CASE STUDY SALE BRASS BAND
Participant Skills
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Organisation
Playing musical
instruments
Self-discipline
Social interaction
with a wide age
range
Communication
Project Background
Sale Brass Band engages with local schools during the summer term to raise
awareness and encourage membership of their recently formed Junior Band and also
to work with groups of school children taking part in their WW1 Centenary Concert in
Waterside. The group received funding to purchase musical instruments so that each
new member has their own instrument.
Impact
The young
In hindsight
In terms of considering
doing anything
differently, I would
probably have engaged
the Training Band
members more in the
application process. To
this end, the Training
Band Co-ordinator has
agreed to take on our
next round of funding
applications as he is far
more involved in the
day-to-day running of
the entire band.
Attendance at Classes
The young people attend Training Band every
week and our numbers are growing. Those who
have the opportunity at school play their
instruments there, but in the main we are able
to support and train pupils whose schools do
not provide musical education and who would
therefore not be able to obtain training except
by private tuition which is expensive. We
charge only £1 per week. The Training Band
concerts are an opportunity for them to support
themselves by selling tickets to the public. This
provides their music and other essential running
costs refreshments for rehearsals.
Six players have benefitted from
playing the new instruments, and
because we were able to offer a
range of instruments, they could
try various types until they found
their optimum instrument and
could progress in their learning
experience, being taught by
members of the senior band.
Several players have taken part in
concerts, both in the Training Band
alone and in concerts with the
senior band, and two players have
moved into the senior band
directly as a result of gaining
experience
on
the
new
instruments. They have been able
either to purchase their own
instrument or borrow one from the
senior band, and this process has
freed up the training instrument
for another player.
Plans for the Future
For the future we shall continue to run the
Training Band as at present. Sale Brass Band
plays an important role in the community –
something we had not fully appreciated until
the success of our November concert proved
the point.
The Concert
The concert in November was a unique event for the band, a World War One Memorial concert with several other groups
involved such as choirs and drama groups. The Training Band took part and their involvement was much appreciated by
the audience, who recognised the immense value of this involvement, both as valuable experience in playing for such an
important event, but also in gaining an insight into matters of war which they might otherwise not have been exposed to.
Their behaviour throughout was exemplary, and we were delighted that they had learned how to behave in an adult
fashion when playing in such an important concert for Sale Brass Band.