How do we get more people playing in more bands, allowing for more bands to compete at contests to increased audiences? Ideas to build a dynamic and sustainable future for brass bands in South Wales “Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.” Samuel Johnson local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Contents Contents ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Contest Structure .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Promotion and Relegation ............................................................................................................................ 4 Community Bands ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Association Website ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Common League Rules / Guidelines ............................................................................................................. 4 Development of Venues ............................................................................................................................... 5 Player Development .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Number of Borrowed Players ....................................................................................................................... 6 Borrowed Players .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Number of players on stage .......................................................................................................................... 6 Youth Development Personnel ..................................................................................................................... 7 Transition from Junior Players to Senior Players .......................................................................................... 7 Adjudicator Development ................................................................................................................................. 7 Conductor Development ................................................................................................................................... 8 Adjudicators Pre-­‐Contest Comments ........................................................................................................... 8 First steps to Conducting .............................................................................................................................. 8 Test Piece workshops .................................................................................................................................... 8 Audience Development ..................................................................................................................................... 9 New compositions and arrangements .......................................................................................................... 9 Event Marketing ........................................................................................................................................... 9 Summary of Proposals .................................................................................................................................... 10 Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................................... 11 local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Page 2 of 11 local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Introduction In response to being asked by the WWBBA to generate a paper to look at the possibilities regarding local contests. This paper has been put together following informal discussions to have something to base further WWBBA discussions at the next Association meeting. The questions which were considered were; 1. What are the issues in bands getting to contests? 2. What is the scale of the problem? 3. What can we do to arrest this decline? This question we believe is dominated by getting players into bandrooms for rehearsals and subsequently on to the contest stage. The basis to this document is the goal of getting “more people playing in more bands, which allows for more bands to compete at contests to increased audiences.” We can see from band entry data to the WWBBA Contest held on alternate years in Burry Port that there is a decline in the number of bands entering local contests. If we allow this situation to continue, what does the future of brass banding look like? local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Page 3 of 11 local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Contest Structure Promotion and Relegation Some discussion has taken place over the previous months regarding the differences between National grading and grading resulting from local contests. We believe that as the most recent results would more accurately reflect a band’s true grading, we would therefore proposal promotion and relegation in the league system over the 3 contests in each year. This would then bring the local contests grading over 3 contests, the same as is currently employed for National grading, albeit over a shorter time frame. Proposal: Promotion and relegation in the league system over the 3 contests in each year. Community Bands Taking a leaf out of the British Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensemble’s (BASBWE) and include a ‘Community Band’ section within the local contests to give bands and ensembles that don't wish to compete a stage on which they can perform. This will give them a welcome experience as part of the whole day, and if they were to find this a rewarding experience, then it's quite possible that these bands in future years will develop and compete if they so wish. Further discussions are required with both North Wales Brass Band Association and Ty Cerydd regarding the number of bands that this could apply to and the feedback from similar initiatives. Proposal: Community Band section to be included as part of the main local contest, possibly after several sections and before the results of those sections, thereby giving additional time to the contest controllers to put together the results ready for announcement. Association Website The respective associations should be the ‘first port of call’ for contact information, contest dates, application