Get Involved
Looking to join a new brass band? We are always happy to welcome along new members, whether you’re a brass player or a percussionist!
Whether you’re an experienced player, just learning or picking up your instrument for the first time is years, our bands have something for everyone. Check out the descriptions below to see which would be most suited to you or come along to rehearsals and see which you prefer.
We generally have a flexible approach to membership, with several players in the band happy to move seats if the right players wish to join. We also welcome students temporarily living in Sheffield while they complete their studies at either of Sheffield’s excellent universities (we can arrange lifts to our band room). Banding is a great way to make friends around the community with people you otherwise would not have met.
Drop us a message using the form on the Contact Us page if you’re interested in joining! If you don’t want to join the band but are interested in supporting us, check out the Support Us section below.
The band room has full wheelchair access and associated facilities.
Main Band
The main band rehearse every Monday and Thursday (except bank holidays) from 7.45-9.30pm.
This band is for you if you enjoy playing and want to have fun but also challenge yourself within a supportive environment, with pieces from a range of musical styles, as well as regularly playing in front of an audience.
The main band perform regular concerts each year, and around 25 engagements in the run up to Christmas.
In addition to our concert work, we also take part in at least four competitions each year where prizes are given for the entertainment factor and technical ability. These usually include the Yorkshire Regional Brass Band Championships, Whit Friday and Bolsover Festival of Brass as well at least one other. The band is currently ranked within the 4th Section. These contests often take us outside of Sheffield and result in a fun day out with the band, as well as the opportunity to meet people in other brass bands from around the country (or at Whit Friday, from around the world)!
Members of the main band are generally expected to be able to play at approximately a Grade 5 standard or above, but don’t need to have done any music exams. Members are expected to attend most rehearsals, concerts and contests where possible, however, attendance is flexible depending on your availability as long as notice is given.
There is a small membership fee for the main band, which can be paid annually or quarterly.
Training Band
Loxley Training Band is currently on a break, and will be resuming Monday 22nd April 2024.
Loxley Training Band rehearse between 6.30-7.30pm on Mondays (except bank holidays).
The training band is ideal for those who are just starting to learn a brass instrument or who are returning to their instrument after a long break.
Our aim is to provide a fun and friendly environment for members to enjoy playing music and in doing so sow the seeds for the future generation of brass banding.
The training band will help you to hone your skills on your instrument, gain experience playing in an ensemble, and most importantly will help to improve your confidence as a player!
Members of the training band are encouraged to join one of the main band rehearsals at least once a month so they can experience what it is like to be part of a full brass band and also take advantage of the wealth of experience that is available.
The Training Band undertake small concerts wherever possible, and training band members are encouraged to join the main band at concerts as soon as they feel comfortable to do so.
Some of our former members have gone on to play with some of the top bands in the country!
Membership for the training band costs £1 per rehearsal, which is usually paid on the night.
Loxley Training Band - Free Taster Session
I want to join but don't have my own instrument
We have a range of brass instruments which can be loaned to members of the band if they want to play in the band but don’t own one themselves, or if they are learning / returning to their instrument and don’t want to commit to buying their own before giving it a proper try.
We also have a large variety of percussion instruments, ranging from a drum kit to tubular bells and most auxiliary and pitched percussion in between, so if you’re a percussionist you just need to bring your sticks!
Support Us
The band is fully self-funded and receives no financial support other than its fees from engagements, member subscriptions and fundraising, as well as any generous donations from the local community. Our concerts also give the band the opportunity to support local charitable organisations, which has included charities such as MDNA and funding for the PET-MRI scanner at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital.
If you don’t want to join the band but would like to support us anyway, there are a number of ways you can help.
Loxley is always open to any potential sponsorship and there are a variety of ways in which individuals and companies can help the band while also creating some awareness for their own interests. If you are interested in finding out some more information about this, drop us a message using the form on our Contact Us page.
Loxley Silver Band is also set up on Easyfundraising, a charity shopping site which provides donations to the band (at no cost to you) when you use their links to access the retailer you are buying from. To support Loxley using this method, you will need to create a free account on Easyfundraising, and register as a supporter of Loxley Silver Band.
