The latest news from Sandwell Music Education Hub
Find out more about the activities of our hub by reading the stories below:
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...
Springtime Music – Tuesday 21st March 2023
featuring the Training String Orchestra, Intermediate Concert Band, Intermediate String Orchestra and Youth Brass Band.Tuesday 21st March 2023 saw the second of the two spring concerts at Shireland Colleigate Academy Theatre, 'Springtime Music'. By 18:20 there was...
Spring into Music – Monday 20th March 2023
featuring the Youth Concert Band, Mini Maestros, Jazz Orchestra and Intermedia Brass Band.Monday 20th March 2023 saw the first of two concerts at Shireland Colleigate Academy Theatre, 'Spring into Music'. After hectic and rainy journeys all groups were full of energy...
Acoustic Vocal Recital Evening – Monday 13th March 2023
Monday 13th March 2023 was the first of what we hope will become annual event the 'Acoustic Vocal Recital'. The evening saw a capacity audience in the beautiful surroundings of West Bromwich Central Library. The programme featured 14 solo items from pupils and...
Celebrating Music – Women’s History Month
We have created and compliled a selection of musical resources to help you celebrate women's history month in your school!
New Band @ Band Together plays White Stripes!
This is our new starter band with VERY new starter Sophie on vocals! Kieran the guitarist is 10! Great bunch!
CURRICULUM MUSIC CONFERENCE®
Tuesday 28th March 2023, Guardian House, West Bromwich
Band Together on Tour!
Members of Band Together had great 2 days visiting performing in 6 schools. Thanks to Wodensborough Orminston Acadmey, Hamstead Junior School, St John's C of E Academy, Wood Green High School, Hall Green Primary School and Holyhead Primary Academy for hosting...
‘Listen Up’ Newsletter 2! (Summer 2022)
Read all about what's been taking place during the summer term!
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Are you celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee? Why not include the Youth Brass Band playing the National Anthem!
Every Copy Counts
Great music teachers log their sheet music: make every copy count! Every Copy Counts is a brand new campaign to help schools get the best out of the Schools Printed Music Licence (SPML). ● Did you know that your school has a SPML, meaning that you can legally...
Dakota – Band Together
Tuesday 3rd May; Dakota (Band Together) WORK IN PROGRESS! Dakota by Stereophonics. Vocals doing well, lead guitar part on keyboard progressing, drums all but there and rhythm guitars just about done! Boys doing really well and working hard!😁👍🎸🥁🎤🎹
Spring Together Concert series
Monday 28th March saw music centre ensembles return to the stage after over 2 years. There was an air of anticipation and excitement from both performers and audience as the concert commencement approach at Shireland Collegiate Academy Theatre. The Youth String...
‘Listen Up’ Newsletter
'Listen Up' is a brand new for spring 2022, newsletter containing information about things coming up, articles from music centre members and dates for your diary. Why not have a read below 🎼🎺🎻🎼
Acoustic Recital Evening – Monday 7th March 2022
Congratulations to all musicians on superb performances in the acoustic recital evening at Central Library last evening. A enjoyable evening was had by all! 🎼🎺🎻🎼
Songbird – Band Together
Tuesday 8th February; Band Together sing the Blues. All band members were took part and the lyrics were written by the boys!👍🎸🥁🎹 The band continue to develop every week!
Feeling the Force with Intermediate Brass Band!
The Intermediate Brass Band continue making superb progress this term. One of the pieces they are enjoying rehearsing is the Theme from Star Wars. If you are a brass player and not part of an ensemble please do get in contact with us or talk to your instrumental...
YMCA & Star Trek with the Youth Brass Band!
This term some of the pieces the Youth Brass Band have been rehearsing is the popular pop tune YMCA and film score Star Trek. Bands meets weekly and if you/your child plays an instrument and are interested in joining an ensemble, please contact us or speak to your...
Hamstead Junior – Year 6 Class Rock Band
The pupils involved in the SIPS Music and Arts Service Whole Class Rock Band at Hamstead Junior School Year 6, have finished a half term project of writing their own song and helping to make a lyric video. The pupils came up with the lyrical content, and the song...
Band Together sing the Blues
Tuesday 8th February; Band Together sing the Blues. All band members were took part and the lyrics were written by the boys!👍🎸🥁🎹 The band continue to develop every week!
‘Louis Loui’ – Band Together
Tuesday 1st February; 'Louis Loui' audio from BandTogether at Splinter. J singing, C drumming and A on guitar. Came together really well!! Sounding awesome!!
Rehearsal preparation with the Intermediate & Concert Band
Rehearsal preparations for both the Intermediate and Concert band are well underway this term. The Concert band have enjoyed starting Mussorgsky's 'A night on Bald Mountain' and Intermediate Concert Band the upbeat classic 'Rock Around the Clock'!
Jazz Orchestra in full swing!
The Jazz Orchestra spent time rehearsing many favourites on 25th January. A particular favourite this week was the time rehearsing 'Brick House'!
25/01/22 – ‘These Boots are made for Walking!’
Tonight's audio from Splinter! - First rehearsal, - new song, - first vocals for C and A, - first drum for R. All brilliant!!!! Looking forward to finishing off next week! Thanks for the continuing support all. MrC an Mr D
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...


SIPS Education Music & Arts Service
Guardian House Cronehills Linkway, West Bromwich, B70 8GS
