Music Teacher - The outreach work of Brass Bands England

In supporting schools, communities, partnerships and First Access, Brass Bands England seems the very embodiment of the National Plan for Music Education. MT’s Phil Croydon learns more about the organisation for brass banding and, in particular, their partnerships with schools

Proms in the Playground: Amersham Band at Cherry Tree Primary School in Hertfordshire - © Courtesy Brass Bands England

Brass Bands England (BBE) represents 663 bands, or 523 organisations. Its membership includes town bands, youth bands, the world-famous Black Dyke Band, but also contest organisers and regional band associations. BBE started life as the British Federation of Brass Bands in the 1960s. Since then it has lived up to the Federation’s core value of encouraging bands to engage with communities and other bands.

Today, BBE is perhaps best known for the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, or Youth Champs. But it also runs a year-long course for youth band leaders; workshops as part of an education programme; a national youth brass festival; and a Proms which marries bands with local schools.