The latest news from SIPS Music & Arts
Find out more by reading the stories below:
Band Together – Spring 2024
Band Together have continued rehearsing this term and are sounding superb! Here's three of the bands performing; Louie Louie by the Kingsmen. Performed by Charlie, Jessica, Joshua & Ollie Breed by Nirvana. Performed by Jaiden, Liam, Niamh & Josh Fluorescent...
Trumpeter Terry takes grade 4!
Back in April 2023 86 year old Terry took grade 3 Trumpet passing with flying colours. Since then he has continued attending regular lessons with retired SIPS member of staff Wendy and along with committed home practice has now taken and successfully passed Trinity...
SIPS Gig Night
On Tuesday 12th December families and friends were treated to live performances from SIPS’ rock bands at Splinter Studios. Bands performing ages ranged from 10 to 18. Students played drums, keys, guitars, bass and lead the vocals. Music styles ranged from Rock and...
December Delights
Thursday 7th December 2023 was the Second of two concerts at Halesowen Town Hall, ‘December Delights’. All groups once again were playing super! Some of the music featured was Jingle Bells, In the Bleak Midwinter, Once upon a December, Susato's Dance, Little Donkey...
Countdown to Christmas
Wednesday 6th December 2023 saw the first of two concerts at Halesowen Town Hall, ‘Countdown to Christmas’. All groups were full of energy playing in fine form! Some of the music featured was Christmas Joy, We Three Kings, Diamond, Doctor Who, Pulsar, Rudolph the Red...
New Tabla group in Sandwell
This half term has seen the introduction of our new Tabla Group! Lead by Mr Singh-Rattan, the group meets weekly in West Bromwich and is already making great progress! The group is free and open to all Sandwell pupils and students to attend. If you are interested in...
IGNITE perform at Hawthorns
On Friday 6th October IGNITE band performed at The Hawthorns Football ground for an awards ceremony with 250 guests. IGNITE is a band made of students in Sandwell Schools who are mostly linked to The Virtual School programme who support Children In Care. The Virtual...
What Does Music Mean to you?
SIPS & SHAPE art project 2023. Our students have worked with The Sandwell Cultural Education Partnership (SHAPE Summer Festival) team to create a multimedia performance mixing music and art. The artwork below has all been created from the prompt "What does music...
Jazz Legacy visits Q3 Great Barr
Tuesday 17th of July 2023 (Article by Jonathan Dixon) On Monday, in partnership with SIPS Music & Arts, Q3 Academy Great Barr welcomed University Band ‘Jazz Legacy’ from Brigham Young University, Utah in the United States during their visit of the UK during the...
Year 6-7 Changeover Event
On Tuesday the 11th of July, SIPS Music and Arts held our first year Six to Seven changeover event, aimed at children who are moving to secondary school in September. (Article by Mr Beer)Once all the attendees had arrived, we began by meeting, greeting and finding out...
Rockin’ time at Splinter
Rock band experience at Splinter Studios for pupils at two Wednesbury Primary schools. Tuesday 11th July 2023 On Tuesday 11th July St John’s C of E Primary Academy and Holyhead Primary Academy spent the morning at Splinter Studios, Wednesbury. This was to give them...
Awards Night 2023
Sandwell's Got Talent Monday 10th July 2023 Article by Brian Cape (Chief Executive Officer, SIPS Education)The historic West Bromwich Library was the setting for our final recognition night of the term, and this time it was our pleasure to be handing out the awards....
Summer Festival – Saturday 8th July 2023
Summer Festival Saturday 8th July 2023 Saturday 8th July saw music centre groups return to the Oak House for the annual Summer Festival. The day started around 9:00 when music staff arrived to setup the grounds ready for the performances. ‘What will the weather do?’...
Gig Night Summer 2023
Tuesday 4th July was band night for 'Band Together' and 'Tuesday Coffee Social'. (Rock School Music Centre) We encourage musicians of all ages from the schools in Sandwell to come, join and rehearse at the rock music centre based at Splinter Studios, Wednesbury. All...
Intermediate Brass Band prepares for the Summer Festival!
All band's orchestras and music groups are rehearsing ready for the Summer Festival at the Oak House and members of Intermediate Brass Band are no exception. 'Can Ye Guess The Tune?' Let us your answers on our social media channels! The Summer Festival features...
Band Together prepares for the Summer Festival!
All band's orchestras and music groups are rehearsing ready for the Summer Festival at the Oak House and members of Band Together recorded a taster for sharing at their last rehearsal! 'Chapter V's' is a new original song, written by members of the band, which was...
Shining Stars – Monday 19th June 2023
Monday evening saw the return of the 'Shining Stars' instrumental recital evening. The performance was held at West Bromwich Central Library performing to a capacity audience made up of family, friends and SIPS music staff. On arrival everyone was met by the 'Friends...
Summer Festival 2024
The Oak House Summer Festival – Saturday 6th July 2024 We are looking forward to hosting the annual Summer Festival at the Oak House for all SIPS ensembles/bands/groups to perform on Saturday 6th July 2024! The event is taking place at The Oak House in West Bromwich...
