Category: Music lessons
0 Learner and Beginner Band Christmas Cracker!
Well done to the players of our Beginner and Learner Bands who put on a hugely enjoyable concert last night to round off a busy term of music making. The Beginner Band opened the concert with a fanfare and the rousing ‘Battle Pavan’ which was enhanced by some lively percussion playing from Thomas and Adam. They then played a selection of Christmas carols. The Learner Band entertained us with some Christmas songs before the bands combined to play ‘Jingle Bells Boogie’ and ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’.
Thank you to Annabelle who performed ‘Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer’ as her first ever solo. Rory and Jasper Tidmarsh also performed solos; Rory a compilation of his own making and Jasper a lively version of ‘Frosty the Snowman’.
We now have about 30 young players attending the bands regularly including five recruits from last year’s ‘Brass in Class’ lessons at Blewbury Primary School. In the new year we hope to encourage some of this year’s group to attend. All our young players are going from strength to strength. Ben (trombone grade 3), Katie (horn grade 2) and Annabelle (cornet grade 1) all took ABRSM exams this week and three players, David (horn), Adam and Michael (percussion), will also be playing with the main band in the new year.
If you are learning a brass instrument and would like to get involved in Blewbury Brass Band please contact Judith Atkins md-learnerband@blewburybrassband.org.uk
0 Blewbury School children and staff say thank you!
What a lovely surprise!
When Ian and Judith were giving “small group” brass lessons to Year 5 at Blewbury School just before Half Term, the children and staff sprung a surprise – an enormous “Thank You Card” to the band (with a wonderful cutout silhouette of a cornet) for fundraising and buying 24 cornets to be used by the school.
What a pleasure to be able to contribute positively into music making in the local community. But let’s not forget that, while the band bought the instruments, Marion Mills, Headteacher at Blewbury School, has generously decided to fund the lessons.
Thank you again from the band, Marion!
0 17 local children start to learn the cornet
The culmination of a lot of instrument fundraising saw 17 local children start learning the cornet this week.
With the active support of Marion Mills, Headteacher at Blewbury Primary School, Ian Barlow gave three groups of pupils their first cornet lesson, using brand new high-quality Catelinet student cornets bought from Rosehill Instruments in Beaconsfield.
The aim is that these pupils will have weekly lessons during school hours until the end of the Summer Term, with tuition provided by Ian and funded by the school. Then they will have the chance to continue playing, in the Blewbury Beginner Band.
Thank you again to everybody – sponsors, donors, band members and many more – who made this possible by helping us buy these cornets.
0 bbb nominated for a Business and Community Award
We are delighted to announce that the Blewbury Brass Band was nominated for a Business and Community Award (BACAs), organised by Didcot First.
While we did not win an award on this occasion, it’s wonderful to have been nominated for our activity focused on getting local children and young people to start playing a brass instrument.
Didcot First is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes Didcot as a positive place to live, work and invest. The Business & Community Awards is their largest event that celebrates all the good practice and community spirit in our local area.
Our plan is to continue doing “more of the same” so fingers are crossed for next year!!
0 STOP PRESS: 100% pass rate in recent music exams
We’re absolutely delighted to announce 1 100% pass rate amongst all those Blewbury Brass Band members who recently took a music exam. Hoorah!! More specific details will be posted in due course.
This demonstrates a fantastic Vote of Confidence in Ian Barlow, our accomplished and versatile band member and music teacher (private lessons offered every Saturday and Sunday; £15 per 30 minutes)…which is further demonstrated by Ian himself having passed his Grade 8 trombone exam at the first attempt with an exceptionally high Distinction (93 out of 100).
Bravo to one and all – real cause for celebration!
Blewbury Brass Band 