-
Jun 02 2021 
Make Music Day
#MakeMusicDayUK
We’ve made it to June, the sun is shining and summer in the UK is feeling very promising!
This month, we’re very much looking forward to Make Music Day on 21st June. Not sure what to expect? Here’s a little round-up of what it is and how to get involved…
What is Make Music Day?
Make Music is a day of celebration of all music around the world! It first happened in France in 1982 on the summer solstice when they had a festival called ‘Fête De La Musique’. This evolved to become Make Music Day which is now celebrated across the globe in over 125 countries.
When is it?
Every year on 21st June.
Who can get involved?
Make Music Day is open to anyone and everyone who wants to take part; whether you’re a beginner, amateur or professional musician, interested in classical, rock, jazz or pop, young or old – you’re all invited!
What does it cost?
It’s free and open to the public.
Where does it take place in the UK?
There are events happening up and down the country. Look for an event to join here: makemusicday.co.uk/events
Or you can set up your own event and list it here: makemusicday.co.uk/get-involved
How can I get involved?
This year there will be both digital and socially distanced celebrations including window serenades, listening parties and live streams. There are lots of ways to take part!
Have a look at the Make Music Day website by clicking here for 21 ways to get involved.
Making Music UK is also organising a Bandstand project so see if you can join them by checking their website here: makingmusic.org.uk/opportunities/make-music-day
There’s a lot of great resources on the Make Music Day website with ideas of what and how to set up your event here: makemusicday.co.uk/resources
📣 Calling all Take it away Music Shop members to join in!
Do you have suitable space for performances?
Why not invite local musicians to come and play throughout the day to support your local community? Or perhaps set up an open door day so that members of the public can pop in and have a play… they may discover new instruments and become your next customer!
There are useful resources from the Musicians’ Union, ISM and more including how to set up your own gig, live stream, host online concerts etc. here: makemusicday.co.uk/resources
Let us know if you’re planning anything on Make Music Day this year and we’ll see how we can support you here at Take it away.
After a year of restrictions, Make Music Day is going to be the perfect opportunity to celebrate playing music together!
Tag us on the day and show us how you’re celebrating:
-
May 20 2021 
6 Pieces of Studio Gear to get started as a Producer/ DJ – Point Blank
Point Blank Beginner Kit List: 6 Pieces of Studio Gear for Producers/DJs
Point Blank Music School pride themselves on helping young creatives kick-start their music careers. With over 25-years of offering award-winning music courses both at their HQ’s in London and Los Angeles, as well as online, they are clued up when it comes to the kind of music tech you should have in your home studio. If you’re new to the world of music production and/or DJing and need to get to grips with what software and hardware you need, they can help!
They’ve put together their six go-to pieces of kit for anyone looking to jump into the world of music creation and performance which you’ll find below.
If you’d like to learn more about music production, DJing, singing, songwriting and music business, be sure to check out Point Blank’s courses. Plus, they’re currently offering 25% off their selected London, Online and Los Angeles courses using the codes LONDON25, ONLINE25 and LA25.
1. Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a staple for many music producers, featuring a range of instruments and effects. There are some affordable price plans available if you’re not looking to buy upfront as well as the option to grab yourself a copy for free when enrolling on certain Point Blank courses. If you’re looking for some fantastic free plugins to add to your music production tool kit, check out Point Blank’s round-up of the 10 Best Free Plugins: 2021.
2. AKAI Professional MPK Mini MKII
Akai’s MPK Mini MKII is a great controller for programming beats and playing in your basslines and melodies. Unlike many other controllers, the MKII has an innovative 4-way thumbstick for dynamic pitch and modulation control as well as a built-in arpeggiator with adjustable modes. This one’s perfect for taking on the road due to its compact size of 18 x 31.4 cm (that’s roughly the size of a laptop).
3. Focusrite Scarlett Solo
To help connect all your gear, you’ll need a good audio interface. Focusrite’s Scarlett Solo is perfect for beginners and features an XLR input for recording vocals or instruments, the best-sounding Scarlett mix preamp yet, a 2-in/2-out configuration and more.
4. KRK ROKIT RP5 G4 Studio Monitors
What’s great about the KRK ROKIT RP5 G4 monitors is their integration with the KRK app. This allows users to gain expert assistance with EQ, level matching, speaker placement and more, so you’ll get the most out of your monitors. KRK’s are popular in lots of home studios thanks to their reliable quality and accessible prices. As well as featuring powerful D-class amplifiers, their custom Brickwall Limiter helps provide wider sound dynamics and prevents them from overheating.
5. beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO
These beyerdynamics are a solid option for those looking to use their new headphones primarily at the studio. They’re bass-heavy, reasonably priced and durable, meaning that you won’t need to replace them anytime soon. You’ll reap the benefits of these headphones when using an audio interface but when plugged into a laptop or phone the sound can feel slightly less driven. Overall these are a great selection if you’re in the game for some low-end studio sessions.
6. Pioneer DJ DDJ-400
The DDJ-400 from Pioneer DJ comes in at just under £250, making it a fantastic entry-level controller for those looking to jump into the world of DJing. Like many of Pioneer DJ’s other hardware controllers, the DDJ-400 comes equipped with the latest Rekordbox software which enables users to set cue points, hot cues, arrange playlists and organise their tracks for use on CDJs when the time comes. The layout on this controller mirrors that of the performance tech giant’s flagship NXS2 set-up, meaning that it’s a great tool to use when preparing yourself for the club.
If you’re looking to kick-start your music career, be sure to check out Point Blank’s award-winning courses in London, Los Angeles and Online: www.pointblankmusicschool.com
How Take it away can help you
Instruments and equipment can be expensive meaning some people never discover the joy of learning and playing music.
At Take it away, we work with our retail partners, Arts Council England and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to break down these barriers. A part of Creative United, a community interest company that drives economic growth and social impact in the arts and creative industries, we provide a range of subsidised and non-subsidised loans. These are designed to make learning, playing and participating in music more affordable and open to everyone.
Together with our partners, we look to enable and inspire a life-long love of music.
Find out how Take it away can help you with the cost of a musical instrument, equipment and software.
