Learn to Play Day 2019 took place over the weekend of 23 – 24 March 2019 and was hailed the most successful one yet. Over 100 venues across the UK took part, giving thousands the chance to try their hand at a musical instrument or brush up existing skills, all free of charge.

Read the MIA’s report of the weekend here.

Many Take it away retailers also got involved, and we were on hand at four of them to see just how successful they were on the day.  Check out our photos below from Forsyth’s (Manchester), Sutton Music Centre (Sutton, Surrey), Trevada (Cornwall) and Hickies (Reading).  According to Forysyth’s: “It was wonderful to welcome so many people to the shop and hear their stories. For some it was a dream come true to have a go on an instrument they’d always wanted to try. For others it helped them overcome the practical or psychological barriers associated with starting a new instrument or returning to one they used to play. And for many children and their parents it was the perfect way for them to try out several instruments before committing to a course of lessons at school.”

Take it away also teamed up with Nottingham Music Hub to make Learn to Play Day last a little longer – on Tuesday 26 March public were able to experience the popular Great Orchestra Experiment by attending the rehearsal, which was opened to the public for the very first time.

Forsyths, Manchester

Forsyths gave 200 free taster lessons on more than 20 different instruments.

A white, feminine person is teaching a group of people with mixed identities and age how to play the ukulele.
A group of people with mixed identities and age are playing ukuleles.
A white, feminine person teaching a child how to play the ukulele with a group of people also doing the same in the background.
A white, feminine person with learning to play the ukulele and a white, masculine person doing the same in the background
A young, white, masculine child with short, brown hair and wearing a grey Pokémon top who is playing a saxophone
A close up image of an acoustic guitar with a "Take It Away" 0% finance tag on it.
A young, white, feminine child with long, blonde hair and wearing a pink, flowery dress is learning how to play the harp.
A young, white, masculine child with short, brown hair, a red top and blue jeans being taught how to play the ukulele.
A close up of some purple ukuleles and a red ukulele on a white table
A piano with "Take It Away" flyers on the music stand.
A Take It Away flyer
Sutton Music Centre, Surrey

Sutton Music Centre offered free 20 minute lessons for piano, drums and guitar on a first come first served basis. On the Saturday they even had a space in the local Sainsbury’s store.

A young, white, masculine child is playing an electronic drum kit.
A white, masculine person and a white, feminine person are smiling and are behind a counter at a music shop.
A young, white, feminine person with medium length brown hair and a dark blue coat is playing the drums.
An elderly, white, feminine person with medium length, blonde hair and wearing a brown, spotty dress is playing the piano.
Three white, masculine people and one white, feminine person are smiling behind a counter in a music shop.
A young, white, feminine child with medium length, brown hair and wearing a yellow top is playing an electronic drum kit
A white, masculine person is teaching a young, white, masculine person how to play an electronic drum kit.
A white, masculine person is teaching a young, white, masculine person how to play an electronic drum kit.
Two young, white, masculine children with short brown hair and blue coats are playing electronic drum kits.
A young, white, masculine child with short, brown hair and wearing a grey top is playing an electronic drum kit.
A white, masculine person is playing the drums with a young, white, masculine child.
An elderly, white, feminine person with medium length, blonde hair and wearing a brown, spotty dress is playing the piano.
A white, feminine person with medium length, brown hair and wearing a black and white top is playing an electronic drum kit
A brown, feminine person is taking to a white, feminine person in a music shop.
A white, masculine person is showing a family of four some acoustic guitars.
A brown, masculine person is showing a white, masculine person an acoustic guitar.
A young, white, masculine child with short, brown hair and a green, blue and yellow checkered shirt is playing the piano.
A young, white, feminine person with medium length brown hair and a dark blue coat is playing the drums.
A young, white, masculine child with short, brown hair and a green, blue and yellow checkered shirt is playing the piano.
A white, feminine person with medium length, brown hair and wearing a black and white top is playing an electronic drum kit
A poster for free "Learn to play" day at "Sutton Music Centre" that is tied onto a gate
A white, feminine adult, is teaching a young, white, feminine child how to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on the piano.
A group of people with mixed identities are playing electronic drum kits.
Trevada Music, Cornwall

Most corners of the UK were represented, with plenty of activity at Trevada Music down in sunny Cornwall.

A white, masculine person is teaching a young, white, feminine person how to play violin.
A white, masculine person is teaching a young, white, feminine person how to play violin.
A white, masculine person is teaching a young, white, masculine child how to play the drums.
A young, white, masculine child is smiling at someone while holding drumsticks
A young, white, masculine child is smiling at someone while holding drumsticks
A white, masculine person is teaching a young, white, masculine, ginger child how to play the violin.
A young, white, masculine child with short, ginger hair and wearing a blue top with a dinosaur is playing a violin.
A young, white, masculine child with ginger hair and wearing a blue top is being taught how to play the acoustic guitar
Hickies, Reading

Budding musicians could turn up for free taster lessons on the ukelele and a whole host of other instruments.

A white, masculine person is playing an electric guitar with a "Take It Away" promotional tag on it.
A white, masculine person is teaching a brown, feminine person how to play the piano.
A white, masculine person is teaching a brown, feminine person how to play the ukulele.
A white, masculine person is showing a ukulele to a white, feminine person and a young, white, feminine child.
A young, white, feminine child with medium length, brown hair and a white top is playing a ukulele.
A white, masculine adult is teaching a white, feminine adult how to play a ukulele.
A white, masculine adult is teaching a young, white, masculine child how to play the piano by pointing at the sheet music
An overhead view of some acoustic guitars if various shapes and colours being held up a stand.
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