*
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    


Winter Gardens, Blackpool

Results: 2025 North West Regional Championshipships

February 23 • It's 9 Caret golden wins on the trot from Foden's whilst victories go to Tyldesley, Middleton, Doncross and Darwen Brass at the Winter Gardens.


Test Pieces

4BR Area coverage

February 22 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox has confirmed a different approach to coverage of the Regional Championship events.


Blackpool

North West Area line-ups

February 21 • The bands will put their final preparations in place ahead of their performances in Blackpool on Sunday.


John Wallace

Wallace presented with SBBA Outstanding Achievement Award

February 21 • John Wallace CBE has been presented with the 'Outstanding Achievement Award' by the Scottish Brass Band Association.


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal College of Music Sackbut Ensemble

Friday 21 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Welsh Guards

Friday 21 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Midlands Championships Preview Evening

Sunday 23 February • Summit Centre . Kirkby in Ashfield . Nottinghamshire NG17 7LL


Contest: North West Regional Championships

Sunday 23 February • Winter Gardens Complex, Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HU


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 28 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Reading Spring Gardens Brass Band

February 20 • Reading Band still needs LOWER BRASS for the 4th section contest at Stevenage on Saturday 15th March! Rehearsals in Woodley (RG5) on Thursday evenings.


Boarshurst Silver Band

February 17 • Boarshurst Silver Band, NW Championship Section, requires a BBb player, flugel, and front row cornet player. Under MD Jamie Prophet, the band have an ambitious and varied calendar for 2025, including NW Area, Spring Festival and Whit Friday.


Mid Rhondda Band

February 14 • Mid Rhondda Band are looking for the following players : Front Row Cornet, Solo Trombone, Eb Bass, Kit and Tuned Percussionists. The band will be competing in the 3rd Section at the Welsh Area. Contest & concert engagements in the diary for 2025


Jonathan Corry

Ph.D, M.Mus, B.Mus (hons)
Conductor, adjudicator, teacher.


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd