Education

ODBrass

ODBrass is the programme of outreach work in the schools and communities within which the Old Dirty Brasstards perform. This project has allowed countless young musicians the opportunity to perform and learn alongside the band, in side by side rehearsals and concerts as well as instrumental workshops. The group have often been praised for their efforts to make learning a fun environment through using new concepts and creative learning processes.

Learning an instrument enhances and develops the essential skills needed to produce independent and hardworking individuals ready to face the world of work with the finest attributes that any future employer seeks. They take great pride in watching young musicians be inspired by their playing, improving their creative thinking and communication skills alongside the technical and musical aspects of their instruments.

The ten strong ensemble hail from all across the UK, each finding their own path into a musical career and are extremely passionate about ensuring that young musicians today are given the same opportunities as they were afforded. Having worked as animateurs and instrumentalists for education projects ranging from the National Orchestra for All, BBC Proms, London Philharmonic Orchestra, LSO Discovery and numerous others, ODBs’ unique brand of relatable arrangements ranging from Taylor Swift to the Arctic Monkeys gives the young musicians the chance to break the traditional musical ensemble mould and be a rockstar on their instruments for a day.

The belief that everyone should have the opportunity at an early age to be inspired by the sound of brass, and that even the most disaffected or disadvantaged child can be excited enough by a wonderful piece of music to give voice to their own ideas is one that motivates the group in their quest to bring ‘drum and brass’ to the next generation of musicians.