Objectives: To investigate the importance of practice rooms and containers being available in schools and accessible outside lesson time as free creative spaces for students to explore and engage with music. Background, context and theoretical framework: I taught in the UK for 18 years where secondary schools typically have practice rooms which are used for group work during curriculum lessons and open to students outside lesson time. I moved to Denmark in 2017 where schools typically have one music classroom but no practice rooms. The lack of practice rooms limits the variety of teaching styles making it very teacher-led. To change this, I created some make-shift practice rooms in a couple of Danish schools in 2018 which inspired a few schools to build practice rooms in 2021-2023. In 2021 the Danish Cultural Ministry made available a pool of money entitled ‘Seize the Engagement’. Music services could apply for funding for projects to increase children’s access to and engagement in cultural activities. Two music services applied to purchase eight containers which were placed at two schools and filled with acoustic and electric instruments. Research questions: • Will the free access attract students who don’t normally play or sing in their free time? • Will some age groups make more use of the facilities than others? • What kind of musical activity will the children engage in? • Will the students use the rooms on their own or together with others? • Why do students choose to use the rooms? • What benefits do headteachers see in practice rooms and creative containers? Method/approach/modes of inquiry: • Video interviews with students and headteachers on their opinions on the benefits of practice rooms and creative containers • Log books in each container for students to record their usage • Observations by teachers Results and relation to conference theme: • The students engage in playing, singing, composition and songwriting. • The free access is embracing inclusivity and building bridges for all to reach music. • Students enjoy working in groups and learn to collaborate harmoniously through listening to and helping each other. • Some students like to use the spaces on their own as it makes them relax or helps improve their mood on a bad day Conclusions and implications for music education: When building or refurbishing a school’s music facilities, make sure to incorporate practice rooms or creative containers to facilitate group and independent learning and free access to musical facilities outside lesson time for all students.