Beginners Group
For those who have never played before we have a beginners group run by members of the main band.
We can offer an instrument on loan to anyone from the age of 6 upwards (no upper age limit!) who would like to learn how to play an instrument, how to read music, and wants to improve their playing and progress within the band.
Although usually it is young people who are initially interested in playing we have found that parents who accompany them to band often take up an instrument themselves, and we are very happy to encourage this.
As soon as beginners have learned the basic skills of playing the C major scale and can sight-read simple pieces of music they are able to join the Training Band. This gives them the opportunity to play their parts in a group of musicians, to improve their playing and increase their confidence.
"As a parent I think it’s brilliant that children have the opportunity to not only learn to play a brass instrument but to put that learning into practice and play alongside others. It has really helped my daughter’s confidence and she is always keen to play to our family and friends and show them what she has been learning in the band."
Like the main band and Training Band we meet at the Wortham Hall, Mount Kelly College, Tavistock, PL19 0HZ. The beginners group runs for half an hour from 6:15 to 6:45, as this is usually long enough for beginners. If anyone wants to sits in on the training band once the beginners has finished they are very welcome to do so.
WELCOME
The effect of playing in a brass band have recently been studied at the University of Sheffield and it was concluded that "brass banding influences physical, social, psychological, emotional and spiritual resources, key elements of wellbeing"
Wellbeing in Brass Bands: The Benefits and Challenges of Group Music Making Victoria J. Williamson* and Michael Bonshor
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01176/full