Hearing Drums in Acton

Free tuition day to encourage more to take up musical instrument

An Acton music shop is hoping to get more people to take up drumming and offering a free taster day.

The third annual National Learn To Play Day, is on Saturday 12th April 2014, and West London based drum shop Bell Percussion will be one of a number of music shops across the UK offering free lessons to people who would like to play an instrument or start playing again. Experienced drum teachers will be on hand to give expert tuition.

Whether you have always wanted to play or you used to play, this is the day for you.

A recent survey by Arts Council England’s ‘Take it away’ scheme, in conjunction with parenting website Netmums, found that nearly three-quarters of parents (73%)
thought access to a free taster lesson would be a good way to encourage their child to take up an instrument.
73% of parents say they learned to play an instrument as a child, but no longer play. However, over 80% of them wished they still did!

Announcing his support of the campaign, Al Murray said; “I am really pleased to be able to be
involved with this initiative. Learn to Play Day has to be one of the best ideas I have heard of in a long time. Playing a musical instrument is life enhancing as well as huge fun! Giving a child – or
anyone – the opportunity to play is giving them a gift for life, and the chance to have a free taster session on virtually any instrument has to be a great start!”

All of the tuition will be free of charge, but participants will be invited to make a donation to the charity ‘Music For All’, the charitable arm of The Music Industries Association which organises the event nationally.

Jools Holland as Patron of the Music for All charity said : ''I am delighted to lend my support to the National Learn to Play Day. This is the day when we offer the general public free music lessons in musical instrument shops and other venues throughout the United Kingdom. Whether you used to play or whether you have always wanted to play…this is the day for you. I am delighted to be able to help Music for All in their quest to inspire more people to participate in music making.’

The 2013 event saw nearly 100 music shops take part across the country, delivering more than 10,000 free lessons to the public. Previous events have seen celebrities like Al Murray and Harry Hill, musicians including Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), Ian Paice (Deep Purple), Doug Aldrich, Brain Tichy and Michael Devin (Whitesnake), Bill Bruford (Yes), Ralph Salmins (Robbie Williams)

The free lessons can be booked online http://bellpercussion.simplybook.me/index/about) or on
the phone. (020 8896 120)

4th April 2014