SBBA Job details for new Development Manager
Scottish Brass Band Association
Development Manager
This is a challenging role in promoting and developing opportunities for young people in Scotland to participate in brass bands.
SBBA is recognised as one of the most effective brass band development bodies in the world. We have had outstanding success in creating new youth bands and in running events efficiently.
The post requires a good understanding and knowledge of brass bands, as well as experience of working with local authorities and young people.
It will involve managing our 5 part-time regional development officers, and liaison with local bands and schools, Heads of Instrumental Teaching in Scotland (HITS), and local authorities, as well as internally with the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, SBBA Area Associations and member bands.
This post is for an initial period of 15 months.
Written applications detailing relevant experience and a CV should be sent by 31 July to tom.allan@ntlworld.com
For further information, please visit www.SBBA.org.uk .
SCOTTISH BRASS BAND ASSOCIATION
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
1. JOB DESCRIPTION
We are very open to considering new ideas for improving SBBA's operations and for new ways of working, and will welcome the new Development Manager's input into shaping the job within our second 5-year strategic plan, which is in course of preparation.
Our main funding source is the Youth Music Initiative (YMI) so the main focus of our development work is on youth. Though we have plans for expanding the role, currently we see the Development Manager delivering the activities described in the project description (see section 5) by means of :
• Maintaining and strengthening existing partnerships.
• Identifying, discussing, and entering into new partnerships.
• Directing the overall youth development programme.
• Liaising with the 5 Area Associations and supporting them in their local development role.
• Managing, guiding and supporting the work of the Regional Development Officers (see RDO job description below).
• Undertaking some of the responsibilities of the RDO's, where necessary.
• Assisting NYBBS in achieving its strategic goals of reach, accessibility, musical standards, public profile, and collaboration with other groups.
• Improving the public perception of brass bands in Scotland.
• Liaising with Creative Scotland and other funding bodies.
• Liaising with the SBBA Executive Committee and its sub groups regarding updating on progress and ensuring that the membership is kept informed as to events.
• Involvement in SBBA's general developmental activities, events management, operational innovation, etc
The Regional Development Officers will undertake the following activities :
Providing operational liaison between Area Associations and SBBA.
Providing support to the regional Area Associations in their developmental role :
• Establishing relationships with headteachers and instrumental tutors in the schools in their area.
• Organising awareness raising concerts in schools.
• Supporting the formation of new youth bands.
• Organising workshops and masterclasses for young players in their area.
• Assisting existing youth bands to overcome any organisational problems.
• Advising mainstream bands on attracting and assimilating young players.
Assisting NYBBS in organising its regional ensembles and other activities, as required.
2. Line Management and Reporting
Line Management for the Development Manager will be the responsibility of the President. The Development Manager will provide a written report to all Executive meetings, and an end-of-year report to the Annual General Meeting.
3. Remuneration
Within our YMI funding grant, we have available c£32,000 (plus expenses) as employment costs for the Development Manager of our Youth Development Programme. All aspects of the contract will be open to discussion and agreement.
4. Funding
We have been funded by the YMI on a year-by-year basis for the past 5 years, and are currently funded to the end of 2011. We are awaiting a decision on a further funding application to take us to the end of 2012. Given our outstanding record of achievement, and an as yet unmet demand, we have a reasonable expectation of being awarded that funding.
We are finalising a second 5-year strategy and business plan which we will use as the basis of a strong case for long term funding.
5. DESCRIPTION OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
5.1 Summary of project
This project will provide opportunities for young people, starting in primary school and continuing through secondary school and beyond, to play in a brass ensemble and to progressively improve their musical ability. It will enable them to achieve excellence in playing and performance, and will give them a lifelong learning and participation experience in music making.
In order to achieve the purpose of the fund and fulfil its priorities and criteria, we will undertake the following activities.
5.2 Maintain existing and develop new partnerships
We have had an excellent relationship with Heads of Instrumental Teaching in Scotland (HITS) and local authorities over the past 5 years. Despite the problems and shedding of instrumental tutors over the past year, we have managed to avert any possible misunderstandings and clashes about our role. We will continue to maintain and improve our mutual cooperation.
Likewise, our relationship with RSAMD will continue to be important, particularly since many of the NYBBS players will become students there.
This year, we have entered into a groundbreaking partnership with NHS Lanarkshire to set up a youth band in one of the most deprived areas of Scotland. This band has just performed its first public concert (having been formed only in March).
We will be proactive in seeking partnerships with agencies, voluntary bodies, and community organisations, in order to develop youth bands and local infrastructures. In particular, the collaboration with NHS Lanarkshire will be a good selling point for further SBBA/NHS/community ventures all over Scotland, as well as illustrating to other organisations what can be achieved.
5.3 Create new youth bands
Thousands of school pupils receive brass instrumental instruction. Very few have the opportunity participate in regular ensemble playing during their time at school, and even fewer after they leave school. It is widely recognised that ensemble playing enhances a pupil's musical abilities and grades, and has a contributory beneficiary effect on their achievements in other subjects.
In addition, belonging to a band gives young people an opportunity to continue playing after they leave school and to participate in a lifelong learning and artistic experience that will enhance their lives.
We work closely with schools, at the level of Heads of Instrumental Teaching in Scotland (HITS), individual schools, and the instrumental tutors, to build on the tuition given in schools. We undertake advocacy to interest instrumental services and individual schools to enter into a partnership with us in setting up a youth brass band based in the community. With the enthusiastic support of headteachers, we raise awareness among pupils and parents by means of concerts performed by nearby youth bands or NYBBS.
