Academy Newsletter - Summer 2021

Hello and welcome to this edition, first of the year 2021, of the Gillingham Band Academy Newsletter. I hope you are well and getting back to some semblance of normality in your daily lives. It has been ever such a long haul and I empathise with each and everyone of you as the impacts will have no doubt been challenging in some way, shape or form. Every walk of life has taken knocks and that includes the entertainment industry both from professional and amateur perspectives. But during restrictions music has found a way to sustain momentum via the wonders of technology; be that scanning and copying music and exercises to send out, remote platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams affording a means of keeping brass tuition progressing and finally a mix of technology and people who are excellent at pulling together individual recordings to result in online band video compilations. So, let’s get down to giving you all of the latest news and in particular, how we are planning to get live rehearsals/tuition sessions/performances up and running once again.

 

Government Guidance – The Road Map:

Easing of restrictions on both the 12th April and the 17th May this year did open doors for children’s groups/activities and latterly in May some form of senior activities to resume. The next significant stage of the Road Map, the 21st June is one that is currently earmarked as ‘Freedom Day’ but one which is currently very much under the spotlight as new variants of Covid emerge.

So what are we thinking at Gillingham Imperial Silver Band in respect of getting ‘Banding Back on the Run’?

 

Gillingham Band and Academy ‘Return to Brass Banding’:

Throughout this pandemic, the Committee have been meeting regularly via the Zoom platform, there have been plenty of issues to consider. At onset of the first Lockdown in March of last year, we suddenly found ourselves plunged into a non income generation scenario with a Band building to support. As mentioned in a previous newsletter, we are fortunate to have our own premises. Many Bands outside of the Championship section use hired facilities which are often without storage for instruments, music and accessories. Our ever supportive Chair and Treasurer with help and guidance from an organisation known as Brass Bands England, have worked to secure Grants which were and are available for Bands during these trying times. We can now breathe a sigh of relief as matters are looking financially secure for the time being. I am also in the throes of trying to secure a grant specifically for the Academy so fingers crossed that this venture meets with resultant success.

So, moving onto the big question – WHEN ARE WE GOING BACK TO BAND WITH THE ACADEMY? Throughout this pandemic we have kept an ever watchful eye on the changing Government Guidance and have carried out our own Covid Risk Assessment which has been updated several times in line with changing conditions and information. In discussion during the March Committee meeting I offered a view reference a return to Academy Banding and I hope you are all happy with the view and time-lines I suggested and which were agreed at that meeting. Based on a number of points which included amongst others, making the Band premises Covid safe and maintaining a watchful eye on new Covid variants and how the overall situation pans out following easing of restrictions, it has been decided that the Academy will return to Banding at earliest, the beginning of the Autumn term, provided of course there are no further twists and turns leading to restrictions being tightened again. I have spoken with our Musical Director who takes the Training Band, and that group might return earlier. Autumn is not such a long way off, and it is at last exciting times to think that hopefully we can return soon to further Brass music making together and as a team. I will keep you informed of all developments regarding a ‘return to banding’.

How’s the Instrument?

Now is a good time to check instruments for full operability. Slides and valves are the main areas to look at please. If either are stuck/not moving, don’t worry and above all don’t try to force them to move. Just let me know as soon as you can with a brief description of the problem and I will arrange to collect and resolve the issue(s). It is important that we address any instrument maintenance needs as soon as possible; as Bands gradually start up after the long down-time, they are realising that many instruments are in need of some attention. Where this attention needs the services of an accredited instrument repairer/technician, there is a considerable queue that we need to join sooner rather than later. It is harvest time for instrument technicians as they are being inundated with instruments for repair and ‘un-sticking’ as bands start to get on the move.

Tips to get ‘Match Fit’:

If maintaining a regular routine of practice during the past 14 months has been difficult or not possible, then please do not be concerned, I completely understand. I would reassure everyone that by starting to practice now on a little but often basis, your brass playing will start to re emerge. Brass playing is very closely related to sport so the important point to observe is ‘get back into it gently if you have not played much of late’. In such circumstances rushing in and carrying out a 30 minute practice, especially without a proper warm-up could result in strains/injuries to embouchure (facial) muscles.

The main points to follow are -

  1. Practice a little but often if you have not been playing for a while

  2. Always warm-up – starting out by playing long notes then follow this with repeated tonguing of notes (both slow and quick tonguing). If you can slur between two harmonics (same valve combination/slide position) up and down repeatedly try this exercise as well after the tonguing exercises

  3. If you can manage a tune (or two), finish your practice by playing a tune that you really enjoy

  4. Think about keeping a log (optional) of when you have practised and for how long you practised (just like some runners do when they log how far they have run on a certain day and for how long)

Do feel free to get in touch with me if help is needed with a programme to get back into the swing of things.

There are a number of the Academy having lessons from me and the message to those of you that are is to keep up the good work, all is progressing well!

 

Band Room Makeover:

You hopefully will be pleasantly surprised when you return to the Band Room as there is much work currently ongoing improving what had become a tired and cluttered building. Briefly, here is what has been done and/or is planned to be done prior to a ‘Return to Banding’ -

  • The Boys WC and Wash Rooms have been fitted with a new wash hand basin, the electrical consumer unit neatly boxed in and fully decorated – big thanks to one of our Bass (Tuba) players, who has done an excellent job with this

  • Soap dispensers and hand sanitisers fitted – thanks go to another Bass (Tuba) player who has carried this out

  • New LED light fittings installed

  • Electrical fire detection system installed (to replace the old wireless battery units)

  • Emergency lighting system installed

  • New electrical sockets and relocation of sockets

  • Full decoration ongoing of the Band Room, Staircase and Ground Floor corridor

  • Curtains to be fitted to windows in the Band Room

  • Music Library to be stored in metal filing cabinets (good work ongoing by our Treasurer and the Band Music Librarian)

As you will see from the above, there is a lot going on and especially now as at last we can get 6 people working in the premises suitably socially distanced. If any of you want to help out with the make-over then we would be delighted to see you. I am sure there are a plethora of skills out there amongst parents/friends which would be invaluable on this project. If you want to get involved then do please drop me a line and we will plan something out so that we are operating covid safely to improve the facilities.

I have posted a few pictures below to give you a quick insight as to the progress to date -

Remote Cory Contest – March 2021

Just after Christmas, the Senior Band began preparation for a second Covid Lockdown remote online Band Contest organised by the Cory Band from Wales. The theme was to base a 10 minute programme of music centred around the Bands’ geographical location. With the expert assistance of our Music Director and I might add very many hours of work on his part supplying click tracks to us all, editing them on receipt and putting together some excellent video footage an incredible programme was produced. The Contest in March saw us coming in at Number 11 but this position did not detract from what is undoubtedly a superb all round effort and excellent audio/video presentation. Just go to our website gisb.co.uk and click on Latest News - ‘Watch us again 28th March 2021’ to see for yourself – music from Jurassic Park, Thomas the Tank engine, Ticket to Ride, Calling Cornwall and Buglers’ Holiday.

 

Rounding up

I hope the video and the news and pictures from the Band room and its’ much needed ‘Make-Over’ has whetted appetites for a return to ‘Happy Music Making’ in the Autumn. Do get in touch, it would be great to hear from you and if help is needed with the instrument and/or getting back into playing then I am ready to assist. Equally, if anyone wants to help us lift the Band Room improvements to greater heights, then please do not hesitate to drop me a line.

 

Take care and I will keep you updated as things progress.

 

Best wishes,

Marcus

 

 

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