Editorial ~ 2007 November

This month we consider The Australasian Open, when is the 'right' time to call it quits, and how to buy the best instrument for you.

The Australasian Open

Invitations have been sent out to eleven bands for the 2008 Australasian Open.

The initiative certainly seems an exciting one on paper.  Organised by a new company called the Federation of Australasian Brass Bands Pty Ltd, otherwise known as FABB, the structure appears to cover a lot of the issues currently faced by existing governing bodies.

FABB has few rules, an uncomplicated electronic registration system, easy to govern format, public appeal, prizemoney, fair adjudication system, and a location at one of the best places in the world for a holiday - the Gold Coast in sunny Queensland, Australia.

Hopefully the invited bands will be able to support this competition and give it and Australasian banding a new kick start in a progressive new direction.

What do you think?
Send an email to: du.comments@4barsrest.com

When is the 'right' time

Life if full of decisions to make.

Everyone, at some time in their life, are faced with the decision - is it time to give it away.  This decision might apply to anything we do - work, sport or other hobbies such as playing a brass instrument or conducting.

Aging is a natural process which involves a huge number of changes to our bodies - gums receed, lens in the eye lose their ability to relax and contract as they used to, reflex reactions slow, muscle mass reduces, and there is an overall reduction in general fitness - just to name a few.

These changes as a result of aging can impact upon the quality of performance.

Individuals are different - some feel the need to quit at their peak, whilst others carry on - some working hard to adapt to the changes, some happy to 'go with the flow'.  Then there are those in the minority who seem to be ageless and can play at the top of their game 'forever'.  For some, egos get in the way of rational thought.

So....when is the right time?

What do you think?
Send an email to: du.comments@4barsrest.com 

Instrument choice

Recently, there has been a bunch of releases of new instruments from a variety of manufacturers.

In Australia and New Zealand, the market for new instrument sales is relatively small in comparison to the UK and Europe.  Many players looking at buying a new instrument are faced with dilema of which one to buy, and may need to travel long distances to get to a centre where they can try before they buy.

The decision could become easier if there was first hand reliable and unbiased information available on the characteristics of the instruments currently on offer.

What we are faced with, however, is sponsored 'artists' and even whole bands who are decked out with instruments by a particular manufacturer.  In this case, aren't the artists obliged to say the instruments are great - even if the intonation is crook, or the valve action is unreliable?

There was unproven 'talk' that in earlier years Australia and New Zealand used to get the factory leftovers.  Some of us have been reassured that these days are over.  So it would seem that the best way to find out which instrument is right for you is to research the location of retailers with the products you are interested in, and try them.

Other than that, is there a way of getting unbiased evaluations of the instruments from people in the know.  Let us know if you think of one.

What do you think?
Send an email to: du.comments@4barsrest.com 

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