Concert Orchestra – Autumn 2023
Welcome back! Concert Orchestra will be recommencing this Summer Term. Rehearsals will be fortnightly on Saturday mornings to help coincide with any other commitments. This will be a fantastic opportunity to learn a variety of different repertoire. Dates for the...
Band Together playing Blur’s Song 2
Band1 were playing Blur's Song2 at Splinter studios last week and sounding superb! Guest drummer Callan, as Liam was poorly (get well soon!) A great progressive recording and a song that they're looking forward to including in their summer setlist!
King Charles III Coronation
In celebration of King Charles III’s coronation this coming weekend we are pleased to share with you a performance of the National Anthem recorded specially for the occasion by the Youth Concert Band. We hope you enjoy the performance and events of the coming...
Trumpeter Terry
Trumpeter Terry takes grade 3! Terry born in Northfield and growing up in the west midlands has been a keen musician all his life. Since 8 years old Terry always had an ambition to play the bugle but didn't start playing the trumpet until the age of 68! Terry was...
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Youth Brass 2023
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Youth Brass 2023 15th - 17th April 2023 Young musicians from across the West Midlands for the first time on Saturday 15th April to begin preparing for a concert on Monday 17th April. The first rehearsal the group got to know...
Community Band at Thimblemill Library – Wednesday 22nd March 2023
SIPS Community Bands are open to all musicians leaning an instrument at school as an early opportunity to experience the joy of playing with a group of likeminded musicians. On Wednesday 22nd March the community band who rehearse at Thimblemill Library took to...
Sandwell Sounds – Wednesday 22nd March 2023
featuring Big Top Music, Westminster School, Orchard School and SIPS Music & Arts String ensemble.Wednesday evening saw Big Top Music, Westminster School and Orchard School perform a live concert, supported by SIPS Music. Guest were welcomed in by a violin...
News and Stories
Snowman at Christmas
Saturday 8th December 2019 Children from Sandwell Primary Schools, in partnership with SIPS Music and Arts, were invited by the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra and their conductor Richard Laing to join them in their Christmas concert at Birmingham Town Hall. The...
130th Mayors Christmas Concert
Saturday 7th December 2019 Sandwell Youth Brass Band and the Saint Catherine of Siena Academy Trust Choirs, were honoured to perform in the 130th Mayors Christmas Concert. The Youth Brass Band opened the evening with a rousing rendition of Leroy Anderson's "A...
A Christmas Journey – Looked After Children Concert
Friday 6th December The Virtual School, in partnership with SIPS Education, held their first joint concert event for pupils involved in the ‘Looked After Child’ project running across numerous schools in Sandwell. This is an initiative providing weekly instrumental...
Countdown to Christmas
Thursday 5th December The audience at WBTH were treated to a sparkling selection of music from YCB, ISO, IBB and YO. All groups performed to their usual high standard, a mixture of non-festive and festive pieces. Many performers (and conductors!) were decked out in...
December Delights
Tuesday 3 rd December Throughout the December delights concert a fantastic level of musicianship was displayed by all musicians. The ensembles featured were; Jazz Orchestra, Intermediate Concert band, Youth Brass band and Training String Orchestra. It was also...
A Whisper of Christmas
Monday 2nd December 2019 The fabulous Mini Maestros and our Sandwell Chamber Music Groups performed in a concert called a ‘Whisper Of Christmas’. Many of the string players in the Mini Maestros had never performed before, so this intimate setting, at the West Bromwich...
Rock and Pop Night
Tuesday 26th November Well done to all the students involved in our fantastic Rock and Pop showcase at West Bromwich Library last month! The ukulele rocks! group performed a wonderful trio of rock n’ roll classics, ‘Shake Rattle and roll’, ‘Rock around the Clock’, and...
Join the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain!
Apply by 3 June 2018 ‘NYO is just awesome. All of it. The people, the concerts, the passion and the joy and excitement of the courses.’ Lawrence, Trombone, NYO The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain – the world’s greatest orchestra of teenagers – is recruiting...
STEPS Songbook – Working with the LACE Virtual School
Back in November, SIPS Music and Arts Service worked in partnership with MAC Makes Music Birmingham, on a project to explore the songs and musical cultures of the children and young people at the STEPS Centre in Sandwell. (Sandwell Transitional Educational...
Music and Pupil Progress at KS2
Is there a link between Music and Pupil Progress..? Introduction As an established and trusted service, SIPS Education - Music & Arts Service (SMAS) are privileged to be working in so many schools across Sandwell. There is no doubt that schools highly value our...
Pro Bassist Sandy Beales Inspires Young Musicians
Sandy Beales, bass guitarist touring with One Direction for over 4 years now playing with JP Cooper, delivered an inspiring afternoon with students from Q3 Academy, Hollylodge, Sandwell College, Shireland Collegiate and Wodensborough. Sandy told of how he came to play...
Cecil Aronowitz Viola Competition and Festival
We were delighted, back in October, to receive an invitation from Louise Lansdown, Head of Strings at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, inviting our viola players to attend the second Cecil Aronowitz Viola Competition and Festival. It was a rare opportunity and very...
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