forms, strategic aims of the associations, contest results, funding opportunities and events. In order to develop this element the associations could consider development of a website to facilitate this, the structure and development of the website could be common for both associations, with current technology available information can be easily posted online when it becomes available rather than waiting for the Annual Joint AGM for the such information as contest dates, events and news items. Automatic feeds from the website news items for Twitter and Facebook could also be added in time. Early announcement of these dates would also then help to aid further dialogue with the LEA to check dates of county music events to ensure such events and the preparation for them do not conflict. Proposal: To develop website for both WWBBA & SEWBBA for launch in 2012 Common League Rules / Guidelines To reduce administration time and bureaucracy could we commonise league rules across WWBBA, SEWBBA and National Eisteddfod contests? This would act as a starting point to promote more joined up thinking local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Page 4 of 11 local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc and a unified approach to the contest diary for the year. Appreciating that still the Qualifying Contest and other contests will have their own rules and guidelines, at least the ones which the local associations and the Welsh Association operate could promote this. Proposal: Published common league rules across WWBBA, SEWBBA and National Eisteddfod contests. Predraw Does the “draw on the day” assist in band’s ability to participate at the contests? Is it an aid or hindrance? Does the paying public who are not directly connected to bands really think that this is an important element of the day? Would it not make the lives of bands easier if we were to know what time we are playing? Would it help those people trying to find rehearsal venues, and the rehearsal venues themselves who often open their buildings for a very small donation in trying to accommodate more bands? We know that there is a lot of emotion and discussion around this topic, but why don’t we try to see if it would benefit the local contests? Proposal: Pre-­‐draw for all local contests. Development of Venues Feedback from the WWBBA held in Burry Port during 2011 highlighted the concern of the changing areas and access to the stage area whilst praising the organisation of the day, rehearsal venues and local amenities. This is something now we will look at for 2013 to see what improvements can be made. However, venues that can offer class leading facilities could be investigated to understand what additional costs (if any) these would warrant over the existing venues. Imagine an orchestra being told they can’t warm up before going on stage, or having to wait outside in the rain before a concert! It wouldn’t happen, so why do we ‘tolerate’ it? Let’s strive to improve and progress in everything we do. Would the Nationally graded, Championship bands who currently do not compete in the local contests consider once a year supporting the local associations by undertaking a short concert at the end of the contest day in order to help fund costs of holding local contests at venues with improve facilities for both players and audience alike. Proposal: Investigation of current championship section bands not competing to support their associations to undertake a short concert. This will work both to support the association’s overheads and also assist in developing audiences for future events. Annual Dinner What about a joint Welsh Brass Band Associations Annual Dinner? The rugby fraternity have such events as a celebration at the end of each season. Why couldn’t we do something similar? Perhaps have a guest speaker or combine it with a workshop / AGM etc,.? This should open to all bandspeople to attend, which will help promote dialogue amongst us all, perhaps with each Band having a table at such event? Proposal: Investigate the appetite (pardon the pun!) for a Welsh Associations Annual Dinner. local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Page 5 of 11 local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Player Development Number of Borrowed Players Often the request for increasing the number of ‘borrowed’ players from 3 to 5 for local contest has been raised. This in itself will certainly help bands in the short term, but for longer term development this we believe has to be balanced with the development of younger brass players. So an idea could be that bands could borrow the current allowance of 3 players, and an additional allowance of 2 players if they have 2 players under the age of 16 on the stage on the day of the contest. This gives bands the opportunity to borrow in the short-­‐term, but still developing youth players for the future so that there isn't a reliance on the borrower players to keep a band going. Proposal: Bands could borrow up to 3 players, and an additional allowance of 2 players if they have 2 players under the age of 16 on the stage on the day of the contest. Borrowed Players It is also important to expand the numbers taking part in banding and that would include attracting back former players, who have a role in helping to encourage younger players with their experience and knowledge and here, current higher section players can bring something back to the grass roots. Currently lower section players can gain experience with higher section bands by helping them as a borrowed player. If we’re to consider this in more detail, we would like to consider the benefits of higher section band players helping out lower sections, considering that 1 or 2 players do not make a band, but the ability for higher section band players to support and help lower section bands is something we would like to look at. Imagine the benefit to lower section players to have 1 or 2 higher section players in their bandroom to bring their experience, knowledge and inspiration to that band. Clearly there is potential for some bands to ‘abuse’ this benefit, it’s proposed in the belief and philosophy of benefitting the players in the borrowing