Brass Foundations | Brass Bands England

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Brass Foundations

Two girls and a boy sitting on a curb in front of a flower bed, each holding a cornet

Brass Foundations is Brass Bands England’s flagship youth education programme, which we run year-round, alongside the annual National Youth Brass Band Championships (Youth Champs). To support the programme you can make either a one-off or a monthly donation. If you're looking to get involved with a band yourself, use our Find A Band tool for vacancies or search our Member Directory for your local band.

Brass Foundations is led by a team of Youth Development Brass Specialists who have years of collective experience and skills in performing, teaching and inspiring. They deliver activity in their local areas and further afield with our Music Education Hub, School and Band partners.

 

What is Brass Foundations

Our core aims and objectives of the programme are:

  • To create resources that allow opportunities for a wide range of brass players
  • To support musical youth organisations by supplying support, ideas and resources
  • To deliver innovative educational activity directly to CYP in youth bands and schools
  • To facilitate local youth bands to invigorate their own youth and community programmes
  • To promote the recruitment and coaching of new young brass players and leaders in the locality
  • To promote the recruitment and coaching of new young brass players and leaders in the locality
  • To act as a direct conduit between partner organisations
  • To signpost youth performance and participation opportunities
  • To champion EDI, Youth Voice and Safeguarding in all activities

Anyone can get involved - whether you're a beginner wanting to learn more, a professional looking to improve your teaching, a Hub wanting to improve your brass provision. or a school wanting to feature more music-making. You can join the BBE mailing list to receive updates on Brass Foundations and other BBE initiatives.

What's planned for Brass Foundations 2023 and beyond?

Thanks to funding from Arts Council England, the Brass Foundations programme has continued funding for years to come, which means our team can continue delivering work across the country. It also means we have some new initiatives we’ll be launching throughout this funding period.

  • Free workshops in schools across the country
  • Online training and networking opportunities for brass educators
  • Professional development opportunities for those working in schools to have confidence in their music-making and include it in their teaching
  • Access to tailored advice and support in brass education and youth banding provision
  • Support on partnership development 
  • National Initiatives for you to take part in, including #PromsInThePlayground
  • Brass Foundations online resources library (access only for BBE members)

Enjoying learning or teaching a brass instrument? Join the online conversation with the hashtag #BrassFoundations or follow our Brass Foundations Twitter account.

For more information on the Brass Foundations programme and how to get involved please email BBE’s Education and Development Manager Sarah Baumann on sarah@bbe.org.uk.

Take a look at some Case Studies of our Brass Foundations Projects

 

Support the future of banding

Help a young person fulfil their potential, and play your part in the future of banding by supporting the Brass Foundations programme. You can make a monthly or one-off donation or find out more about leaving a legacy to the programme.

Thanks to our funders

The Brass Foundations programme has been possible thanks to the support of our funders: