Welcome to Learn to Play '23!
Thank you for registering for Learn to Play ’23, it’s fantastic to have your venue on board!
If you have previously taken part then you may have a good idea of what is involved in being a venue delivering lessons across the Learn to Play weekend.
But whether you’re getting involved for the first or tenth time, this exclusive web page for participating venues is your information hub to easily access the latest information and resources required for you to run your Learn to Play event successfully and safely!
If you have any questions, want to seek further guidance, or have any suggestions about additional resources you would like to see here, please email: ltpvenue@musicforall.org.uk
Promoting your event
Whilst we promote the project through national and regional press, venues which are active in their own local promotion are often the venues that are most successful with great attendance over the weekend.
We recommend the following three ways to promote your event:
1) Plan social media posts
2) Contact your local press
3) Decorate your venue with the promo pack materials!
The Learn to Play ’23 logo is available in a range of different sizes to work best across the main social media sites- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, including options advertising just the Saturday or Sunday date too.
Click on the below link to view and download the logos you require:
Planning some social media posts to advertise your Learn to Play event can be a fast and effective tool to let your audience know what you have to offer. Even if you’re not really familiar with social media yet, promoting Learn to Play can be a good excuse to give it a go for the first time!
Creating an event on Facebook can also be a effective way to promote your event online. Click here for guidance on how to do this.
Read on for some guidance to help you write your posts and don’t forget to tag us so we can re-share to our audience too!
Writing your posts
Here is some core text you could use, simply tweak the details relevant to your event:
Visit us for a FREE music lesson!
We’re taking part in Learn to Play ‘23 which means you can visit us to enjoy a FREE taster
music lesson on X October! Whether you are a budding or lapsed musician, we
welcome everybody to come and try a new musical instrument. Playing an instrument is fun,
challenging and fantastic for our mental health and wellbeing. Come and discover the joy of
music making by booking/drop-in details now!
These are the popular hashtag’s to include:
#LearnToPlay
#LearnToPlay23
#MusicforAll
#MakingMusicChangesLives
Things you could add:
- A suitable contact email address or phone number if people have questions
- Which instruments you will have available
- Any other activities you are planning across the Learn to Play weekend
- Any freebies/discounts you plan to offer
- It’s always impactful to accompany your text with an image. Perhaps a photo of your
venue, selection of instruments or a useable photo you have of a previous instrument
lesson
Why not try contacting your local newspaper, radio station or online community hubs in your borough to see if they would help you spread the word?
Learn to Play PR Manager – Rachel Diamond, is on hand to provide guidance on liaising with journalists, writing press releases and organising interviews with your local press. You can email her at: rachel.diamond@musicforall.org.uk
Here are Rachel’s top tips for you to consider when pitching to the press!
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Paste your press release/event info into the body of an email rather than sending it as an attachment to an email. This will increase the chance of the journalist reading it!
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Personalise the email to the journalist, instead of a generic/blanket email to everyone
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Send hi-res images to accompany the press release, such as images of your venue and/or any photos you may have of people trying out instruments
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Offer an interview, or even better, invite them along to your event so they can interview participants and take own photographs, soundbites etc. for articles
Click below to view an amendable pre-event press release template. Simply customise the red text areas to fit the details of your event!
You will receive a promotional pack with a range of LTP ’23 branded materials you can use to promote your event and decorate your venue.
This pack will include:
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A4 & A3 Posters (5 of each)
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50 Postcards
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15 Balloons
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100 ‘I’ve Learnt to Play!’ Stickers
If you would like to order additional quantities of any of the materials listed above please let us know as soon as possible by emailing: ltpvenue@musicforall.org.uk
Click below to download the posters and postcards:
*New for ’23!
You can now download amendable versions of the posters to add your own details in and print. Simply download the poster size of your choice and edit the date field under the logo to show which day/s you are taking part. Then add in any other relevant details into the ‘insert your text here’ box.