band. Clearly, a lower section band shouldn’t then have these borrowed players on Principal seats. Bands that do ‘abuse’ this benefit are considering the very short term benefits that ‘abuse’ of this philosophy could bring. Bands that use it in the spirit of how it is meant, then should benefit in the longer term. Proposal: Borrowed players should be able to come from all sections from all registry organisations across all registry bodies. Would it be beneficial to have a standard forms for ‘borrowed players’ which could be handed at the draw of the contest with a signature from the lending band to ease administration on the bands themselves. Proposal: Standard ‘borrowed player’ form for all local contests to be completed for the day of the contest. Number of players on stage Some bands are developing younger players which is to be applauded, how do we ensure that all these players are given the experience of playing on the contest stage with these bands. Why do we limit the local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Page 6 of 11 local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc band going on stage to 25 brass players plus percussionists? If a band had 4 tenorhorn players, wouldn’t it be beneficial if all four players could play on stage in local contests, so we avoid the very negative issue of having to let one player know that they cannot play on stage in a local contest? Who actually benefits here? If we’re truly to work with the maxim that we’re looking to get more players playing in more bands, and more bands to contests then we would proposal similar guidelines to that of the Porthcawl Contest where all registered players plus allowable borrowed players can be on stage. Wouldn’t it be great to be in a situation where if a player leaves to go to a better band (which they should be encouraged to do), there’s a member of the junior band waiting to jump into their shoes! Proposal: Bands can play on stage all registered players + the allowable borrowed players. We understand that this proposal works together with the proposal of the additional allowance of 2 players if they have 2 players under the age of 16 on the stage on the day of the contest. Youth Development Personnel Youth Development Personnel for each association, something that the Scottish Brass Band Association(SBBA) already have in place. What is the picture of youth bands in each area? Who's there to help start up Youth Bands? All the lessons learnt from the bands that have already done this should be captured to make it easier for bands thinking about this activity. This could include how best to approach LEAs for support of Junior Bands, development of CRB checked personnel for Junior Bands etc,. Proposal: Youth Development Personnel identified by each Association to form linkages between Junior Bands to get the best practice and lessons learnt information flowing through the association bands. Transition from Junior Players to Senior Players I was told when I left Cornwall to come to Wales to University never to give up playing, as you can walk into any bandroom in the country (or further afield these days) and instantly have 28 friends and a social life. How can we ensure that the young players today move from Junior Bands into Senior Bands? We need to show them the social experience as they grow as players and as young people. Proposal: Young players under 18 to be able to be registered with both a ‘Junior Band’ and a ‘Senior Band’? And be able to play with both at contests. (Perhaps this is already the case today?) Adjudicator Development The Association of Brass Band Adjudicators noted at their Executive meeting in March this year that “There are simply not enough opportunities for trainee adjudicators to gain the experience required to move up the tiered system” They discussed various criteria, experience and the variety of fields that a candidate may have worked in or be working in and at what standard. Listed below are such examples that were discussed; 1. A player, and at what level local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Page 7 of 11 local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc 2. A conductor, and at what level 3. Any type of adjudicating or examining experience 4. Any academic music qualifications 5. Experience of producing or recording music, and at what level 6. Worked in the music publishing business 7. Worked as a music teacher doing continual assessment Source: http://www.abbadjudicators.org.uk/ accessed Monday 23rd April 2012. From a perspective of purely ‘people development’ what a great opportunity for anyone thinking that Adjucdication might be something that they would be interested in, or as a conductor wanting to get a better understanding of the adjudication process, why not allow a 2nd person alongside the main adjudicator during our three local contests? Surely the experience of sitting in the box with a professional will help develop that person into a better player or conductor? Proposal: Allow ‘trainee’ alongside the main adjudicator ‘in the box’ for local contests. Conductor Development Adjudicators Pre-­‐Contest Comments We welcome the Adjudicators comments at the draw as this provides a really useful insight to the way the adjudicator is thinking prior to the performances. How can though bands use this very valuable insight and information better in order to improve? Wouldn't it be better to have this information and insight 4 weeks before the contest not 4 hours before? Proposal: Adjudicators comments could be sent out from the associations or placed on the association's website at least one month prior to contests. First steps to Conducting With a number of budding conductors sitting in the playing ranks of many bands, how can we best give these talented musicians an opportunity to try out conducting? Why couldn’t we as an association set something up to help talented musicians gain some necessary experience? What would we need to help these musicians? Some experienced willing conductors to direct and run the workshop, a willing band and a bandroom? From a financial perspective there would seem to be very little outlay and something which will give budding conductors that first step