Band-gor- Unibrass 2020
I’ve never regretted leaving uni. It was jut one of those things that wasn’t for me. However…I so wish I’d had the opportunity to take...
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THE BRASS BAND
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Feb 9, 20206 min
Review- Legacy by Tom Davoren
There has been quite a lot of talk, both on social media and around the banding world regarding this year’s First Section Regional...
Jan 26, 20205 min
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...
Jan 19, 20207 min
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...
Jan 12, 20205 min
Stage Thoughts
Two hours is a long time. Many, many thoughts can pass through your head in two hours. There have been times when I’ve been sat on stage...
Nov 29, 20195 min
The Twelve Days of Banding Christmas
It’s the most wonderful (and busy) time of the year! Hands up, who’s sick of Christmas Festival already? Yes, it’s that time of year...
Nov 22, 20195 min
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 25, 20195 min
A Bucket List, a Breakdown and a Bet- Rochdale Contest 2019
So, I’m the numpty, who’s spent the last few weeks playing for two bands. As well, as going to my rehearsals with Eccles. once again...
Oct 11, 20195 min
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...
Oct 4, 20195 min
Rituals and Superstitions
Very superstitious, writing’s on the wall…. Fight or Flight (of Stairs) As I’m sure many of you are, I’m currently watching Sky Arts’...
Sep 13, 20195 min
Banding Bucket List- Performance Opportunities
I’ve been incredibly lucky to have experienced some brilliant performance opportunities during my time in banding. From performing at the...
Sep 6, 20197 min
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 30, 20195 min
Banding Bucket List- 5 Concert Pieces
I do often find myself making a mental list of pieces I want to play. Whether I’m sat in the audience at a concert or falling down the...
Aug 23, 20195 min
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...
Jul 26, 20194 min
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
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 15, 20197 min
Febreeze Won’t Kill a Moth, The Three Musketeers go Marching and Seagulls Don’t Like Bra
Durham Miners Gala There are some days where I wake up and think ‘Why do I do this to myself?’ This was my first thought at 2:30 am on...
Jul 12, 20197 min
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
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
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...
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