*
banner

Advert: Music Tools Direct

Generate some extra income for yourself or your band!

Music tools
 

www.musictoolsdirect.com Offers downloadable exam accompaniment in mp3 format, to students of both the ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall syllabuses. The website launched recently with a catalogue of pieces from both examining bodies.

Register

You or your band can register with musictools direct, as an affiliate, this will generate an affiliate code that is unique to you. Give the code to students studying grade exams and ask them to enter it when purchasing mp3s from the site.

For every download (where applicable) associated with your affiliate code musictools direct will give you 20p!

Many schools, music teachers, brass bands and other organisations have already signed up for their affiliate code and are enjoying the financial benefits of recommending musictools to their studentsmusictoolsdirect

Quick and easy

www.musictoolsdirect.com is a well thought out website, designed to make it easy for users to find exactly what they are looking for quickly and easily. With mp3s organised into instrument, exam board, grade and list, the navigation becomes familiar very quickly.

The brainchild of Steve Walker (pro trumpet player and brass teacher) and Jason Mountford (graphic designer and musician). The website was born when the pair recognised a need for the service.

Steve Walker told 4BR: "As music teachers across the country are aware, it is not always possible to provide peripatetic instrumental music lessons in a dedicated music room with keyboard facilities, we believe that having access to our recordings would be a valuable teaching aid. Teachers with limited keyboard skills are also finding our accompaniments useful."

Valuable resource

Brass students across the country are finding the site to be a valuble resource.

Something that co-creator Jason Mountford has first hand knowledge of – "I started to play trumpet again recently after a break of about sixteen years, starting from the begining I began to practise some early grade pieces, I spoke to Steve about creating some recorded accompaniment for the pieces I was practising."

Jason added: "I found that my playing came on leaps and bounds, not only was I able to practise with piano accompaniment whenever I liked, but I actually felt like I was making real music' a sentiment now shared by many students across the country."

Log on

Many schools, music teachers, brass bands and other organisations have already signed up for their affiliate code and are enjoying the financial benefits of recommending musictools to their students.

Log on to www.musictoolsdirect.com/affiliates to get your code today!

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Swedish

Results: 2025 Swedish National Championships

November 9 • Gota Brass make it eight wins in a row as they secure the Swedish title yet again


Paul Mealor

Mealor provides 12 answers

November 9 • Composer Paul Mealor reveals more about his life, work and future plans — including his latest brass band world premiere.


Webster

Webster passes on expertise to brass band students

November 9 • Roger Webster recently added to the student appeal of studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.


Varley

Varley takes decision to end Grimethorpe tenure

November 9 • Grimethorpe's respected solo horn player Helen Varley has stepped down from playing with the Yorkshire band.


Regent Hall Concerts - Five By 5 Trumpet Ensemble

Friday 14 November • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Contest: 48th Brass in Concert

Saturday 15 November • The Gladhous International Centre for Music, St Mary's Square, Gateshead NE8 2JR


Delph Band - Delph Youth Band

Sunday 16 November • Denshaw Village Hall, . Ripponden Rd, . Denshaw, . Oldham OL3 5SY


Regent Hall Concerts - Trombonanza with Brett Baker and Friends

Saturday 22 November • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Dobcross Silver Band - Dobross Youth Band and Dobcross Brass Monkeys

Saturday 22 November • Civic Hall . Lee Street . Uppermill . Saddleworth OL3 6AE


Audley Brass

November 10 • Audley Brass (First Section National Finalists 2025) are seeking an Eb BASS PLAYER as we work towards our Dickens A Christmas Carol theme concert, the Beartown Brewery Christmas party and the 2026 Area contest.


Tintwistle Band

November 9 • Attention soprano cornet players!. Tintwistle band (famed for the number 1 hit single Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs!) are looking for a soprano cornet player!. We are 2nd section, enjoy all year round concerts/contests, and band social events.


Harlow Brass Band

November 8 • We have vacancies for CORNETS, TROMBONES, 2ND HORN AND PERCUSSION. We are a welcoming, non contesting band who organising their own Spring and Christmas concerts and enjoy playing at local events throughout the year.


Kevin Wadsworth


Conductor, adjudicator, teacher (ABBA)


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd