The Big Brass Playalong

 #TheBigBrassPlayalong is run by husband and wife Cai and Victoria Isfryn. Our aim is to deliver online playalong sessions to early grades brass players from all across the world. The backing tracks are especially arranged or composed, recorded and produced for each session. The playalongs are free and available to all. Our ‘playalong pal’ programme then connects these musicians of similar ages and ability from across the country and encourages them to bond over the common goal of playing brass instruments. We’re exposing musicians to high quality, original brass music whilst encouraging a culture of creativity and curiosity. Our aim is to bring people together through the shared experience of brass.

We're passionate about keeping these sessions free to enable everyone to join us, but if you are in a position to do so we'd be incredibly grateful if you'd consider donating to our project. Your money will go towards the cost of arranging or composing a new piece every month, with individual parts tailored to suit the ability level of each participant. It will go to the musicians who will record each backing track and towards producing and editing the whole track together.

“Thank you SO much for this morning! Our daughter had the biggest smile on her face through it all. And you may have seen our youngest dancing along to the tracks. It was such a pleasure to see Nina have fun with music and to do it with others. She loved it and is looking forward to the next one. Thank you very much!”

“Heidi really enjoyed this morning. Half hour before she actually said she was going to quit the trumpet as it wasn’t fun anymore! Anyway I insisted she gave the play along a go and she was buzzing after!”

“My son attended the BigBrassPlayalong in January and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  The music was differentiated for a range of abilities and was sent out in advance, meaning that players were not having to sight read on the day and could focus on being part of the 'ensemble'.  The session itself was lively and entertaining, with key points in the music explained and the opportunity to have another go and consolidate skills.  The Playalong provided a great opportunity to play as part of a group and we will definitely be attending the next one.”

 Below is a short video of a few of the participants from our first ever playalong for which we had 42 participants. Our February playlong welcomed 62 young musicians and we continue to grow in numbers as we speak.