Access and inclusion | Making Music

Access and inclusion

How to recruit new members for your music group (online event)

Recruiting new members is one of the biggest challenges facing music groups today. Whether you're revitalising your group for the future, looking to diversify your ensemble, or simply want to grow your group, this webinar will offer practical advice and inspiration. Join us to explore proven strategies and fresh ideas for attracting new members and keeping them engaged. 

Location

Online
United Kingdom
GB

Chairs and leaders meet up (online event)

The responsibility that lies with Chairs and other leaders of music organisations can feel overwhelming, particularly in times of change. Making Music is hosting this meetup so you can connect with others in the same role, and talk about your challenges and successes. 

Location

Online
United Kingdom
GB

Highnotes

In the autumn edition of Highnotes, discover key learnings from our final Big Survey 2022. Get inspired by Soundabout's inclusive project, NewSPAL's campaign to save their music library and the Sitar Music Society's rich musical tradition. Plus, don’t miss our article about Making Music's 90th anniversary.

Online member meetup (Wales)

Running your group is a rewarding but challenging role. Our regular meetups are a chance for you to meet and share learning and ideas with other Wales groups facing similar challenges, explore specific issues affecting leisure-time music making in Wales and consider how we can work collaboratively to find solutions and advocate for the sector. 

Miranda Glen, Wales manager, will be leading this session.

 

We'll talk about:

Location

Online
United Kingdom
GB

Any volunteers? – Recruiting people to run your group (online event)

Getting people to step into committee or other organising roles is a real challenge for many groups. At this event we’ll be exploring the drivers that make people want to volunteer as well as what puts people off, and supporting you to create strategies that will get enthusiastic and useful new recruits involved. 

Location

Online
United Kingdom
GB

Making Music Awards 2025 (online event)

Wednesday 24 September, to showcase the wealth of talent and innovative ideas among our members, and those who work for them. 

Our President, composer Debbie Wiseman OBE, will be announcing the award winners for:

Location

Online
United Kingdom
GB

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: 

Making connections and reaching new people: insights from INCLUDE

The INCLUDE groups used activity that was designed to reach new people and organisations as part of a strategy to widen the diversity of their groups.

Creating musical activities that connect 

Short-term

All four groups planned musical activities with the aim of reaching new people and raising awareness across their whole communities. Large-scale events required money and effort to organise but had the potential to make an impact if the follow-up was right.

Working strategically: insights from INCLUDE

Approaching access and inclusion work strategically helped the INCLUDE groups set realistic goals and embed access and inclusion as key to their whole group’s development.  

Getting people involved

Short-term

The committees of the INCLUDE groups engaged with all their members and got extra people involved with building and delivering their strategy.

Communicating with and welcoming people: insights from INCLUDE

The INCLUDE groups made small changes to the way they welcome and initially interact with new people to improve the accessibility and inclusive feel of their groups. 

Enabling access through information  

Short-term

The groups made changes to the information they provide about coming to their rehearsals and concerts, so it is easier find and helps people understand how to access their activity. They particularly focused on access information for disabled people.