making music together. But there are many people who would like to do this and have no idea how to get online.

Perhaps they have never had the need to go online before and don’t want to ask. Maybe they have even tried before and failed to join in and are too embarrassed to say so.

A livestream performance is one that is broadcast live over the internet, offering a digital route to audiences as an alternative to in-person performances. 

We know that leisure-time music groups across the UK are facing unprecedented challenges to their activities. So this month, we are offering free access to some of our resources to help groups stay connected musically and socially.

What is Zoom?

Zoom is an online platform that allows you to have a meeting virtually, everyone is in their own homes and can hear and see each other.

Do I need the internet to use it?

Zoom is most commonly used on a device connected to the internet. But you can also dial in using a normal phone line, in this case the person can hear and be heard but cannot see or be seen.

Can I use it on any device connected to the internet?

This resource covers how to use the online meeting platform Zoom for online instrumental rehearsals. To find out more about Zoom and how to set it up, read our Zoom: how it works resource. 

This resource covers how to use the online meeting platform Zoom for online choir rehearsals. To find out more about Zoom and how to set it up, read our Zoom: how it works resource.