Rehearsal Diary- Stop Faffing and Just Play!
It only feels like a couple of weeks since I was last gearing myself up for a contest. Oh. That’ll be because it has only been a couple...
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Jan 19, 20207 min read
Success in Skegness- Butlins Contest 2020
So it’s been five years since I’ve been to Butlins and it’s nice to see that, like the other wonders of the world, Butlins hasn’t changed...
Nov 22, 20195 min read
Lest We Forget- Remembrance Sunday 2019
As banders, we’re used to our calendars being filled with band jobs. Contests, carolling, concerts, marches, etc- we get a lot done in a...
Oct 18, 20198 min read
Twenty-Three Things I’ve Learned At Twenty-Three- Brass Band Edition
So I’ve recently celebrated my twenty-third birthday (one step closer to a zimmer frame and a free bus pass- wahoo!) and during my...
Oct 11, 20195 min read
Pomp and (an unfortunate Circumstance)
Uneventful? With me? Never. So, I wasn’t planning on writing about last weekend’s concerts as I thought it was going to be a...
Sep 27, 20196 min read
Cossacks, Wizards and Bridesmaids- Blackburn Darwen Hymn and March Contest 2019
Last weekend I had the pleasure of being asked to dep for two bands at the Blackburn and Darwen Hymn and March contest. Before I get into...
Sep 6, 20197 min read
Banding Bucket List- 5 Test Pieces
I had to think a little bit harder about this list as there is a wealth of test pieces that I would love to play and there are so many...
Aug 23, 20195 min read
Banding Bucket List- 5 Solos
When I was in my teens and I really caught the banding bug, there were quite a few aspirations I had for my future in banding. From...
Aug 16, 20197 min read
Chav or Trad.- Where Does Whit Friday Go From Here?
One conversation that I have seen cropping up in the banding circle time and again is how our movement should adapt to modern times....
Jul 26, 20194 min read
10 Things We Wish We Could Tell Composers
I would just like to start off by saying I admire composers. Sitting for hours, figuring how to get the ideas out of your head onto...
Jul 19, 20195 min read
Performance Anxiety: Is it a Bad Thing?
Short answer: No. That’s all folks, thanks for reading! It can be unpleasant and extreme cases can be debilitating, but like most things...
Jul 12, 20197 min read
Performance Anxiety- How Can We Deal With It?
So, we find ourselves at the fourth week of our exploration into Performance Anxiety. So far, we know what Performance Anxiety is, how it...
Jul 5, 20194 min read
Performance Anxiety- Where does it come from?
So far in our little exploration of Performance Anxiety, we’ve discovered exactly what it means and how it can feel. This week we’re...
Jun 28, 20194 min read
Performance Anxiety- How Does it Feel?
Short answer? Naff! It feels naff! Oh, to be able to go out on stage as carefree as Theresa May skipping through a field of wheat. I...
Apr 26, 20196 min read
Spring Festival Preview- Triumphant Rhapsody
Debut So, as we all know on the 18th May 2019, bands from up and down the country will be descending on the Blackpool Winter Gardens for...
Apr 12, 20198 min read
Young Star- Elliott Pass
It’s Back! Hello! I know it’s been a while since I last presented a Young Star article, but it’s back and what an article I’ve got to...
Mar 26, 20194 min read
10 Questions With…Gary Curtin
He was the first euphonium player to study at degree level at the Cork School of music, from there he has held the Solo Euphonium seat at...
Mar 15, 20196 min read
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...
Mar 1, 20197 min read
Embarrassing Banding Moments
When something takes up so much of your life, it creates a lot of memories- the good, the bad and the downright embarrassing. Now for...
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...
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