Over the years, York Music Education has organised a series of Fun Days for young instrumentalists across the city. These events have brought together children learning brass, wind and string instruments to share the joy of making music as part of a larger group.

Our Fun Days have taken place in a variety of venues, including Joseph Rowntree School, Burnholme Community Hub, Gateway Centre in Acomb, and New Earswick Folk Hall. When held in secondary schools, the events also help with the important step of transition from primary to secondary, giving younger players a positive first experience of a larger school environment.

We’ve welcomed up to 70 children at a time, creating an exciting and supportive atmosphere for music-making. Led by our experienced YME tutors, these days give pupils who are already having instrumental lessons the chance to:

• Play alongside others in a large ensemble

• Build confidence and teamwork skills

• Experience the fun of creating music in a lively, welcoming setting

• Discover pathways into York Music Centre ensembles

Importantly, these events have always been free of charge, ensuring that every child can take part.

In recent years, funding limitations have meant that our Fun Days have been less frequent. However, they remain an important part of our vision, and we hope to offer more opportunities like this in the future so that even more young musicians can experience the excitement of playing together.