Music for All social media accounts
Don’t forget to tag us in your social media postings and we will be happy to like and re-share your content to help you reach a wider audience!
🌟 Top tip! Successful communication is often about repetition so don’t just post one message, several over the weeks leading up to the event will reach more people and each time you will be able to tell participants more about your event.
Risk assessments and health and safety policies
It is essential that all venues consider Safeguarding and Health & Safety procedures, taking appropriate measures to ensure the venue has complied with the basic Health and Safety standards expected for a Learn to Play event.
We also strongly advise all venues to carry out an appropriate risk assessment before the 7 & 8 October.
Health & Safety Executive has some useful guidance and information regarding risk assessments, see here for more information.
The Musicians Union has also produced a useful set of risk assessment guides for personal assessment and for teachers
NSPCC have more guidance about writing safeguarding policies and procedures
Preparing for your event
Here are some tips and considerations to read through as you prepare to deliver your Learn to Play event. Helping you to ensure everyone participating- both staff and music-makers feel welcomed, comfortable and excited to enjoy the day!
Many people of all ages can be intimidated by music environments with worries such as – will I understand, will I be any good, will they be patient with me?
Therefore, it’s really key to be welcoming and friendly to everyone coming through the doors. The knowledge and opportunities that you are offering through Learn to Play will help to bypass the fear of trying a musical instrument and spark a passion for making music!
Another way to add to your event and draw in more people is to provide additional offers alongside the taster lessons such as activities, competitions and freebies. These can also provide something for people to do whilst they might be waiting for their lesson.
These could include:
Free prize draws
Competitions
Music related activity sheets
Raffles
Refreshments
- In-store performances
The day provides a fantastic opportunity for you to promote and talk about everything unique to your organisation such as its history and how it came to exist, what else you offer throughout the year, particular age related opportunities, what products or services you offer and how they can sign-up for them.
Whatever is great or unique about your organisation – be sure to talk about it and give people more information, and if possible encourage people to sign-up to your mailing list. Once you get them through the door, encourage them to return!
And remember – many of the people who are just ‘watching’ on the day may actually want to find out more or become musicians themselves so chat to everyone.
If you are selling instruments and/or promoting music lessons on the day, here are some extra considerations:
Have plenty of sign-up forms available and/or people on hand to process the purchases/book future lessons
Offer on the day incentives such as a reduction for immediate sign up/purchase and think about whether you can offer further incentives for bulk bookings.
In store, consider what bundles you can offer on the day for anyone new to learning an instrument and make sure these offers are visible.
We encourage all venues to take photos and/or videos of their Learn to Play event, capturing the essence of the day and the joy of visitors playing an instrument in your venue!
It’s really important to make sure your visitors are aware you will be capturing media and informed as to how it will be used. Please ensure you have photography signage clearly displayed in your venue.
You can download and print the below signage and consent forms which cover use of the media by yourself and Music for All.
Learn to Play ’23 Photography and Filming Signage
As you get closer to the Learn to Play weekend, here is a guide of things for you to ‘tick off’ whilst you get your venue ready to welcome visitors.
Not everything may be applicable to your venue, but please do carefully consider how your venue can be health and safety secure.
Download and print your copy below:
The latest email updates!
Dear Venues,
Welcome to your first Learn to Play update email! You’ll receive these emails roughly once a month in the lead-up to the LTP weekend, letting you know of any wider project news and the odd reminder to support your planning.
🌟 LTP Venue Information Hub Link to access all resources: https://www.musicforall.org.uk/learn-to-play-venue-information/
Promoting Your Event
There is no time like the present to start spreading the word about your planned Learn to Play events! On the link above you will find a whole host of resources and tips to get you started. Including social media guidance and how to create a Facebook event, LTP logos you can use, who to contact for PR support and the promo pack resources you can download and print at home before your pack arrives.
*New for ’23!
You can now download amendable versions of the posters to add your own details in and print. Head to ‘Promoting your event’ and click on the ‘Home Printing’ tab for the full guidance.