We provide the support to create new youth bands, in the form of organisational advice and training, musical improvement through workshops, and the provision of a small number of instruments and some music (we call this package the "Brass Band Starter Kit").
We provide initial band training by a conductor experienced in working with young people. A previous YMI project trained a number of youth band conductors, and the existing project is training a further group, so that conductors will be available for the new bands being set up.
Depending on local circumstances and needs, new bands will come under the mentoring of an existing community band in the area, or within the control of the local authority, or as a standalone body.
This methodology has proved to be very successful and has enabled us to create 40 new youth bands over a period of 4 years.
Though there are now some 50 youth bands, this is by no means commensurate with the number of pupils receiving brass instrumental instruction. The youth bands currently accommodate about 1,500 players out of a potential 10,000 in schools.
5.4 Developing excellence
As the youth bands become more proficient, we develop excellence by providing workshops and masterclasses delivered by inspirational brass players from Scotland and the rest of the UK. These events are organised by our 5 Area Associations, which are responsible for supporting their member bands in their region.
Most of the youth bands are associated with a mainstream band, which provides mentoring by experienced players and conductors.
When they have reached a suitable standard, young players are encouraged to participate in a mainstream band; this exposure to a higher performance level raises the musical standard of the young players considerably. The bands and their players will provide mentoring of the young players on a continuous basis over an extended period.
Young players are also encouraged to attend the NYBBS summer school, which consists of three components of senior band, reserve band, and children's band, thus being suited to players of all abilities.
5.5 Support to existing bands
It would be unrealistic to assume that the 50+ youth bands will be able to continue without requiring occasional support, such as guidance on how to recruit new players. For some it may mean remedial assistance to ensure that they remain in existence, for example, where the management committee becomes weaker as parents lose interest if their own children leave.
The more youth bands we have, the greater the overall support that will be needed (conversely the greater the number, the easier it will be to create even more, as there will be the effects of role models).
The youth bands that will require the most help will be those that are standalone or those hosted by a local authority or school. Youth bands hosted by a mainstream band are the least likely to require help because they will be constantly monitored and mentored by a band with a stable management committee; they will also offer playing places to young players and ensure recruitment of replacements on a regular basis.
We will therefore undertake the following activities :
Allocate a regional development officer (see 2.1.9 ‘Delivery of the project', below) who will be the main contact point for each youth band.
Regular visits will be made to each youth band by the respective regional development officer to measure progress.
Set up formal helplines, consisting of the contact details of the regional development officers, together with FAQs, etc.
Identify potential problems at an early stage, so that advice and assistance can be given and remedial action taken.
5.6 Assist mainstream bands to assimilate young players
In order that young players are able to improve the standard they are playing at, and to provide them with playing opportunities after they leave school, it is essential that places are made available to them in mainstream bands.
We will assist mainstream bands to assimilate young players by providing advice and support. This will be documented in our proposed training manual (see 2.1.8 below).
5.7 Create new mainstream bands
Shortly, the existing mainstream bands will not have enough capacity to absorb all the young players who wish to advance themselves and also continue playing once they leave school.
The potential capacity is available throughout Scotland. We calculate that 33,000 pupils trained to play a brass instrument have left school over the past 20 years; of that, only some 3,000 have continued to play. So there is a large pool of potential brass players in communities throughout Scotland.
Given that huge reservoir of as yet untapped talent, we consider that a modest investment in development, focussed on the 270 towns with a secondary school (where the majority of ‘dormant' players will be concentrated) but with no brass band, will provide an outstanding return in the form of 8,000 people actively playing music on a regular basis.
Since our regional development officers will be visiting secondary schools on a regular basis to identify and promote potential youth bands, we propose that they also try to get adult players involved as a by-product of that awareness raising work.
5.8 Development of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland (NYBBS)
Over the period of YMI funding, SBBA has been working closely with NYBBS.
We have recently taken over responsibility for NYBBS (which had formerly been under SAMA). In consultation with the Musical Director and Course Director, we have been creating a Development Strategy, building on the band's existing strengths and achieving the following objectives :
Increasing its reach
Increasing its accessibility
Improving musical standards
Increasing the public profile of NYBBS
Collaboration with other groups
Commissioning new music
Establishing international cooperation
We will address this issue by developing a training manual based on our successful experience.
5.9 Delivery of the project
We have been very successful so far by using a single Development Officer working throughout Scotland. Youth brass band development is growing exponentially, and we have now reached the limits, because of geography, scale, and travel, of what can be achieved by that arrangement.
We will have a Development Manager assisted by up to 5 part time Regional Development Officers. The Regional Development Officers will be part time, come from a NYBBS background and have demonstrated good organisational skills. Perhaps they will be at university or RSAMD, but we will seek people from any source who have the ability and the time to work on the project; we have identified a number who would fit our criteria. Some are already doing development work in their own community, and the Development Officer Manager will provide training.
We believe that the combination of central SBBA support, our 5 Area Associations, our 5 Regional Development Officers, and NYBBS with its 5 regional ensembles, will prove to be the most effective mechanism for further increasing access to playing in a band, coupled with a progressive escalator approach to achieving excellence.
Application by 31st July to tom.allan@ntlworld.com
Funded by a grant from Creative Scotland.
SBBA Registered Charity in Scotland No SC033163 
