The term 'community music' refers to any collective music making activity initiated by members of the community. The word 'community' can signify people living within a certain locality, representing a diversity of socio-economic classes. Different cultures, languages and religions may be represented within this group. In practice, most community music groups have memberships that are consistent by their shared concern and performance of music. This paper explores the potential of an inclusive approach to community music to develop both technical and social skills of participating students. The research focuses on case studies of two centres in Portugal and England. Through participation and leadership, the researchers were uniquely placed to examine the social impact of the centres on the lives of current and past members of each centre. Cultural comparisons are made to determine the impact of the inclusive ethos that exists within each group.