Why join Making Music?

Membership Services Team

Our experienced Central Office based Membership Services Team is available for advice and support on all of our services and opportunities. Mike, Stuart, Jackie or Sarah are available Monday to Friday, 10am - 6pm on 0870 903 3780 or alternatively email them at info@makingmusic.org.uk.

Most of our core services are provided to members through our website at www.makingmusic.org.uk. To browse these or download anything of interest, you'll need to register in the Members' area.

If you experience any difficulties with the website - are not sure where to find something, need answers to questions that can't be resolved online or would simply prefer to talk to someone, the Membership Services Team is always on hand to provide support by phone or email.

Block Insurance

Our unique and comprehensive insurance scheme run exclusively for our members by Ecclesiastical is tailor-made for music groups and is of unbeatable value.

Performing Rights Scheme

Our PRS scheme offers an extremely simple and unbureaucratic way of fulfilling your legal obligations for PRS licensing.

Information and Publications

Making Music has researched, pooled and distilled a huge amount of information on resources and best practice for our members, and we now offer more than seventy Information Sheets and ‘How to…' guides on a wide range of topics. Many of these will be relevant to you whatever type of music you're involved in - from ‘How to chair a music group' to ‘How to produce a cross arts project'; from information on the Licensing Act and how it impacts on voluntary music making, to tips for developing an equal opportunities policy; and from understanding Gift Aid and how it can work for you, to useful guidance on how to promote your activities through your local media.

Youth Programme Case Studies

Through Making Music's Young People's Programme a substantial library of youth project case studies has been developed to highlight and share best practice. Regional Development Officers regularly advise members about how to engage in youth work, and support initiatives to work with local schools and youth groups. If you're thinking of developing a project or longer term involvement with young people for your group, these case studies will provide useful examples of what is possible, and food for thought for your own plans.

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Checking

As well as a wealth of information on working with young people, we are able to provide quick and cheap discounted Disclosure Service in partnership with CRB, ensuring that your young performers and volunteers are safe and your procedures conform to best practice recommendations.

Highnotes

Our free tri-annual newsletter features a wealth of up-to-date information about music making across the UK. Anyone can subscribe by contacting Central Office or visiting our website.

Music Exchange Scheme

Search online the thousands of works held in our members' libraries, then check the availability and provisionally hire the work. Submit your own library holdings for inclusion in the scheme, and update the contents online.

Programme Note Bank

Access over 3,000 programme notes in our easy to use searchable database, and submit your own notes for inclusion.

Repertoire Service

Our Repertoire Service details thousands of works we recommend for performance by Making Music groups. Search by duration, language, instrumentation, and composer.

Commissioning Uncovered

Find a composer to suit your commission, through this searchable online database of composers with various experiences of working with voluntary music groups.

Labels Service

Promote your activities to other Making Music members by hiring address labels of Making Music Representatives of all areas and types across the UK.

Accessible Website

Committed to providing equal opportunities to everyone we are continuing to develop a highly practical accessible version of the central website at www.makingmusic.org.uk/accessible as well as the developing site for MMNE - further details are available on this site at www.makingmusic-northeast.co.uk/accessibility/.

Legal and Financial Advice

Through our links with City solicitors and accountants, Making Music can provide free advice to members on a range of financial & legal issues. Please be assured that you can contact us if you have any concerns.

Training & Development

Making Music has a dedicated team of 13 UK-wide, home-based Regional Development Officers (RDOs). They run a huge range of events and have a wealth of information at their fingertips. They are on hand for advice, support, training and development. Whether your question is about funding opportunities or ideas to recruit more members, your RDO will be able to help. Information about Training and Development opportunities in the North East can be found via the ‘Training & Development' option at the top of this page.

National and Regional Committees

We have thirteen Making Music Committees: nine in each of the English Arts Boards regions; one each in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales; and a UK wide Concert Promoters' Committee. Each runs its own conference and events, and each produces its own newsletter and website listing forthcoming events and performances, and providing news and information local to your area. Head over to the News and Events areas on this website to check out details for the North East region.

Annual Conference

Making Music's Annual Conference is a major chance to meet, learn from each other and move voluntary music-making to the top of the agenda. Taking place every Autumn, this offers an opportunity to participate in artistic and developmental workshops and experience the best of voluntary music making to take back to your group and influence your own activities.

Information on our whole range of award schemes, and opportunities for you to get involved with the work of Making Music, is available in the Opportunities section of our website:

Lady Hilary Groves Prize

This is awarded each year to a member who has made a significant contribution to music in their community. Members are invited to nominate people who have contributed in this way.

Positive about Equal Opportunities

This award is available to all member groups who operate a good working practice to ensure accessibility for all. The award entitles the member group to display this kite mark as an endorsement of its activities and to assist with funding and grant applications.

Philip and Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert Artists

The winners of this annual award are some of our brightest young performing talent. These artists are available for performances with member groups at greatly subsidised rates as soloists or for recitals.

Adopt-a-composer

Each year six member groups are matched up with their own in-house composer. Supported by the PRS Foundation and SPNM you can première a work written specifically for you.

Fox and Hodgson Bursaries

Awarded annually to young artists to assist with further training, applications are invited from musicians nearing the end of their college course who intend to follow a performing career.

Making Music British Composer Award

In partnership with BBC Radio 3 and the Performing Right Society Foundation, Making Music members are invited each year to nominate a composer whose work they have premièred.

Listen Up! Festival of Orchestras

In partnership with BBC Radio 3 and the Association of British Orchestras, this month-long festival of all things orchestral puts local music making on a National platform. Get involved!

Much much more…

We are currently involved in over 30 projects around the UK. Visit the Training & Development section of this website to find out what is happening in your area for you, or look at the central website or contact Central Office to find out about activities in other regions.

Lobbying

Constantly fighting for the interests of music making at all levels through links with the Arts Councils, Government, and Local Government, Making Music ensures that your voice is heard. Visit our website to read the latest lobbying news to see how we're making a difference…

Grant Giving

Making Music works closely with grant giving bodies, advising on policy and allocation of funds to arts organisations and music groups throughout the UK.

From choirs to handbell ringers, samba groups to festivals, youth orchestras to sitar groups - we exist to represent all voluntary musicians involved in live music making.

2006 saw the launch of our 5-year plan for 2006-2010: Five Years Five Aims. The key elements of the plan are:

• Helping member organisations flourish
• Securing improved funding for Making Music and its member organisations
• Improving our communications
• Lobbying effectively and creating beneficial partnerships
• Creating an organisation fit for the future

In addition to all these benefits, members based in the North East of England are also offered the following:

Free concert listings for all your group’s events
Publicise concerts, workshops, open days etc. on the regional website and in the ‘Concert Diary’ of Dateline Northeast, our regional newsletter. All completely free of charge.

Free web presence for your society
Every member of Making Music in the North East is listed on the regional website and groups are encouraged to include as much detail as possible about their society. This can of course include a link to your own website if you already have one.

Direct contact with the Making Music North East Committee
Every member of Making Music in the North East is allocated their own ‘visitor’, a member of the North East Making Music committee who will maintain regular contact with you and who can provide advice and assistance when you need it.

Support and advice from the North East Development Officer
The North East Development Officer is highly contactable and able to provide information and advice tailored to your group. She also organises events, keeps members informed about important news and opportunities, and lobbies on your behalf at regional level.

Training events and development opportunities
Recent training events offered by Making Music in the North East have included sessions on audience development, equal opportunities and fund-raising.

Head over to the Training section for more information and contact details.

The ‘north east england’ brand
Access to an attractive range of specially-developed ‘Passionate about…’ logos for use in your group’s publicity materials.