We’re here to support your planning, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any queries you have in the coming months!
Best wishes,
Wallis.
—
Wallis Leahy
Projects Coordinator
Dear Venues,
A warm welcome to the new venues who have recently registered! You’ll receive these emails roughly once a month in the lead-up to the LTP weekend, letting you know of any wider project news and the odd reminder to support your planning.
🌟 LTP Venue Information Hub Link to access all resources: https://www.musicforall.org.uk/learn-to-play-venue-information/
Promo Packs
You should now have received your promo pack to decorate your venue and help with local visual promotion. If you would like any more of the items, please send your request to myself or Ola. (Please also note – if you registered in August, you will receive your pack within the next couple of weeks).
Preparing For Your Event
On the information web link (listed above), towards the bottom you will find a section about ‘Preparing for your event.’ Now is a good time to think about anything else you might want to add to the appeal of your event such as activities, freebies and offers. Thinking of new and creative ways to draw in new audiences to your venue can be a fun activity for you and your colleagues and you can read through our suggestions for inspiration on the page.
We’re here to support your planning, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any queries you have in the coming months!
Best wishes,
Wallis.
—
Wallis Leahy
Projects Coordinator
Dear Venue,
One month to go before the Learn to Play weekend! We hope your excitement is building and your plans are progressing well.
A warm welcome to the new venues who have recently registered. These updates and reminder emails are sent roughly once a month in the lead-up to the LTP weekend, you can view all past emails at the very bottom of the below webpage under ‘The latest email updates’.
LTP Venue Information Hub Link to access all resources: https://www.
This is the event link: https://fb.me/e/O6JA9XK7.It is essential that all venues consider Safeguarding and Health & Safety procedures, taking appropriate measures to ensure your venue has complied with the basic Health and Safety standards expected for a Learn to Play event. We also strongly advise all venues to carry out an appropriate risk assessment before the 7 & 8 October.
Health & Safety Executive has some useful guidance and information regarding risk assessments, see here for more information.
The Musicians Union has also produced a useful set of risk assessment guides for personal assessment and for teachers
NSPCC have more guidance about writing safeguarding policies and procedures
We’re here to support your planning, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any queries you have as we countdown to the big weekend!
Best wishes,
Wallis.
—
Wallis Leahy
Projects Coordinator
Dear Venue,
Just two weeks to go before the Learn to Play weekend! The countdown is certainly on and we hope you are feeling prepared and looking forward to welcoming your participants soon.
A warm welcome to the final venues who have recently registered! You can view all past update emails at the very bottom of the below webpage under ‘The latest email updates’.
🌟 LTP Venue Information Hub Link to access all resources: https://www.musicforall.org.uk/learn-to-play-venue-information/
⏳ Final Reminders
1) Check your promo pack has arrived (if you registered after the 13th September your pack is on its way!)
2) Look through the resources on the link above
Especially the ‘Preparing for your event’ section for last minute preparation tips and a checklist to consider!
3) Share the details of your Learn to Play event through your social media accounts and newsletters to spread the news to potential participants –
Tag us and we’ll share further!
Good luck with your final preparations, and as always, do reach out if you have any questions.
Best wishes,
Wallis.
—
Wallis Leahy
Projects Coordinator
Dear Venue,
Learn to Play weekend is almost here! We hope you’re feeling excited and ready to open your doors!
We would love your help in collecting participant feedback this year and would be grateful if you could share the link below with the participants you reach.
🎉 We’re also super excited to announce that participants who submit a feedback form will be given the option to be entered into a prize draw to win a whopping £100 to spend at PMT!
(Huge shout out and thanks to PMT for generously donating the prize!)
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK FORM
If you have any last minute questions this week, please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself or Ola and we’ll be back in touch regarding collecting your feedback (which will also have a prize draw!) soon.
Best wishes,
Wallis.
—
Wallis Leahy
Projects Coordinator