10 Things I’ve Learned From Banding
I started playing when I was seven years old, so I can’t really remember my life before banding. I’d say something profound like ‘my life...
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THE BRASS BAND
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Feb 12, 20195 min read
Back in the Bandroom
Hello! So, if you’ve been following this blog for a while (you troopers!) and you’ve read the title, I suppose you’ve probably guessed...
Jan 6, 20192 min read
The Butlin’s Survival Guide
It’s in Skegness…so not the most local gig in the world, but it’s the banding equivalent of going to Disneyland…sort of. Do not let your...
Dec 5, 20183 min read
How You Know It’s Christmas in the Banding World.
Carol Jobs Labour clubs, churches, town centres, parades, freezing your knackers off in the foyer of a Sainsbury’s on your twelfth...
Oct 14, 20184 min read
Contest Day- A Parody
Exaggerated or accurate? You decide. Enjoy! Contest Morning ‘This is too early for a Saturday/Sunday’ Searching for matching black socks,...
Sep 13, 20184 min read
Players of the Revolution
Being involved in youth bands has been the rocket fuel for my progression as a player. Regular band rehearsals were useful for my...
Jul 2, 20181 min read
We’re On Youtube!
Check out It’s Not a Trumpet’s first ever Youtube video! Follow me as I prepare to play Principal Cornet with the wonderful Golborne band...
Jun 7, 20184 min read
5 Tips For Solo Contests
Whilst playing in brass bands does provide a player with loads of skills, solo competitions allow players to solely focus on their...
May 30, 20184 min read
Percy the Pioneer
If you are a bander you will have heard of a guy called Percy Fletcher. If you’re not a bander or you haven’t heard of him- you need to-...
May 29, 20182 min read
Only You- Almost Autumn
I love it when I’m introduced to new music, so I’m always so grateful when artists and groups get in touch with me to check out their...
May 21, 20183 min read
Young Stars- Molly and Alice
For those of you who have worries that the banding movement maybe on limited time due to the potential lack of interest in the younger...
May 11, 20184 min read
Spring Festival Preview- The Triumph of Time
So, here we are, the last piece to be featured at this year’s Spring Festival, ‘The Triumph of Time’ by Peter Graham which will be...
May 9, 20184 min read
Spring Festival Preview- A Kensington Concerto
here I will admit, I may be slightly bias with this piece because I am OBSESSED with Eric Ball’s writing. He’s one of the few composers...
![Be Positive, Grab the Freddo![The Wasted Time Project]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6ed99c_e2f7dd9982664c818d704d17350d307f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_720,h_541,fp_0.50_0.50,lg_1,q_90,enc_auto/6ed99c_e2f7dd9982664c818d704d17350d307f~mv2.jpg)
Apr 11, 20183 min read
Be Positive, Grab the Freddo![The Wasted Time Project]
The Wasted Time Project: POST 2 As a musician, I think we pretty much train ourselves to think critically about everything we do, at...
Sep 2, 20155 min read
Review- The Snaring of the Sun
The Centaur, Cheltenham Ok, so it’s less than three weeks until my band, Eccles Borough, takes to the contest stage in Cheltenham on 19th...
Aug 5, 201511 min read
Contest Stage- The basics
Eccles Borough Band (led by Mareika Gray) playing at the North West Regionals Championships 2015, in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. Photo...
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