Gloucestershire Brass Band Association
GBBA Training Bands
Making music in a brass band really is an amazing feeling. The GBBA is committed to encouraging people to experience this wonderful lifestyle (let's face it, it's more than just a hobby!).
There are many opportunities for people new or returning to brass banding to learn in brass ensembles in Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas.
Listed below are the training initiatives from our member bands:
City of Bristol Learner Band
The City of Bristol Band was formed in 1936 and has a proud history performing at many venues across the width and breadth of the UK. The City of Bristol Band is located in North Bristol and currently have over 30 members across its Senior Band and Learner Band. The band's main objectives are to perform for the pleasure of band members and public alike and its committee firmly believe that it has the determination and talent to succeed. With its Youth Band bringing on new talent, the band can see brass banding in Bristol lasting for some time to come.
Email: secretary@cobbb.onmicrosoft.com
Emma Davies (Contest Secretary)
Cam Learners Band
Formed in 2017, the Cam Learners Band is here to start players off on brass and nurture developing talent. We will provide you with tuition and an instrument - we just ask for enthusiasm for making music. Anyone is welcome: we teach beginners from scratch as well as more experienced players and players having lessons elsewhere. Rehearsals are on a Monday in Lower Cam, between 6 and 8pm depending on ability.
Cam Learners Band is part of Cotswold Edge Brass Festival which runs events open to all, with the aim to inspire, develop and connect brass musicians in our area. We work with and support various local brass bands and brass ensembles and have extensive links with music colleges and professional orchestras around the UK.
Contact: bruce.c.davies@gmail.com
Facebook: @CamCotswoldEdgeBrass
Chalford Youth Band
The future of Chalford Band is well assured because we have a full complement of enthusiastic youngsters in Chalford Youth Band. They have won a silver medal in the National Youth Brass Band Championships two years in a row. In 2006 Chalford Youth were runners-up in their section of the National Championships. Players of all ages are drawn from a wide area of the Stroud district.
Bev Godwin
Email: bevandgod@tesco.net
Cheltenham Silver Training Band
Cheltenham Silver Training Band has been running for many years and has successfully coached dozens of players both young and old. The band practises at The National Star College, Leckhampton, Cheltenham on Fridays from 6.30 to 7.30pm.
Whether you are 6 or 60, Colin Forster and Rob Folland, our Training Band MDs, will help you develop your playing skills, from your first note right through to joining the senior band. Membership of the Training Band is free for children and instruments can be provided too. If you are keen to learn in a relaxed and friendly environment please contact us.
Colin Forster
Tel: (01242) 243 203
Email: trombonecolin@gmail.com
Cinderford Academy
The Cinderford Academy Band has roughly 20 members from across the Forest of Dean and we are always looking to recruit new members into our organisation. The band provides free tuition and instruments to all Academy members with the goal of helping them to develop and improve their musical and social skills in a very safe environment.
The band rehearses at Foxes Bridge Day Centre, Cinderford, on a Wednesday evening from 6.45pm - 7.45pm.
Clive Lewis (MD)
Tel: (01594) 843 966
Email: ruth.davies48@btinternet.com
Cirencester Training Band
Cirencester Training Band meets in Bingham House, Dyer Street, Cirencester on Friday evenings from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. It is open to beginners/learners of all ages.
Margaret Hartnell
Tel: (01285) 656 662
Forest of Dean Brass Training Band
Forest of Dean Brass Training Band launched in September 2017 and welcomes new players to all sections. We meet weekly on a Tuesday evening and each session is prepared by fully qualified teachers and delivered by our teachers and senior members of the Forest of Dean Brass Band (1st section).
FODB Training band can cater for everyone, irrespective of age or ability. It doesn't matter if you have never played before as we have a "new starter" session from 6.30pm so come along and we will teach you right from the very start. If you are a little more advanced you may prefer our "developing players" session which takes place from 7.15pm. We can supply instruments so don't worry if you don't have one We even have plastic instruments for our very young players.
You can find FODB Training Band in action on Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm to 7.50pm at our bandroom on Stag Hill, Yorkley, Glos, GL15 4TD.
Please give us a call on 07990 542614 or visit the website to find out more. Alternatively, just pop along on a Tuesday evening. They'd love to meet you!
Hayley Marangon
Tel: 01594 564 865
Gloucester Excelsior Sparks
Gloucester Excelsior Sparks runs two training groups and both meet on a Friday evening from 5.45pm to 6.45pm at St John’s Church Hall, Churchdown.
For the beginners group players may be any age from 7 upwards and do not need any musical knowledge. Everyone is initially taught to play a cornet and then later will be given the opportunity to change to any other brass instrument of their choice.
The main training band is available for anybody who has reached grade 1 standard. The emphasis is on enjoying learning and having fun while playing as part of a group.
Rehearsals run during term time only and the charge is £2.50 per rehearsal for the first family member and just £1.25 for subsequent family members. Instruments are provided on loan free of charge.
If you are interested or if you would like to visit one of our rehearsals please contact us either via our website or as detailed below.
Jen Prior
Tel: 01242 582 329
Email: jen@prior-chelt.co.uk
Gloucestershire Youth Brass Band (GYBB)
Gloucestershire Youth Brass Band (GYBB) is a Gloucestershire Music county level ensemble drawn from some of the best young players in Gloucestershire. The band has represented the county at national competitions and worked with some of the finest brass players in the world, including Wynton Marsalis. GYBB has been revived after a few years and, with support from GM and GBBA, has recently hosted very successful music weekends with guest conductors and tutors including Philip Harper and Alan Fernie. Details of GYBB's events are posted on the GBBA website as well as on Gloucestershire Music's 'Got a gig' page.
