Online survey request before launch of School of Brass learning platform

A former member of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland and now music educator is planning to launch an online learning platform for brass instrumentalists – but he needs your help first!

Tamir Karp started playing brass in Jedburgh and went on to become a member of Bon-Accord Silver Band in Aberdeen.

His School of Brass proposal involves filmed lessons from top-seat players, structured courses from beginner upwards, a searchable technique library, all built for the mobile phone so players can work on their playing properly between rehearsals.

“The venture would be for players at every level – whether their band contests or not – and every musician who teaches on it is paid through a share of subscription revenue.” he said.

“I have applied to Arts Council England's National Lottery Project Grants to fund the build and recording programme, with a free beta for 50 to 100 players before public launch.

“Foden's are lined up for the first filmed band session, and the concept has had input from Paul Mealor and Iwan Fox at 4barsrest. Although the funding application is to ACE, the platform is UK-wide from day one, and I specifically want Scottish Borders bands, where my own playing started, among the beta testers.”

Tamir is seeking the banding world's honest views through a two-minute survey to help to shape the project to users’ needs – and he would like Scottish instrumentalists to complete an online questionnaire as part of the process.

He added: “After ten years teaching music, School of Brass is my way of giving back to the tradition that made me, and Scottish banding is where it started for me. Players from Jedforest Instrumental and Unite Scotland Kinneil are already among the survey respondents.”