On Saturday 16th November 2019, 100 brass pupils from Bedlington and Ashington schools travelled to Sage Gateshead for workshops and performances at the annual Brass in Concert event.  Pupils from Meadowdale and St Benet Biscop Academies took part in a rehearsal and performed on the concourse before joining the six primary schools in an enthusiastic and rousing performance on the stage in Sage One. 

They then watched some of the innovative and entertaining performances by the Brass Bands who were taking part in the Youth competition.  It was an inspiring day for all who took part and a proud day for the many parents who came to watch their children perform at Sage Gateshead.

Quotes from students involved:

"I feel as if my self belief has gained a lot throughout the project, being in the band I have met new people who had faith in me and helped me when I needed it."  

"I love playing my cornet - It makes me feel peaceful. Music really helps me because it lets me know I can be successful in something!"

If you would like to know more about the project, please contact: Fiona.Johnstone@northumberland.gov.uk

“Brass is Back”

Following the success of the 'Bedlington to Ashington Building Brass' initiative, we are delighted to announce that Youth Music have agreed to support our ongoing brass band regeneration project once again!
  
Over the last three years, we have worked closely with primary schools to create 'mini brass bands' who meet at lunchtime, or after school. These mini brass bands have provided a progression route from their whole class project brass tuition. 

This new round of funding will see the project expand into Bedlington, Ashington, and St Benet Biscop Academies. Our current project at Meadowdale Academy will also be expanded. Students will have the opportunity to progress and experience different instruments such as baritone, trombone and tenor horns.

Our outcomes built into the project are as follows:

• The creation of school mini bands will give students the opportunity to increase their musical ability and technical skills.
• To raise students aspirations to be involved and continue to be involved in music.
• Improved group cohesion and mutual respect amongst the students throughout the project.

 Find out more:

• 'Brass is Back'
• Youth Music

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"Why being involved in Brass is Back is increasing my musical opportunities"

    

Culture Bridge North East (CBNE) has commissioned Music Partnership North (Northumberland) to explore Northumberland schools’ barriers to cultural engagement and help develop a plan for CBNE’s strategic work with schools in North Northumberland in 2021.

This targeted work in North Northumberland is being supported by funding from the Department for Education which aims to develop an improved and more coherent local cultural education offer for children, young people and schools, particularly schools in areas with high proportions of disadvantaged pupils.

This consultancy aims to: 

• Increase the capacity of CBNE in North Northumberland; 
• Undertake research to understand if, how and why schools are engaging with culture and the arts, and if they are not, to understand the barriers facing these schools and how these might be overcome;    
• Develop a plan for locally-delivered programmes to run alongside CBNE’s regional Creative Classrooms, Cultural Leadership in Education, Arts Award and Artsmark programmes.   
• Visit their website here https://culturebridgenortheast.org.uk/