Guide to buying quality musical instrumentsThe Music Industries Association (MIA) has launched a useful guide to buying quality musical instruments.Budding instrumentalists or parents buying instruments for their children can get advice on all the most common acoustic instruments, plus the electric guitar and keyboard.The free guide covers all the basic questions you might want to ask, with lots of information about the specifics of particular instruments and the benefits of music-making in general.The booklet is available from www.mia.org.uk/docs/quality_instruments.pdf________________________________________________________Young Arts LeadersENYAN have launched a new, free online resource ‘Young Arts Leaders’This colourful and accessible resource includes practical case studies, policy developments, funding opportunities, signposting to valuable contacts & support and a breakdown of the range of programmes available including; ‘Accreditation’, ‘Volunteering’, ‘Work-related Learning’, ‘Innovation & Entrepreneurship’, ‘Peer-Mentoring’, ‘Youth Voice & Influence’ and many more.www.imcre8tive.co.uk/artswork/enyan/flipbook________________________________________________________
DIUS launch of The Learning Revolution White PaperThe Learning Revolution, was launched on 23 March 2009 and sets out the Government's strategy for informal learning. It recognises the profound importance of informal adult learning to people’s lives and our nation’s well-being.The white paper seeks to join up approaches to ‘informal learning’ currently being supported by several Government Departments. ‘Informal learning’ includes the learning that happens in voluntary arts groups, such as amateur dramatics societies and choirs, as well as ‘classroom learning’.The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) is keen to support people who want to run their own groups or classes and to enable all kinds of organisations to open up their spaces for learning.Full details of the white paper are at www.dius.gov.uk/learningrevolution________________________________________________________BT community website builderThe Community Website Builder allows registered UK charities, non-profit making organisations and volunteer led groups to build and maintain their own website free of charge.For more information visit www.communitykit.co.uk________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________Sweeble - easily create and print newslettersAimed specifically at arts groups, voluntary organisations and small local groups, Sweeble is an online system that lets you easily create and print newsletters, listing magazines, brochures and event programmes.If you have a play with Sweeble yourself (it’s free to use and nothing to download) you’ll see it goes way beyond your average desktop publishing software. You do everything online within Sweeble, even writing articles and ordering printing. Groups can sell and add their own adverts to raise funds (optional) and get a free website (also optional) to upload their news too as well.For examples of newsletters created using Sweeble visit http://bit.ly/mUkKswww.sweeble.com________________________________________________________FUNDING________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Find funding and scholarships for music students, teachers and parentsThere are a large number of resources available to students, parents and teachers to assist with the funding of projects for gifted musicians and the Musicians Benevolent Fund's (MBF) Funding Wizard can help you identify many of the Music Awards and Scholarships which are available.The database is not exhaustive and does not list awards and prizes that are offered and administered by music colleges, nor awards, grants and loans which may be available from local authorities. Start searching the Funding website by visiting www.mbf.org.uk/fundingwizard
==========================================================================From: "Songwriters" <info_at_songwriter-showcase_dot_co_dot_uk>Date: 26 March 2009 15:41:20 GMTSubject: The Song SearchThe Songwriter Competition, has a dedicated website which is free to enter. The aim to is to seek out talented songwriters and performers across all genre of music and provide them with an online platform to showcase their work. There are valuable prizes to be won including music gear and recording services.For more information visit www.songwriter-showcase.co.uk