“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” ― Bob Marley. Obviously, Bob had never had the pleasure of ‘Jamming’ with a brass band. Having played a brass instrument since Geoff Hurst scored his famous hat trick, I have felt plenty of pain. The pain of having ears shot blasted […]
Ray Steadman Allen’s Seascapes, used for this years Area test in the top section, is based upon a poem and each movement describes a different time, vessel and location. Well that’s what it says in the score…but I beg to differ! Seascapes isn’t about ‘rowing home to sunny Palestine’, ‘dipping through the tropics’ or even […]
Brass band discipline was summed up beautifully while recently interviewing the legendary James Scott he recalled a clock on the band room wall at Munn and Feltons. Under the clock was a plaque inscribed in large letters ‘Always on time, harmony sublime’. (listen to the podcast interview with James Scott Here here…) He also said […]
James Scott Recorded at James Scott’s home, Heswall on the Wirral, UK on 26th September 2018 Rob Nesbitt talks to James Scott about his long and fascinating career as a player, conductor and adjudicator that spans over seven decades – a truly remarkable achievement. From his early days listening to his fathers band at Besses […]
After a long coach ride to London, rehearsal and a dubious Persian restaurant I camped down for the night ready for the contest. My bass trombone ‘roomie’ announced he was as tired as ten adjudicators and was asleep before you could say Handle in the band. Just as I entered the land of nod it […]
While on holiday in Cornwall this summer I managed to get a parking space in Padstow on the quayside which is a near miracle at that time of the year. As I strolled past Rick Stein’s fish restaurant my brass band detector radar went off as I noticed several ‘banders’ walking in the same direction. […]
If you are looking for something a bit different, quirky and unique as a gift for brass band players you are in the right place. Brass Band Cartoon Mugs I have designed the ‘World’s Greatest Player’ range specifically for Brass players in mind. There are multiple choices with the following players available: Bass Cornet Soprano Tenor […]
Five high customer-rated musical pendant note and treble clef necklaces to give you ideas for the perfect music note jewellery gift! Finding music related jewellery for yourself or as a gift for a musician can sometimes be tricky. Here are five suggestions for musically themed necklaces which may spark some ideas. These small charm […]
At this years British Open I sat next to a gentleman who was less than happy about the amount of time many conductors took acknowledging the audience’s applause. “This ought to be stopped – the test piece is long enough without all this time wasting rhubarb!” For me, it added to the occasion, but then […]
Since you were knee-high to a timp’ stick you have worked your little socks off, practicing, progressing through the ranks to perhaps one day gracing the stage of the Birmingham Symphony Hall or the Royal Albert Hall. As banding life progresses you meet someone special and at that point in your banding career, you seriously […]