Normans Musical Instruments

29/05/2026

After 17 years, Dave is hanging up his boots and heading into a well-earned retirement. 🎉

It's fair to say the countdown has been well underway for a while - and we think he's earned every single one of those crossed-off calendar days. Dave has been part of our warehouse team for the best part of two decades, keeping orders picked, packed and out of the door, and his contribution over that time has been appreciated by everyone who has worked alongside him.

To mark the occasion, we gathered together for a BBQ in the sunshine to celebrate with good food, good drinks and a few well-deserved gifts. It was a proper send-off for a well-liked colleague. ☀️

Enjoy the retirement, Dave - you've more than earned it!

23/04/2026

Thinking about learning to play an instrument? Normans now offers flexible instrument rental in partnership with Wuva. 🎸🎺

This new monthly rental offer makes it easier to get started without the upfront cost of buying. Whether it is for a student, a school or a returning player picking things back up, it opens the door to more people.

It also supports a more sustainable approach, with instruments being checked and returned to our rental pool so they can be used again. 🌱 This keeps instruments in use for longer, helping reduce waste and encouraging a more circular economy.

Find out more here 👉 https://www.normans.co.uk/rental

01/04/2026

Great to support Devon Music Education Hub with this fantastic new addition - helping expand access to music while taking a positive step towards sustainability. 🎶🌱

🎶🚐 🎶 We’ve just taken delivery of a brand new electric van – a fantastic investment that will support the delivery and collection of thousands of instruments to schools across the Hub region.

This new addition will also play a key role in the logistics behind our many events and projects throughout the year, helping us work more efficiently while significantly reducing both our costs and carbon footprint.

We also have plans to utilise the van for pop-up performances and workshops in schools and the community, bringing music to even more young people across Devon

BIG thank you to Normans Musical Instruments for a generous grant towards the EV charging point at our Willand site that will be crucial to keeping us on the road.

Keep an eye out for us…eventually, we’ll be getting some distinctive branding so you can spot us out on the road! 🎶🚐 🎶

18/03/2026

LIFT Music is now available to purchase through the Normans website, with the option to use capital grant funding. 🎶

We had the opportunity to see LIFT Music in action at the Music and Drama Education Expo earlier this year, and came away genuinely impressed. Watching pupils engage with music through gesture-based interaction, particularly those who face barriers with traditional instruments, was a strong reminder of what accessible music technology can achieve in the right hands. 👏

LIFT Music is a gesture-based music app designed specifically for use in schools and specialist settings. Created to support learners with SEND, LIFT Music transforms simple arm movements into expressive musical experiences.

We're glad to be able to offer LIFT Music through the Normans website, and hope it opens up new possibilities for the settings and practitioners working hard to make music accessible to every learner.

Find out more here 👉 https://www.normans.co.uk/products/lift-music

12/03/2026

Fantastic to see all those violins ready to go! 🎻 It was our pleasure supplying the instruments and we love seeing the branded cases out in the wild! Wishing all the students the very best of luck with their exams in July 🎶

04/03/2026

Yesterday, Jack and Andy joined educators from across Birmingham at the Birmingham Music Education Conference, hosted by Services For Education at Midlands Arts Centre. 🎶

It was a genuinely rewarding day - the programme brought together music leads from primary, secondary and SEND schools for subject-specific CPD, with sessions covering accessible music technology, curriculum progression and partnership working. The energy and commitment in the room was clear to see.

We were delighted to run a prize draw on the day, offering one lucky winner £500 to spend at Normans.co.uk. A big congratulations to BOA Digital Technologies - we hope the prize goes towards some brilliant new resources for your students. 🎉

Thank you to the team at Services for Education for organising such a well-run and purposeful event. We always value the opportunity to connect with the educators who are doing this work every day, and yesterday reminded us why these conversations matter.

17/02/2026

The Music & Drama Education Expo gave the team a busy and rewarding two days, and it was great to speak with so many educators from across the UK throughout the event.

Jack, Nick and Andy enjoyed a wide range of conversations about the day-to-day realities of running a music department. From dependable instrument supply to asset tagging and personalised branding, discussions centred on practical ways to make life easier for Schools and Hubs while keeping everything organised and on budget.

Soundbellows and PopuPiano were clear favourites on the stand. Both drew strong interest as engaging and accessible ways to get pupils involved in music-making. It was great to see so much enthusiasm for tools that help spark curiosity and build confidence from the first session.

Events like The Music and Drama Education Expo are always a highlight in the calendar. They offer the chance to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new ones and share ideas that support Music Education across the sector.

12/02/2026

Our box of reeds from Mary's Reeds has just arrived!
We're so appreciative of these free, handmade reeds which will go out to young players who will make the most of them.

Thank you to Normans (who also have a superb instrument recycling scheme, ReTune) for making this possible!


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11/02/2026

Thanks to Norman's Musical Instrument ReTune scheme, our first batch of free oboe reeds has just arrived. Thanks Mary Gilbert - what a lovely surprise for our beginner oboists 👏👏👏 https://www.facebook.com/share/1AEUZFz3Rg/

07/11/2025

01/11/2025

🐻🎺 We had some very special visitors at Normans last week!

Instrument repairer Lynsey dropped by - and she brought along two well-travelled bears, Sgt Russ and PC Eddie Walker. Sgt Russ is the mascot for the Merseyside Police Band while PC Eddie Walker is a roving ambassador for the charity Care Of Police Survivors (COPS) who do incredible work supporting the families of police staff who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The bears had a great time exploring our warehouse, “helping” Lynsey find what she needed and even having a go on some of the instruments!