Stannington Brass Band is keen to encourage beginners and improving players to develop their musical ability as members of their training band. The training band has also recently enjoyed the addition of some new members who have been tempted to pick up a brass instrument again having not played for some time. The training band tries to accommodate players of all abilities within the band by helping those who are true beginners with more focused tuition in smaller groups, and encouraging the more advanced players with more challenging parts and also participation in the senior band's rehearsals.

Members of the senior band are actively involved in helping and encouraging the training band by getting involved with some of the small group tuition sessions and also by sitting in on the training band rehearsals helping the players follow the music, and once a month the senior band joins the training band's rehearsal to give them the experience of playing their music within a full band setting.

The training band's conductors are also members of the senior band. Becky Ball (cornet) and Tim Parris (percussion) started conducting the training band in January 2011, further encouraging the link between the training and senior bands.

So far the training band has produced 3 players who have made the transition from the training band to the senior band on a full time basis and we hope to have many more in the future.

Formed in 1997, the training band has been an important part of helping Stannington Brass Band to connect with people in the local community by giving them a chance to experience playing in a brass band regardless of age, experience or ability.

Brass players of all ages and abilities are welcome to come along to the weekly rehearsals which are held from 18.00 - 19.15 every Sunday at Stannington Methodist Church (Knowle Top) School Room, Stannington Road, S6 6BJ. Please see the Useful Contacts page for map.

Tuition is provided free of charge by the senior members of the band although there is a small fee to cover the cost of the rehearsal room and there are some instruments available for anyone who does not have access to their own.

The training band has the opportunity to perform along with the senior band at several of their regular concerts throughout the year at the Lomas Hall, Stannington, as well as actively seeking our own engagements.

Anyone interested in joining should contact Lorraine Dyson 0114 2332821 or email the band at StanningtonBrassBand@btinternet.com