It’s winter again … 

… and there’s the usual crop of lurgies around.  Please try and stay fit and free of accidents – we need a nice healthy active band for the next couple of months – you can be ill in January, but not before!!

 Black Dyke at the Sage

On behalf of everyone who went to the Sage at Gateshead, we want to say a big “Thank you” to Mike for driving the minibus.  An excellent evening was had by all!

Attention all Learners

Learners will continue pretty much as usual until 29^th November) and will not resume until 10^th January.  Please let Steve or Dorothy know if you are not going to come; there is little more dispiriting than hanging round the Bandroom on a Saturday night waiting for non-existent pupils!

This does not mean that December is “time off”!  We hope that all learners will participate in the vast amount of carolling that will be done during December!  So dig out gloves and hats and join us!

We also hope that mums, dads etc. will help as collectors!  Please let Dorothy know if you are available to help with this.

Christmas is coming – yes, really! 

In this month’s newsletter you will find details of where, when and for how long we shall be freezing our assets off!  Please do your best to get to as many jobs as possible – after all, it’s our main fund-raiser of the year!  Remember, you don’t need uniform, just as many layers of woollies as you can manage and still remain mobile! (Please wear band jumpers or hoodies for pub jobs though!) Christmassy hats, gloves etc. are a good idea, as are lights, tinsel etc.  A lyre is VITAL – if you have one, don’t forget it, if not, see Dorothy NOW!

When you get your carolling list PLEASE let Dorothy know the dates you definitely CAN do and those that you definitely CAN’T.  If there are ones that you’re not sure about, don’t worry but it is nice to have an idea of who is doing what! Please remember that the band is a team – we all depend on each other and when you don’t come you ARE missed!

Meanwhile, we shall need collectors – so start badgering at parents, partners, friends and relations to come and help, and get offers of help to Dorothy rolling in ASAP!

YHBBA Brass Band Workshop

This was as usual a most enjoyable and profitable day for all those who attended.

Thank you to the anonymous benefactor who enabled 18 people to go to the workshop.  All have come back enthused, having learnt a lot from the excellent tuition and from fellow students from other bands!  Just don’t ask them to play Mozart for a while!

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 Secretary first!

Birthdays

                                                     

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

Happy Birthday to: 

                Jason            19^th November
                Will S.            29^th November (18!!!)  
 
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!

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!

Details about upcoming jobs

Remembrance Parade, Helmsley.  We meet in the car park by the castle, where there will be reserved parking for the band.  Please put a Swinton Band notice visible in your car. Please remember to bring lyres, straps etc. (and of course poppies!)
This job can be very chilly and wet, so it is a good idea to wear plenty of extra layers under your uniform and bring gloves (preferably black)!  And please do not forget your band waterproof – the parade has only been cancelled for weather once since the last war!!

Lyres

Please check to make sure you have a lyre as you will need it for Remembrance Sunday and carolling. If you haven’t please let Dorothy know AT ONCE so that she can ensure she has one for you!

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!