Following extensive consultation, PRS for Music has announced its revised live classical music tariff, effective from 1 September 2023Making Music,...
Discovering new music, deciding what to perform and actually sourcing the sheet music can be both the most fun and frustrating parts of running a music group.
Whether you’re looking for new repertoire, thinking of commissioning or just trying to find the cheapest option for the sheet music you need, we have resources to help.
We’ve tried to be exhaustive, but if you think we're missing something that would be helpful for groups like yours or if you would like advice on a specific situation please get in touch!
How to find sheet music
Detailed guidance on getting hold of music: from the role of a group librarian, to sourcing, obtaining and returning sheet music.
How to best work with music publishers – the hiring process and building relationships. Includes some information on copyright and permission issues too.
This resource looks at the practicalities of planning music hire on a budget, issuing music to members and collecting it all in again at the end.
This recording of our webinar (original event 8 March 2024) looks at the options available for sourcing sheet music, including hearing from key industry players.
Our searchable repertoire catalogue includes over 11,000 holdings of sheet music listed by member groups’ and available for member groups to borrow – as well as almost 5,000 programme notes
This collection comprises a wide range of contemporary choral repertoire kept at the Surrey Performing Arts Library, and available for hire to groups across the UK. The Making Music Kirby Collection was created in 2011 thanks to a generous legacy from our first Chair, Alan Kirby.
This licence allows leisure-time choirs to photocopy sheet music.
A 15% discount of sheet music and learning tracks.
A 15% discount of sheet music
Programming inspiration
If you’re not satisfied by the music that you can find to borrow or hire, you might consider commissioning a brand new piece for your ensemble. Our step-by-step guide lays out everything you need to know on that process (we have a template commission contract too)
Composers Edition is a unique publishing enterprise, which works to bring composers and performers together. Member discounts are available.
Our Adopt a Composer project matches member groups with passionate composers who spend a year developing an original piece for their group. Composers from the last two projects have re-scored their pieces to make them accessible to other groups. These new versions are available for free to Making Music member groups to download and perform.
Winners from some of our previous best music creator and best music arranger awards agreed to share their work for performance with other leisure-time music groups.
Making Music member, Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra, tells us how the orchestra has managed to successfully diversify its repertoire.
In this webinar recording a panel of guest speakers discuss population gender balance not being reflected in the music we play, sing and listen to, as per recent research.
In this webinar recording, guest speakers discuss how the programming of living music creators can influence and diversify the repertoire of the future.
Would a piece under 10 minutes by a Czech composer really tie your programme theme together? Use the filters on our searchable Music catalogue to find one.
Experienced composer, arranger, and Making Music volunteer Martin Jones lists his top tips on arranging music for your group.
Corporate member Naxos Music provides a music library and database that can help you with your group's programming and learning needs. Member discounts are available.
We hope you find this Making Music resource useful. If you have any comments or suggestions about the guidance please contact us. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the content of this guidance is accurate and up to date, Making Music do not warrant, nor accept any liability or responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of the content, or for any loss which may arise from reliance on the information contained in it.
