Last weekend the North West Brass Band Association held their first Training Day for member bands.

Over 60 players

The event was held at the Hollingworth Business & Enterprise College in Milnrow, Rochdale and was attending by over 60 players.

The event was staged free of charge to all the players for an event that was previously organised by the Manchester District of the NWABBA.

The tutors for the event came from the Foden's Band under the leadership of Mark WilkinsonOrganisers

Fodens tutors

The tutors for the event came from the Foden's Band under the leadership of Mark Wilkinson.

Mark put together a team comprising Natsumi Inaba, Simon Minshall, Les Neish, Lucy Pankhurst, Dave Wycherley, Alan Wycherley and Andy Rolfe.

Masterclass

At the start of the day all the players were given a masterclass and then split into two groups with the Improving Learners Group being taken for sectional rehearsals on 'English Folk Songs Suite' and the Intermediate Group having a full band rehearsal on 'The Three Musketeers'.

Performances

After lunch the two groups changed places and the whole event concluded with each group giving a performance of their chosen work to the assembled audience of players and supporters, followed by a massed performance of a hymn tune.

A new venture was the presentation of two seminars for band organisers at the same venue.

Fund Raising

Carole Crompton, Arts Officer for Bolsover Council and David Hirst gave clear guidance on making applications for the new Arts Council Grants for the Arts, highlighting the importance of involving the local Arts Officer who acts as the clearing house for grant applications and will be able to support and advise those making applications to the fund.

Being proactive

Meanwhile, Louise Renshaw of Macclesfield Youth Band gave an inspiring talk on the way that her band goes about putting their large organisation into the public eye.

The need to be proactive was highlighted by Louise's description of new initiatives her band have been involved in.

Excellent work

On behalf of the NWABBA the Chairman, Peter Bates, extended thanks to all the tutors for their excellent hard work throughout the day and also to member bands for supporting the event.

Many of those who attended expressed their thanks to the tutors and the Association for staging this event and said how much they had benefited from this experience and hoped another one would be held at some time in the future.