A Partnership Model for Music Education and Progression: Insights from Cumbria’s Brass Band Network Meeting held on Saturday 16th November 2024
Guest speaker Phil Goodwin – RNCM Support for Brass Music Culture in Cumbria
We opened the meeting by welcoming guest speaker Phil Goodwin. Phil is leading the Royal Northern College of Music’s Engage Project on the West Coast of Cumbria and is keen to support brass bands in the area.
The Engage project is funded by the legacy of bandsman Benny Walker, who wanted to support music-making for youngsters living on Cumbria’s West Coast.
Phil identified three elements in his plans; schools, local bands and educational community music activities emphasising the role that brass bands can and do play in today’s music education landscape.
Phil invited participants to share their thoughts and ideas on how to support local music initiatives, encouraging open communication and collaboration.
This led to our discussion of audiences
Audiences for bands are a mix of people including our players and those who hear bands. Our conversation focussed on engaging with new audiences.
We discussed the challenges of engaging children in music activities and the barriers they face. They have a long way to travel in Cumbria to take part in hub activities. There is competition from other activities and there is the need to engage families.
Triangular partnerships fill gaps in music provision
Drum and Brass’s Brass of the Saff and similar initiatives up and down the UK have shown that partnerships between schools, brass bands and training bands can achieve long term successful outcomes for young people, for communities and for the music sector. Putting music-making at the heart of the community opens up multiple pathways for young players.
Overcoming the barriers of cost, travel distance and elitism, brass bands are meeting the need for inclusive, accessible music provision.
And partnerships are the way forward. We talked about our tasters in schools where children showed their excitement in playing instruments, the training bands that have the rare skills to teach instrumental playing and the established brass bands that are securing their present and shaping their future by supporting player progression.
In Carlisle, Ian Simkins and his school teach brass to multiple year groups. Ian has supported the development of a local training band for the children he teaches, providing them with opportunities to continue their musical journey.
He pinpointed the potential for local bands to work with training bands to create essential musical opportunities and multiple progression pathways. Leading jazz, ska and orchestral brass players have gained their skills in brass bands.
Kirkby Stephen Silver Band and Drum and Brass
The Kirkby Stephen Silver Band has been working with Drum and Brass for two years, piloting a partnership in which KSSB provides instruments and premises for
D+B’s two training bands, which get players ready to join the main band. This is an example of a successful partnership which has brought 15 new players to the band. The band did not have capacity to do this work so has benefited from the partnership.
Ian then highlighted the need for support from schools and families. We discussed the number of children who attend concerts, or take part in tasters in schools and who love the experience but rarely appear in the bandroom as a result.
Julie Hoggarth talked about the difference made when school teachers bring their students to the bandroom, as is being trialed in Tebay. This enables children to feel safe and engaged. There are currently 18 young people attending weekly band sessions in Tebay, in this trial partnership with the local school.
Getting families on board
Nigel talked about how parents enjoyed seeing their young people taking part in the local Remembrance Service. They started to “get”what the training band does.
Remembrance services, closely followed by Christmas, are opportunities for bands to connect with their audiences and invite communities to learn or volunteer with the band. If families feel they know the band, they are more likely to get involved.
It’s not X-Factor
This led to discussion about further community events. Chris Kirvan mentioned an upcoming visit of the local training band to the Cubs. This partnership has been successful for recruitment in the past but does benefit from a reciprocal visit from the cubs to the bandroom. It is useful to remember Dr Anita Collins who says that 8/10 adults have not had musical experiences in their childhoods, and so a bandroom is a huge ‘unknown’ for many families, and music teachers. Media shows like the Piano or X Factor elevate the “musical prodigy” and effectively raise the barriers to music-making further in the minds of many people.
Community engagement
Music making in the community is accessible and affordable. Nigel Orchard pointed out that brass bands are the only type of musicians that can perform outdoors in various weather conditions, making them ideal for community events and educational outreach. Phil emphasised making good links with the local community, to ensure that the band is the first port of call for community events.
These ideas for audience development play to the strengths of brass bands. Their community links and local membership are ideal gateways to music-making for young people.
Julie Hoggarth acknowledged the value of receiving outside perspectives and new ideas, as well as confirming existing concerns, indicating a need for ongoing dialogue and feedback.
Anyone wishing to contact us about setting up partnerships should email julie@drumandbrass.co.uk
Bands and schools on the West Coast wishing to participate in the Engage program should contact …