on to the conducting rostrum. Proposal: Associations to organise conductor workshop sessions with a willing band, some experienced willing conductors and a free bandroom. Test Piece workshops Working on from the idea of conducting workshops, would the lower section bands benefit from regional test piece workshops, or even workshops on other test pieces which have been popular in ‘own choice’ test piece contests? If suitable demand existed could this be something else with the Associations could promote and develop? This has been tried in the past, what were the lessons learnt? Why did they stop? local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Page 8 of 11 local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Proposal: Regional workshops for the regional test pieces and possibly other popular ‘own choice’ test piece choices. Audience Development Contesting is only contesting and is not the be all and end all of the brass band movement. In terms of audience development do the public paying audience consider the competitive element of the day that important? New compositions and arrangements We currently have three local contests all with the same ‘Own Choice’ test piece format, is this an attractive proposition for the paying audience? Why couldn’t one of the three contests return to an Entertainment Programme format and include a best new arrangement or composition? We’ve a number of outstanding higher education faculties in Wales, surely with their involvement we could promote new music for the brass band repertoire? Perhaps one of the pieces within the programme each band players has to be something which has either been written or published in the last 12 months? With companies looking to support their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), we could endeavor to look for funding of a cash prize for the ‘Best new composition or arrangement.’ This then becomes a ‘newsworthy’ element that we can publicise and get increased marketing exposure. Proposal: One of the three local contests operates an ‘Entertainment Programme’ and includes a new composition or arrangement written or published in the last 12 months. Event Marketing The idea would be that all the 'newsworthy' elements of these proposals would for the basis of a marketing campaign that would run through the local contesting period. We’ve an interesting product with three local contests across the south of the Principality from May through to November. We should consider the ‘newsworthy’ elements of three events and market them accordingly. With the ideas of player, conductor and music development, we need to have an unified approach to marketing across both associations. The term contesting means a great deal to us as bandspeople, however in terms of marketing we need something more encompassing, such as ‘Brass Festival’ in order to become more attractive to new audiences. Proposal: Appointment of Marketing Officers for both WWBBA and SEWBBA to work together to build the publicity profile for the association events together with the hosting bands in a coherent manner. local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Page 9 of 11 local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Summary of Proposals 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Promotion and relegation in the league system over the 3 contests in each year. To develop website for both WWBBA & SEWBBA for launch in 2012 Commonisation of league rules across WWBBA, SEWBBA and National Eisteddfod contests. Pre-­‐draw for all local contests. Investigation of current championship section bands not competing to support their associations to undertake a short concert. This will work both to support the association’s overheads and also assist in developing audiences for future events. Investigate the appetite (pardon the pun!) for a Welsh Associations Annual Dinner. Bands could borrow up to 3 players, and an additional allowance of 2 players if they have 2 players under the age of 16 on the stage on the day of the contest. Borrowed players should be able to come from all sections from all registry organisations across all registry bodies. Standard ‘borrowed player’ form per player for all local contests to be completed for the day of the contest. Bands can play on stage all registered players + the allowable borrowed players. Community Band section to be included as part of the main local contest. Youth Development Personnel identified by each Association to form linkages between Junior Bands to get the best practice and lessons learnt information flowing through the association bands. Young players under 18 to be able to be registered with both a ‘Junior Band’ and a ‘Senior Band’? And be able to play with both at contests. Allow ‘trainee’ alongside the main adjudicator ‘in the box’ for local contests. Adjudicators comments could be sent out from the associations or placed on the association's website at least one month prior to contests. Regional workshops for the regional test pieces and possibly other popular ‘own choice’ test piece choices. One of the three local contests operates an ‘Entertainment Programme’ and includes a new composition or arrangement written or published in the last 12 months. Appointment of Marketing Officers for both WWBBA and SEWBBA to work together to build the publicity profile for the association events together with the hosting bands in a coherent manner. local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Page 10 of 11 local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Acknowledgements I would like to thank all those who gladly gave their time in providing extremely useful feedback and inspiration to new ideas to build a dynamic and sustainable future for brass bands in South Wales. There is clearly a cohort of bandpeople passionate and interested in this goal. I would like to think that those in full agreement of putting these proposals to the next WWBBA meeting on Sunday 10th June at GCG Bandroom would put their names to this document. If so, please confirm this to me via email at [email protected] Many thanks for your time and response to these ideas. Graham Howe local_contests.ideas.v4.2012-­‐05-­‐11.doc Page 11 of 11