For more information about GYBB, please contact Karin Lythell
Lydbrook Training Band
One of Lydbrook's success stories in recent times has been the formation of its Training Band. The Training Band consists of about 25 players ranging in age from 7 to 70. All players are welcome. Lydbrook Training Band offers tuition and instrument hire for only £1 a week.
The Lydbrook Training Band meets on Monday evenings from 6.30pm. - 8pm. in Lydbrook Band Room.
Robert Morgan (Secretary)
Tel: 01594 860 944 or 0779 644 2463
Email: robertmorgan4@hotmail.co.uk
Address: Cheristow, Stowfield, Lower Lydbrook Glos. GL17 9PD
Lydney Training Band & Lydney Starter Band
The Lydney Training Band was launched in 2005 to teach adults and children how to play brass and percussion. It has over 30 junior members and performs at fundraising, charity and local events all through the year. The Band plays a wide range of music, such as traditional brass, jazz, pop, film music and our own arrangements to suit all tastes. The high standard of the training band enables it to play more challenging music as well as simpler music for the newer members.
Due to the success of membership a Starter Band was formed. They do a number of local jobs throughout the year.
We have a structured approach to tuition and music grades are taught by a qualified music teacher. The conductor, Kevin Ford, has over 45 years experience in top banding. It is a recipe for success. The organisation charge £1 a week subs for tuition and instrument hire, and rehearse on Mondays, 6.30pm - 7.30pm, Swan Road, Lydney, Glos. GL15 5RU.
Kerry Ford, B Mus IPD (Secretary & Youth Development Officer)
Tel: (01594) 530 886 or 07554 540 469
Email: kfordfamily@btinternet.com
Address: Westwood, Sandy Lane, Hewelsfield, Nr Lydney, Glos. GL15 6UX
Monmouth Training Band
Monmouth Town Band holds an informal rehearsal on Monday evenings that welcomes those who are new or returning to brass banding to gain confidence and polish their playing skills prior to joining the main band. Through the band's links to other local bands, Monmouth Town Band may be able to help beginners learn to play a brass instrument by providing an instrument free of charge.
Please see the band's website for further details of Monmouth Training Band's informal Monday rehearsal and contacts.
Nailsworth Silver Training
The Nailsworth Silver Band Training Band meets each Monday term time evening. We welcome all players from their very first blow and we develop them to the standard where they can join the main band. We have two groups, Beginners and Advanced. The Advanced group regularly plays in public and is well received.
The Training band is not restricted by age and we welcome mature players, either blowing for the first time, returning after a break or now retired and still wishing to blow.
Alan Nott (Chairman)
Email: nottykie@hotmail.co.uk
Telephone: 07966 143 451
Address: (The Band Room) Brewery House, Brewery Lane, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, GL6 0JQ
Parkend Training Band
Parkend Silver Band is a small non-registered non-contesting band. Parkend Silver like to encourage new players to the band, where they will be taught the rudiments of brass band playing. Parkend Silver Band rehearse on Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 8.30pm at the Parkend Memorial Hall, and have a large selection of instruments to choose from.
Sharon Thomas (Secretary)
Phoenix Brass Training Band
Phoenix Brass is committed to giving players of any age or ability the chance to perform and will supply instruments, group tuition and ongoing support to anyone interested in learning. The Band has trainee members of ages 7 to 60+, with members either reigniting an old hobby or learning from scratch. There is always something for everyone to get involved in and to suit most tastes. Many of the tutors are are 'home grown' from the training band themselves, and so their understanding and empathy enables them to draw out the love of music and the ability to read and play, from even the most nervous trainee. Training Band members are encouraged to perform at two or three small concerts a year. More experienced trainees may join the Main Band at rehearsal too.
The Training Band meet each Saturday in the Froxfield War Memorial Hall. Currently, Training Band is split into two sessions, the Beginners Group from 9.45am until 10.30am and the Advanced Group from 10.45am until 12 noon. Membership is just £1 for children and £2 for adults with tutor sessions free of charge and instruments provided on loan.
Marilyn Mason
Tel: 01672 512 634
Email: marilynmason1@yahoo.co.uk
Ross-on-Wye Town Beginners & Improvers
The training band provides a safe relaxed and friendly environment for beginners and improvers to play brass music and develop the skills needed to become part of the team that is a brass band. Instruments are available, free, for band members and 1 to 1 tuition can be
arranged. The training band meets at 6pm on Friday evenings at the Larruperz Centre, Grammar School Close, Ross on Wye, HR9 7QD.
Rob Mason
Email: rfmason@btinternet.com
Tewkesbury Town Training Band
Tewkesbury Town Band provides the opportunity for anyone to learn a brass instrument and enjoy making music as part of a brass band in the Tewkesbury Town Training Band. The Training Band consists of two bands providing players with the opportunity to join a band from the moment they start to learn if they wish, as well as providing lessons where possible. The Training Band enjoys performing at many concerts throughout the year, including their own Cabaret Concert, Summer Camping Tour and Christmas Concert.
Beginner Band: Sundays 5pm - 5:30pm
Intermediate Band: Fridays 7:20pm - 8:30pm and Sundays 5:40pm - 6:40pm
Both bands rehearse at the bandroom in Saffron Road, Tewkesbury.
Helen Walters
Tel: (01684) 291 675
Email: melbomusic@hotmail.co.uk
Wotton Training & Learner Band
Wotton and District Training Band was formed several years ago to develop and improve inexperienced musicians to a standard where they are able to join the main band. The training band welcomes players of all ages and abilities, and rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm to 7:30pm off the Old Town (chapel school rooms) in Wotton-under-edge. Wotton Band are pleased to introduce the Learner Band, which rehearses on Mondays from 4:30pm to 5:45pm.
Marcus Dunstan (General Secretary)
Tel: +447970636280
Email: amdunstan@btinternet.com