Bright Sounds CIC was established in 2021 to promote and develop street band music in Bristol and to provide the opportunity for wind and percussion players, of all ages and abilities, to make music together in a fun, friendly and supportive environment.
Our mission is to share the joy of participatory music making and enrich the lives of players and audiences alike through the uplifting sound of street band music.
The street band model is a more dynamic, fun and less formal approach to music. All tunes are taught by ear (with sheet music and recordings provided to aid practice at home) and our rehearsal sessions are run standing up, which allows more freedom of movement while playing.
We play a variety of bright, uplifting music ranging from well known pop tunes, New Orleans second line tunes and tunes from around the world and can regularly be seen playing out and about at festivals, parades and community events.
The ethos of our organisation and ensembles is centred around community, participation and having fun.
We currently have 2 street band ensembles, one for adults and one for young people age 11-18, who rehearse weekly in South Bristol (BS3). We also hope to be able to offer a junior street band ensemble for children age 7-11 in the future. Our ensembles are open to brass, woodwind and percussion players of a range of playing abilities, from grade 2 upwards. Both ensembles learn the same repertoire so that we are able to perform together as one large band. We regularly perform at local festivals, parades and community events.
In addition to our weekly street band rehearsal sessions we also provide instrumental tuition to young people and adults wanting to learn a new instrument or improve their confidence and ability on an instrument they already play. We are currently able to offer tuition for beginner and intermediate players on the following instruments: saxophone, flute, clarinet, trumpet and trombone. We offer both group and 1 to 1 lessons.
We are also hoping to soon be able to offer whole class street band workshops in Bristol schools for key stage 2 pupils. This would take the form of a 6/7 week programme culminating in an end of term group performance. As well as giving students an overview of street bands and street band music, they would be introduced to the basics of brass playing and drumming and learn a simple street band tune which would be performed to the rest of the school at the end of the term.
Street bands exist all over the world, from Brazil to New Orleans, the Balkans to Delhi and indeed here in the UK and Europe. There are many different forms of street bands such as brass bands, french fanfare bands, activist bands, marching bands and samba bands.
They are usually made up of amateur musicians playing music outdoors, on the move without the need for amplification. Street band music is characterised by the sound of celebration and street bands often play for community events and occasions such as processions, parades, dances and weddings.
We recommend watching this excellent video to learn more about street bands and street band music.
Reasons I love Bright Sounds:
* I get to play joyous, uplifting music with lots of improvisation.
* I play drums for at least 80% of the rehearsal, not sitting round whilst the guitarist's decide on a key etc.
* I get the chance to play with high calibre musicians, complete novices and recently returning musicians in a supportive, non-judgemental environment.
* It makes me smile.