News from the World of Brass Bands

Brass Band Academy Started

Test Valley Brass Band has started a great new venture called the TVB Senior Academy, with the objective of teaching adults to play brass instruments. Inn only its second week there were 15 new members receiving tuition on a range of instruments from cornets to basses. Most of these were new to playing musical instruments of any kind, but good progress is being made.

Ken West, who is leading this venture assisted by Chris Sharp told The Brass Band Portal, "We have been delighted and a bit surprised by the response we have seen. As soon as we announced that we would be starting [the] Academy people were immediately saying they wanted to be part of it, and more are [saying] they want to come. The atmosphere has been so exciting and enthusiastic".

Ken West

17/11/13

Test Valley Receives Award Winning Tuition

On Sunday 20^th October, members of Test Valley Brass (Andover, Hampshire, UK) gathered at John Hanson School for a  of outstanding tuition by the conductor, adjudicator and composer Chris Wormald.

Members of all the bands at Test Valley joined together; including members of the beginner band Frostys, the Youth Band and the Senior Band all benefiting from Wormald's experience and expertise. The day started with working on tuning and intonation, quickly progressing to working on volume and balance. Throughout the day a number of pieces were worked on bringing many elements of playing in a brass band together including rhythm, breathing and style

Peter Heslop, Chairman of Test Valley Brass told The Brass Band Portal, "The day has been just fantastic, this is the first master-class we have had with a conductor / adjudicator as [opposed] to an instrumentalist and it's been an absolute revelation. I must thank Trena Huggins and the whole management team for organising this and the army of supporters and parents who provided lunch, snacks and drinks. It has been a real team effort, we have had a Brilliant day and everyone without exception has gone away buzzing with excitement and renewed enthusiasm, saying it's been the best day ever and when can we have Chris back again."

Alec Grimsey

27/10/13

Six Grade 8 Exams Being Taken in One Day

Russell Lock, a peripatetic music teacher from Sandwell in the West Midlands, UK, will be taking 6 grade 8 exams on the 5^th December 2013 in order to help to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Mr Lock (pictured centre) will be taking Grade 8 examinations on the Trumpet, Tenor Horn, Euphonium, Trombone, Bass Trombone and Tuba. As primarily a trombone player, the challenge has encountered many difficulties including range, valve technique and having to master 18 pieces and scales. However, the biggest difficulty came in the organisation of the whole event. Mr Lock has managed to gain endorsement from some big names in order just to make this event possible with sponsors supplying instruments, mouthpieces and accessories. Trinity College has agreed to wave the examination fees for all of the examinations. Mr Lock told The Brass Band Portal, &qout;this event would not have been possible without the kind support of so many people and organisations, I hope to make their investments worthwhile by raising as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK.&qout;

This event will be hosted by Sandwell Music and Arts Service who have helped to organise both the venue, St Mark's Church, Smethwick and the examination date, 5^th December 2013

Videos may be viewed on YouTube and donations can be made on-line. 100% of the money raised will go to Cancer Research UK.

Russell Lock

27/10/13

Test Valley Youth Brass from Andover in the UK has received a donation from a local private health-care company, which, in addition to a donation from a Dorothy Page, a patron of the band, has enabled them to purchase a number of instruments and stands The equipment will help more young people to the benefits of learning a skill for life while bringing enjoyment to themselves and others.

Peter Heslop, Chairman of Test Valley Brass told The Brass Band Portal, "We are extremely grateful to Simplyhealth for this very generous grant. We have no external funding or sponsorship and all our income is generated by member subscriptions, performing at concerts and local events along with grants like this, without which we just wouldn't be able to survive."

The instruments and stands were presented by Janet Whitely, the mayor of Test Valley, and her consort Neville Whitely, Liz McGregor from Simplyhealth along with Dorothy and Brian Page also attended the presentation.

Alun Grace, Conductor of the Youth Band told us, "Our Youth and Frosty's Bands are growing all the time and we are keen to welcome anyone who would like to come along and learn to play a brass instrument, this grant has enabled us to continue growing and not only help all our brilliant young people but our adult learners and existing players as well."

Alec Grimsey

30/9/13

The young members of Test Valley Brass Youth Band take their role in helping us all to remember the sacrifices of those before us extremely seriously and once again this year were honoured to be invited and perform at Overton (Hampshire, UK) during the service of remembrance, while former conductor of the band, Alec Grimsey, played The Last Post and Reveille for the thirtieth successive year at this very moving service.

Also this year once again the Test Valley Brass Senior Band took part in the service at the Cenotaph in Andover.

Alun Grace, conductor of the Test Valley Brass Youth Band said, "I have had a lot of positive feedback from members of the congregation after the service, we are very proud to be asked to Overton each year having previously performed at Middle Wallop. This is a very important part of the bands calendar." He continued, "Test Valley Brass [is] an incredible organisation of immense talent and depth that not only [values its] role in the community but also the importance of taking part in events such as today, which not only is very important to help remember the fallen but also [helps] the young members within our group understand a little about what goes on in the world and the sacrifices made by others."

Alec Grimsey

10/11/13

At the recent Test Valley Brass AGM the baton for the Youth Band was handed over to Alun Grace. Alec Grimsey stepped down to make way for new blood and fresh ideas. At the AGM Alec was presented with a number of "cup cakes" which said "Thank You Alec" made by Ella Howells and three of the Youth Band members Maddison Douch, Lydia Moulding and Ella Howells sang a song they had written themselves about all the fun things they had done with the band. 

Having been asked to help out in September 2010 when the band was suddenly left without a conductor and short of players, Alec agreed to do what he could to help. No one quite realised what a success it would turn out to be. Having taken the band to perform in Romsey Abbey, York Minster and Mallorca, increasing numbers dramatically across the whole Youth Section, been instrumental in bringing the world renown virtuoso Steven Mead to Andover to teach and perform with the band, having had a piece of music specially commissioned and written for the band by Chris Wormald and also at the Wessex Brass Band Associations Youth and Training Band contest earlier this year returned with no less than second place in both the Youth and Training Band sections, first for deportment and first for best soloist (Izzy Rutherford) and a Gold award for Diarmid MacDonald on bagpipe who performed with the band, it has been a fantastic couple of years in the history of the band.

Alec said, "I have been very touched by such a fantastic send off, it really was very moving, I have enjoyed myself immensely and the young people involved with Test Valley Brass are absolutely brilliant. We have a wonderful happy, hard working group which has lots of fun, you really couldn't wish for better young people. I always say, it's not about being the best or winning all the time, it's about trying your best, enjoying it and having fun; this is what we focus on and exactly what we do." He continued, "Any praise and accolades are down to the team at Test Valley Brass and all the fantastic young players, not just one person, we have an army or parents and helpers who all pull together and make things happen, it really is a very dynamic organisation, and one big happy family. Finally, he said "I know I have handed the band over to a very capable pair of hands, the future is very bright for them with the experience and fresh thinking that they will now benefit from."

Alun brings many, years of experience conducting not only Youth Bands but also Senior Bands at many levels. He said, "I am very excited to be taking over the band, it is in excellent shape and at a very high standard, we have great times ahead and it's going to be a lot of fun." He added, I have promised the band I will give them one hundred and ten per cent and I will continue to build on the strong foundations that have now been put in place."

Ken West a trustee of the band told us, "We are not letting Alec go that easily; he is going to help with our outstanding education system along with promoting the band. This coupled with the experience and ideas Alun is going to bring will further enhance Test Valley Brass."

Alec Grimsey

5/4/13