Welcome to BandStars!
Our unique brass band tuition service brings children together in small group and individual lessons throughout Primary Schools in the South West of England. Each school boasts its own brass band, where students develop musical skills, forge friendships, and take part in regular performances.
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Pupils are taught how to play in a group with their peers, from the very first lesson. Learning this way is fun, productive, and teaches valuable listening skills, as well as having great social and well-being benefits.
The BandStars method focuses on enjoyable, fun lessons. Children work towards group performances rather than high-pressure grades.
We use music that the children know from the world of pop, rock, and classical music. Our amazing in-house composer and primary music expert - David Gray, uploads his material to YouTube so that students can practise at home with play-along videos. Practice has never been this fun!
We hire instruments at less than half the market rate. Parents and schools alike need not worry about expensive outlays for sets of instruments.
Payments are spread over 12 months of the year, helping with monthly budgeting, and making it more affordable for parents.
BandStars was formed in 2023 by Chris Spreadbury, with the aim of providing an affordable way for children to take up a musical instrument using the highly accessible medium of Brass Bands, and Brass Band instruments.
Chris has been a performer, conductor, and educator in the music industry for over 15 years. After spending four years in London managing the instrumental team at Wandsworth Music Service, Chris returned to Devon in 2022 and subsequently set up BandStars.
Get BandStars in your school!
Get BandStars in your school!
Bronze
Group Lessons - 30 Minutes
Silver
Individual Lessons - 20 Minutes
Gold
30 Minutes - Individual Lessons
Bronze
Group Lessons - 30 Minutes
Silver
Individual Lessons - 20 Minutes
Gold
30 Minutes - Individual Lessons
Bronze
Group Lessons - 30 Minutes
Silver
Individual Lessons - 20 Minutes
Gold
30 Minutes - Individual Lessons
We offer 3 different packages to cater for your child’s musical needs. Lessons are paid for monthly, with instrument hire available. Check out the ‘For Parents’ page for more details:
For ParentsGreat brass band
High quality, fun and engaging lessons
Lessons being thoroughly enjoyed!
My daughter is loving her trumpet…
Chris the teacher is so enthusiastic…
Amazing Teacher
Bandstars ⭐️
Definitely recommend!
Fun and exciting!
Bandstars has been very positive for our school!
Could not recommend highly enough
Our school band sounds wonderful!
My daughter had no experience in playing any musical instruments before, though under Chris’s guidance, she not only enjoys playing her trumpet but also becomes confident playing in the brass band. Chris is a passionate brass teacher. His teaching is not just confined in brass lessons, he also enriches children’s experience by introducing all kinds of brass band performances in town, which in turn helps my daughter to develop a genuine interest and love in trumpet. Here at BandStars learning brass instruments is not just done individually, my daughter enjoys the moments when she plays with other children in a group each playing a different brass instrument. I would recommend BandStars no more to all those who want to try brass instruments.
My children love having lessons with Chris. He is such a fantastic teacher. He makes the lessons really fun. He has a very engaging style that is motivating for the children. He sends home a beginner brass book which makes it easy for them to practice with links to fun backing tracks. My children got the chance to take part in a concert as a whole brass band and it was amazing to see the progress they had made in such a short time. They were so proud of themselves! Chris also makes it really easy to hire the instruments. I would highly recommend lessons with him.
My daughter has thoroughly enjoyed her lessons with Chris having never played an instrument before. She's very inspired to join in all the performances and bands too.
My daughter is loving her trumpet lessons and always very excited about the songs that they learn. Chris is always supportive with the kids and always keeps us updated about what that they do. Always responds to the emails very quickly.
Chris the teacher is so enthusiastic and considering my son always forgets to practice at home I feel like he still progresses much more than I would have expected for a short once a week lesson. Very happy. My son enjoys the classes too.
Chris has been teaching my autistic 10yr old son the cornet. Chris has been amazing and my son really clicked with him and built an amazing teacher pupil relationship. Even when my son has been having a bad day Chris has been fundamental in my Sons progress.
This is my son’s first try at playing a musical instrument and he absolutely loves his cornet and gets great enjoyment in playing and practicing new songs. He has come so far in just a couple terms. Chris makes learning so much fun for the children and his encouragement and guidance is second to none. I would and have recommended joining Bandstars to friends.
Both my children signed up to do brass lessons after they saw Chris perform with the different instruments he teaches in assembly.
They have both engaged in the lessons thanks to Chris’ teaching style and have done really well in a short space of time (it’s much harder than it looks to even make a noise!)
Chris is fantastic with all the children and for children with additional needs he is very supportive and encouraging and lets no obstacle get in the way.
Really easy to sign up, hire & pay.
Having seen four "Bandstars" sessions brilliantly delivered by Chris to year 4 and 5 children in Exeter, I was blown away by how much energy is put into these sessions.
Chris is super enthusiastic and makes learning an instrument fun, exciting and addictive!
The children all had a wonderful time in a safe, encouraging and creative environment.
And it goes without saying that Chris is a master of his craft!
Absolutely superb - highly recommended!
Our pupils love working with Chris, it is wonderful to see their confidence and skills grow. Chris is enthusiastic and inclusive in his approach. Bandstars has been very positive for our school!
We consider ourselves hugely fortunate to have BandStars at Ladysmith Juniors. Chris’s energy, enthusiasm and passion to inspire and motivate children to take up brass has been incredible. From starting with a handful of children to now having an entire band over the last year has been wonderful for our children. I could not recommend BandStars highly enough.
Bandstars have been a brilliant addition to music at our school. Chris of Bandstars is full of energy and enthusiasm for supporting primary aged children learn to play a brass instrument - both big and small. We now have our own whole school brass band and it sounds absolutely wonderful!
Wai Kai Li
Hannah Anglin-Jaffe
Sarah Newman
Esmeralda Koco
Marianne Angela Segev
Sarah Addicott
Anne-Marie Godbeer
Justine Scholfield
Tony Cobley
Rachel Olivant, Headteacher (Woodwater Academy)
Neil Williams, Headteacher (Ladysmith Junior School)
Emma Bennett, Headteacher (Clyst Heath Primary School)
We are proud of how far we have come in the first year, and are looking forward to reaching more schools and children in the future.
Get your child involved!
Get your child involved!