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RUSHDEN MISSION BAND |
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Roger Dear reads his school report
Some of us are lucky enough to remember having music lessons and learning to play an
instrument for free. It isn't like that now and instrument hire and tutor fees
have combined to put this opportunity beyond many young people in our schools.
Brass bands rely on young people coming through the ranks and making our bands.
Indeed in the Mission Band we have been very fortunate to have a number of youngsters
with us over the past few years, many of whom have come from our Training Band.
We wanted to do something positive to give young people the opportunity to join
in this super way of amateur music making.We had a cupboard of instruments not being
used and approached a school to see if we could try to begin a band there.
The result is our Brass Club.We began with a term of come and have a blow and see if you like it.
The first few weeks it is a wonder the Noise Abatement Society didn't take action!
We have had a number who have not stayed the distance of course,
but now have about ten newcomers who meet for just half an hour every Thursday
lunchtime and we hope they will be ready to play a carol or two to their fellow
pupils by Christmas. We will have to provide some instrumentation from the Band as
we have a lot of cornets, a flugel horn, two baritones and two trombones.
I have to say it is a brilliant experience, when they are not 'taking the mick' out
of my socks or my singing. There are of course small heartbreaks like the little girl
who was doing very well but whose parents stopped her playing because they couldn't
stand the noise.There are just as many moments of sheer joy when they see the light
on some aspect of playing.
Rushden Mission Church
Rushden
Northants
NN10 9TA