Ross residents have a chance to experience a free 10-15-minute taster lesson at Ruth Cartledge Harpist in Ross-on-Wye on October 8 and 9.

Held in venues across the UK, “Learn to Play” opens up opportunities for anyone wanting to pick up an instrument for the first time or would like a chance to return to making music by inspiring and encouraging the next generation of musicians of all ages and abilities.

Recent reports have shown that music has been crucial for many people during the recent pandemic with more than 155 million albums bought or streamed in 2020 and one million adults taking up an instrument, with many people saying music helped them cope with enforced isolation during the lockdown.

Tony Followell, Music for All’s chair of trustees said: “The past two years have been difficult for many people, but it has revealed how important music is to all our lives and how it can comfort and bring people together even in the most difficult of circumstances. Many of the people who took up an instrument for the first-time during lockdown would not have had the opportunity to have had a physical lesson. Through the Learn to Play event we aim to inspire and help as many people as possible understand the unique joys and benefits of learning to play an instrument”