Welcome To The Bedford Town Brass Band Website
New and visiting players are always welcome.
Bedford Town Progress Brass
Progress Brass is for those either fairly new to playing a brass instrument, or those returning to playing after a break. It provides a friendly and safe environment, enabling members to enjoy ensemble playing in a Brass Band setting. Our repertoire ranges from well arranged, but fairly ‘simple’ music, through to pieces which cater for both personal musical development and that of playing as part of a larger group.
Progress Brass rehearse in the Primary Hall, Newnham Middle School, Polhill Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9DT on a Wednesday between 6pm and 7.30pm.
The band is conducted by Peter Berrington.
Bedford Town Brass Academy
All tuition for the Brass Academy is free of charge and takes place during school term times in the Primary Hall, Newnham Middle School, Polhill Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9DT between 5 and 7.30pm on a Tuesday and Thursday.
A charge of £15:00 per term is made for the provision of an instrument.
The Academy Musical Director, Mr Craig Patterson, delivers all tuition and is working towards the forming of at least one full Academy Brass Band. Craig is a professional trumpet player and highly regarded brass teacher and is also the Musical Director of Bedford Town Band.
Bedford Town Wellbeing Brass
Bedford Town Band are very excited to have partnered with the Bedfordshire and Luton Recovery College to offer free adult brass lessons in our new Wellbeing Brass group.
The Bedfordshire and Luton Recovery College is part of the Bedfordshire Mental Health Academy, which is a formal partnership with ELFT (East London NHS Foundation Trust) and the University of Bedfordshire.
The college is open to any adults who live or work in Bedfordshire and Luton. Their courses and workshops focus on mental health wellbeing and recovery.
The Wellbeing Brass lessons are aimed towards people with lived experience of mental ill-health, their family, friends or carers. We are keen to work with anyone who has the enthusiasm for learning music and to use music to help enhance their mental wellbeing.
Thanks to a grant from the Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, Bedford Town Band are able to offer group brass lessons completely free of charge. We will provide all tuition, loan of instruments and music. No prior musical knowledge or experience is required. All we ask of you is your time and your willingness to give it a try!
The Wellbeing Brass lessons run on a Monday evening during term school term from 6:15 – 7:15pm. We meet at the Band rehearsal venue, which is in the Primary Hall, Newnham Middle School, Polhill Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9DT.
You do not have to be a current or past user of mental health services within Bedfordshire, but we do ask that you register with the Recovery College to book your place. You can call the Recovery College on 01234 263621, email at [email protected], or find more information online at https://www.elft.nhs.uk/services/bedfordshire-and-luton-recovery-college.
Bedford Town Mature Learner Brass
The older ‘beginners’ meet at various times during the week and come from backgrounds ranging from those with some musical knowledge, having played non-brass instruments, to those starting from scratch.
Many have decided to play as a result of their children joining the Brass Academy and others through personal contact. The main group meets in the Primary Hall, Newnham Middle School, Polhill Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9DT on a Tuesday between 6pm and 7.30pm, but we are also able to offer one to one sessions at other times by arrangement.