Learning music

Browse our store for second-hand sheet music, vinyl, CDs, books and more, from Copland and Mozart to Cat Stevens and Mike Oldfield. All proceeds support our work championing and supporting leisure-time music across the UK.

In the autumn issue of Highnotes we look at making your group more inclusive, chat to our President Debbie Wiseman OBE, discover how church music is thriving with the help of the Royal School of Church Music and more.

To download a PDF copy, click the Highnotes image below and select 'download PDF' in the bottom right-hand corner.

Normans Musical Instruments is very proud to be a Premium Corporate Member of Making Music, and is pleased to announce a special offer for members.  

Staffed by musicians, Normans is one of the country’s leading education suppliers of musical instruments and accessories. Normans is delighted to be offering a special discount for Making Music members - use the code MM5 at checkout on normans.co.uk to get 5% off any order you place.  

Being the music director (MD) of a group is a diverse role with lots to think about from conducting, arranging music and developing the group to leading, inspiring and encouraging cohesive working. We have put together a range of guidance, resources and opportunities that MDs might find useful.

For many leisure-time music groups, it’s often the case that someone in the group with no formal training may step in and conduct a rehearsal as a one-off, and then suddenly find themselves permanently on the podium. Orchestras for All’s new online conducting skills development course can help to address this skills gap.

There’s a wonderful variety of musical genres being played and sung in towns, cities and neighbourhoods across the UK, so we decided to create introductory guides to some of them. Pick a genre and dive in to find out more and how you can get involved. Or if you would like to submit an introduction to your favourite kind of music, please email us

What is Indian classical music and how is it different to Bollywood or Indian folk music? What are all the different instruments used and where can you go to try listening to it or playing it yourself? Seetal Kaur of member group, the Sitar Music Society, gives us an overview.

After looking at pipe and tabor, signing choirs, samba, handbell ringing, barbershop and wind bands, t

Steinberg have linked up with GAK Music shop to offer Making Music members preferential discounted prices on their range of products.

In the latest in our 'An introduction to...' series that explores different types of music making we take at the long history of a unique instrumental tradition - Pipe and Tabor.