The clocks go back soon…

…and the summer is definitely over.  Now we start to think towards Christmas.  Our next job is Remembrance Day so it’s time to locate gloves and thermals!

Fireworks!

It’s that time of year again and Maggie’s parents have offered to host a firework party on Monday 3^rd November.  For more details of time, cost, etc, please speak to Maggie!

 YHBBA Brass Band Workshop

A reminder to all those who have booked onto this course that it is on Saturday 25^th October starting at 9.00 a.m.  You should be receiving emails from Peggy Tomlinson who organises it, fairly shortly.   However, all you have to do, really, is turn up on the day at Minsthorpe Conference Centre at South Minsthorpe. You can find a map showing where it is on the YHBBA website events page and directions are available at the centre’s website :

http://www.minsthorpetcc.co.uk/findus.html

If you need a lift, talk to Mike or Steve and we’ll see if we can organise one for you.

It might be helpful to take a music stand if you have one – but otherwise just take your instrument and anything like mutes, valve oil etc that you might need!

Christmas is coming!

Next month there will be all the details – now is the time to book collectors and clear diaries!

Vacancies

If you know or hear of any experienced cornet (or trumpet even!) players looking for a band please try and point them in our direction – the more the merrier!

Of course players on any brass band instrument are always welcome!

Malton Brass Contest

It may seem a while away, but by the time the next newsletter comes out it will be over!!

There will be extra rehearsals the week before so please try and keep that week free and make all possible efforts to attend them.

If you are not going to the Sage the night before and are strong and able-bodied, Alan Martin would be very glad of help in getting the hall ready – most of his usual labour is off to hear Black Dyke! Ask Dorothy for details. There will also be a need for stewards on the day.  If you can help with this, please see Dorothy.

As you may have heard, there are distinct problems with the Milton Rooms this year – the usual room we use for registration etc. is not available – the floor is unsafe, so arrangements are slightly different from usual.  We will be arriving at the usual door but as the only rooms available are downstairs, there will be no room for cases and clutter.  So you will need to leave instrument and jacket cases in the car, and arrive in uniform with just your instrument, mutes and music.  As the percussion is also arriving without cases and will have to be carried upstairs etc. we will also need some people to take responsibility for that as well.  Dorothy has offered to look after handbags while we are on stage.

 When we have played, we go out through the fire exit and end up outside the front of the Milton Rooms.  As your instruments are not insured when left in the car, you will then need either to take them home or get them to the Bandroom.  Mike will be taking the trailer out to the Bandroom with the percussion straight after we have played so there will be a certain amount of space there.  If you can offer car space to take more instruments to the Bandroom, please let Dorothy or Mike know.

The whole business is likely to be more fraught than usual, so please try and help wherever possible, and do as you are asked by stewards.

If you are going to clean your instrument before the contest – NOW is the time!

Black Dyke at the Sage

The plan is for the bus to leave at 3.30 from Dorothy’s allowing time to grab something to eat/drink before the concert – and time for the driver to get lost!!

Band Instruments

As you may be aware we have had issues over the insurance the band has on its instruments.  Our current insurance does NOT cover instruments left in unattended cars or on insecure premises – i.e. exactly when one wants insurance!  And after a lot of research we have found that the cost of getting an insurance that does for all band instruments is prohibitive!

So, as of the 1^st of January 2009, only the basses will be insured at all.  In consequence we need to ensure that certain rules are followed to protect the band’s instruments.  It is in your interest to do this – if your instrument is stolen or lost, we will not necessarily be able to replace it immediately until we have raised the money – it’s a year on and we haven’t yet got a new euphonium sorted!


Don’t leave an instrument visible in a car, and don’t leave it in an unattended car for any length of time.

Don’t ever leave your instrument at school – even if the teachers say it will be safe!

Don’t use gig-bags – especially for larger instruments, they present a real danger of damage and are also easier to pinch.

All in all, this can be summarised as STOP & THINK!  Our instruments are valuable – take care of them!

And remember if you want to use your instrument for anything other than Band (Church, School, County Band, depping, whatever!) you need to get permission from the band first!

Another Workshop Day!

This one, “Focus on Brass and Percussion”, is at the Sage, Gateshead and has an amazing line-up of tutors, including Sheona White, Brett Baker and Simone Rebello.  It is on Saturday 15^th November starting at 9.30 and, best of all it’s completely free!  If you are interested please ask Dorothy for application forms.  It looks really good.

Birthdays

                                                     

Ha ha – There is no escape from standing on your chair! 

Happy Birthday to: 

                 Valerie             17^th October
                 Luke                 27^th October      
 
As usual to anyone else I have missed – 

                             Happy Birthday!  

Practice copies

Practice copies of the Area Test Piece “The Talisman” are now available – take it home and get to grips with it!

I can also recommend the novel, by Walter Scott, on which it is based – good reading for the Christmas holidays!

Spiralling Fuel Prices!

Given the increased cost of fuel, it would seem a good idea to try and economise by taking as few cars as possible to band jobs.  So it would make sense to share cars as much as possible – please be prepared to offer lifts, and if you are given a lift, please try and make a contribution towards the driver’s costs!

This has special relevance to the job at Peasholme.  Parking here is a nightmare and tends to be expensive.  So let’s try and keep cars to a minimum.  If you have a space, offer one! 

Attention all learners and ex-learners!

Do you have a copy or copies of “Team Brass”  belonging to band knocking around your house, without being used?  If so, we’d be really grateful to have it back so that someone else can use it!  It’s great having lots of learners – the learners band is being booked for some jobs next year! – but we do need to have Tutor Books for them to learn from!  So if you are using “Team Brass”, great!  Otherwise, can we have them back please!

Availability for jobs

PLEASE, PLEASE let Dorothy know as soon as you know that you won’t be available for a job!  It makes it much easier for her to find replacements if she knows well in advance.  Dropping out at the last minute for any other reason than death is not acceptable!!  OK we’ll accept broken bones, too!