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Manchester music store Forsyth is giving away free music lessons

The Manc

Manchester music store Forsyth is giving away a host of free music lessons next month in a bid to inspire people to learn a new instrument, or pick up an old one.

The store is giving new and returning musicians a chance to receive a 10–15-minute free music taster session as part of its Music for All Learn to Play ’22 event.

Taking place across 8 and 9 October between 10am-5pm (8 October) and 1130am-30pm (9 October),short taster music lessons will allow all ages and abilities to have a musical experience that could turn into a lifetime of enjoyment, or even a new career.

Speaking on the free music lesson initiative, Emma from Forsyths said: “The past two years have shown how important music is to all our lives and how it can bring people together even in the most difficult of circumstances. 

“We aim to help as many people as possible understand the unique joys and benefits of learning an instrument (or taking part in a choir). 

“Anyone interested in learning to play an instrument or looking to pick it up again, should come and join us for this two-day celebration of music making. 

“We’re delighted to be part of Music for All’s Learn to Play ’22 event, and we can’t wait to get started.”

OBE Jools Holland, Patron of Music for All, said: “Making music is very important to me. It’s my work, my pleasure, my friend, companion and therapist. 

The charity Music for All believes passionately in the unique power of music to change lives and that is why it runs Learn to Play.

Music for All believes everyone should have equal access to music making.

The charity supports disadvantaged music makers by providing cash grants for tuition and instruments and by donating instruments directly.

Read more: The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 26 September – 2 October 2022

The Learn to Play ’22 event is generously supported by the NAMM Foundation and other partners include Music Industries Association, Musicians Union, Making Music, Music Mark and Black Lives in Music.

Those interested in joining Forsyths for a free music lesson simply need to email [email protected] or pop into the Sheet Music department on the ground floor to register interest.

Feature image – Forsyth

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Celebrated author Dame Hilary Mantel has died ‘suddenly yet peacefully’ aged 70

Emily Sergeant

Dame Hilary Mantel has died aged 70.

The unexpected passing of the critically-acclaimed author whose celebrated career spans nearly five decades has just been announced by her agents 4th Estate Books and her publishing team at HarperCollins in two separate statements released this morning – who confirmed that she died “suddenly yet peacefully”.

The Glossop-born writer was famed for historical fiction work, and was most-known for being the author of the beloved Wolf Hall trilogy.

The statement by her agents confirming her passing reads: “We are heartbroken at the death of our beloved author, Dame Hilary Mantel, and our thoughts are with her friends and family, especially her husband, Gerald.

“This is a devastating loss and we can only be grateful she left us with such a magnificent body of work.”

Mantel’s publishers HarperCollins called her “one of the greatest English novelists of this century”.

The company’s statement reads: “It is with great sadness that AM Heath and HarperCollins announce that bestselling author Dame Hilary Mantel DBE died suddenly yet peacefully yesterday, surrounded by close family and friends, aged 70. 

“Hilary Mantel was one of the greatest English novelists of this century and her beloved works are considered modern classics.

“She will be greatly missed.”

Read more:

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• Manchester firefighters lining streets for funeral of late colleague Dan Lee
• A not-for-profit cafe and bookshop is opening in Manchester to combat loneliness

Mantel has twice been awarded the Booker Prize, the first time for the 2009 novel Wolf Hall, a fictional account of Thomas Cromwell’s rise to power in the court of Henry VIII, and secondly for the 2012 novel Bring Up the Bodies, the second instalment of the Cromwell trilogy.

She was the first woman, and fourth person, to receive the award twice.

Featured Image – 4th Estate Books