*
banner

Advert: Music Tools Direct

Generate some extra income for yourself or your band!

Music tools
 

www.musictoolsdirect.com Offers downloadable exam accompaniment in mp3 format, to students of both the ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall syllabuses. The website launched recently with a catalogue of pieces from both examining bodies.

Register

You or your band can register with musictools direct, as an affiliate, this will generate an affiliate code that is unique to you. Give the code to students studying grade exams and ask them to enter it when purchasing mp3s from the site.

For every download (where applicable) associated with your affiliate code musictools direct will give you 20p!

Many schools, music teachers, brass bands and other organisations have already signed up for their affiliate code and are enjoying the financial benefits of recommending musictools to their studentsmusictoolsdirect

Quick and easy

www.musictoolsdirect.com is a well thought out website, designed to make it easy for users to find exactly what they are looking for quickly and easily. With mp3s organised into instrument, exam board, grade and list, the navigation becomes familiar very quickly.

The brainchild of Steve Walker (pro trumpet player and brass teacher) and Jason Mountford (graphic designer and musician). The website was born when the pair recognised a need for the service.

Steve Walker told 4BR: "As music teachers across the country are aware, it is not always possible to provide peripatetic instrumental music lessons in a dedicated music room with keyboard facilities, we believe that having access to our recordings would be a valuable teaching aid. Teachers with limited keyboard skills are also finding our accompaniments useful."

Valuable resource

Brass students across the country are finding the site to be a valuble resource.

Something that co-creator Jason Mountford has first hand knowledge of – "I started to play trumpet again recently after a break of about sixteen years, starting from the begining I began to practise some early grade pieces, I spoke to Steve about creating some recorded accompaniment for the pieces I was practising."

Jason added: "I found that my playing came on leaps and bounds, not only was I able to practise with piano accompaniment whenever I liked, but I actually felt like I was making real music' a sentiment now shared by many students across the country."

Log on

Many schools, music teachers, brass bands and other organisations have already signed up for their affiliate code and are enjoying the financial benefits of recommending musictools to their students.

Log on to www.musictoolsdirect.com/affiliates to get your code today!

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Gray

Tributes for Gray as conductor announces Eccles departure

March 31 • Thanks and best wishes as 16 year partnership between Mareika Gray and Eccles Borough comes to an end.


Brass Band Week

Banding campaigns return this summer

March 31 • Brass Band Week and Proms in the Park return this Summer — so make sure you reach out and connect with your local communities.


gALASHILS

Report & Results: 2026 SBBA Solo & Ensemble Championships

March 31 • There was a fantastic day of competitive solo and ensemble action to enjoy at Bellshill Salvation Army Centre.


BBW

March Edition of Brass Band World magazine out now

March 31 • The latest edition of the leading brass band magazine is now out — packed with interviews, articles, reviews and news...


The Hepworth Band - Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra

Saturday 18 April • Huddersfield Town Hall HD1 2TA


Regent Brass - Woodbridge Excelsior Band and Russell Gray

Saturday 9 May • The Salvation Army (Regent Hall), Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ


Contest: Whit Friday March Contests

Friday 29 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3


The Hepworth Band - Brassband Burgermusik Luzern

Saturday 30 May • Dewsbury Minster, Vicarage Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 8DD


Regent Brass - Living Lines

Sunday 5 July • St Saviour's, Pimlico, St.George's Square, Pimlico, London SW1V 3QW


Thornton Cleveleys Band

March 31 • MD VACANCY. Are you the missing piece to our FULL BAND?. We are a NW 3rd section band looking for our new MD. We are based just outside of Blackpool close to the M55 motorway. Mon+Thurs rehearsals.


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 29 • BBb BASS player required following our 4th place at the North West regionals. We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester and we rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Mossley.


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 29 • SOLO CORNET players required (position negotiable) following our 4th place at the North West regionals. We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester and we rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Mossley.


Prof. Christopher Houlding

MMus, GGSM, LRAM
Conductor, Performer, Educator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd