The fun of learning to play brass as well as plastic instruments is being actively promoted in Western Australia thanks to the work of the International Brass Quintet.

The ensemble, which has been assisted by Yamaha Music Australia and leading retailers, Brass Music Specialists, recently gave a series of concerts performances and workshops in schools in the wider Perth area, where they gained a fantastic response from youngsters keen to take a first step to a potential lifetime of musical enjoyment.

Blues in Bb

The group which is made up of Stuart Ferguson and Margaret Thomas (trumpet/cornet/flugel), Alan Edmond (tenor horn), Greg Aitken (trombone/baritone) and Peter Younghusband (bass trombone/tuba), visited Fremantle College, Ellenbrook Christian College (where they took part in an early morning band rehearsal, above) and Orana Catholic School, where the quintet were joined by the school's trumpet section for a knockout performance of 'Blues in Bb'!

Youngster led

Spokesperson Alan Edmond, the former Development Officer of the Scottish Brass Association, told 4BR that the initiative offers the perfect way for youngsters to enjoy the challenge of taking a brass instrument to play

"Our visit builds on something that was first tried in 2016 with encouraging results. The potential for an explosion of brass playing talent is there to be both seen and heard as soon you turn up at one of the schools — and like the best practice anywhere in the world, it's led by the youngsters themselves."

With the support we are getting from the schools I'm sure the message will soon get out that making music in this way is both cool and funAlan Edmond

Enthusiasm

He added: "It's so encouraging to see the enthusiasm, but the challenge is to build on that.

With the support we are getting from the schools I'm sure the message will soon get out that making music in this way is both cool and fun. It certainly was with the youngsters we teamed up with on this trip!"