There's more to learning an instrument than just playing it. Listening is a key part of your musical education. It's a good idea to listen to music as much as you can and to build up your knowledge of composers, their music and performers. For any of you who may take exams in the future, this is essential because the aural section of the exam will include questions on music styles and composers. 

Here are some venues in the Manchester area where you can hear wonderful music played by professionals and gifted music students. Please contact me if you know of others that I have omitted.

Don't forget to tune in to Radio 3 and Classic FM too.

Emmanuel Church Coffee Concerts, Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury.

Some Saturdays from 11am to 1pm RNCM students perform. Includes coffee break. Retiring collection at the door in aid of church renovations and RNCM students.  The organisers are looking for volunteers to help with poster distribution, door duties, sound, platform or serving refreshments. To go on the concert mailing list, email Bryan Fox at bryanjbfox@volpones.freeserve.co.uk  Pianist Angela Lim performs on 5 December.

Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER.

Students from the RNCM perform Sunday lunchtime concerts. Free entrance. Concerts begin at 12pm. Details from fow@manchester.ac.uk (Friends of the Whitworth). Tel: 275 7450. You can join the Friends of the Whitworth.

Peel Hall, University of Salford, Peel Building, Peel Park Campus, Salford M5 4WT.

Peel Hall hosts many concerts including the Midday Recitals on Tuesdays. Admission free. Tel: 295 5223. Concerts are usually 1-2pm but it's best to check first.

St Ann's Church, St Ann's Square, Manchester.

Free lunchtime musical performances and recitals are often held here.

Chetham's School of Music, Long Millgate, Manchester M3 1SB. Tel: 834 9644. Email: cheths@chethams.com 

Music for a While. A popular series of Lunchtime Recitals given by students from Chetham's and held every Tuesday in Manchester Cathedral. Concerts begin at 1.10pm and last 40 minutes. Admission is free and there is a retiring collection in aid of the Booth Drop-In Centre for homeless people of Manchester. http://www.chethams.com/

Piano Recitals are sometimes held at Manchester music and instrument shop, Forsyth Brothers, 126 Deansgate, Manchester M2 3GR. These are by invitation and you can put your name on their list. Contact 834 3281, ext 226 or email concert@forsyths.co.uk

The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), 124 Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9RD. Tel: 907 5200. email: info@rncm.ac.uk

The College offers a huge amount of concerts, including free coffee concerts, early and late afternoon, evening and late evening concerts for the public. Contact them for a brochure. You can join the Friends of the RNCM.

The Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3WS, tel: 950 0000.

Home to the Halle Orchestra and Manchester Camerata and sometimes the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

Music at St James: Chamber concerts are held at St James's Church, Gatley Green, Gatley on Tuesdays at 7.30pm. Dates: 8 December 2009 (Halle Wind Quintet); For 2010, 9 February (Paul Jones, piano); 9 March (Celestial Trumpet and Organ Duo); 13 April (Aylwin String Quartet).

The Alberti Pianists

An adult piano group that meets every other Wednesday from 2-4pm at the Unitarian Chapel in Cross Street, Manchester. Members play for each other - this is an ideal platform to try out new pieces. First visit is free, otherwise £3 to cover the cost of the hall. Refreshments afterwards 50p. All levels are acceptable. More info from Joan Pearson, tel: 794 4492.

Chetham's Annual Piano Festival

Chetham's holds an international Festival and Summer School for advanced Pianists (adults and children) each year. It includes concerts, master classes, lectures, adult workshops, jazz, composition, improvisation, philosophy of pianism, music criticism, intensive one-to-one coaching and duet courses. You can just attend the evening recitals if you wish or go as an observer. Send for a brochure to info@pianosummerschool.com

Benslow Music Trust

Benslow holds short courses in a wide variety of instruments, including piano - such as jazz piano, preparing for grade 5 theory, Kickstart Piano, Refresher Course for Pianists, Jazz Piano of the 1920 and 30s, and much more. These run throughout the year at Little Benslow Hills, Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Herts SG4 9RB. Tel: 01462 459446 or email: info@benslow.org for brochure.