Children benefit
Changing lives trhough brass music
Somerset Cres students in Highbury have hit the right note learning brass instruments with the Salvation Army.
Just Brass co-ordinator Colin Davidson says the 17 students have been coming to the army for 12 weeks now for the once-a-week hourly band practice.
“Parents of these children have already noted the positive impact on their school work. One mother told the school her child was shy and lacked confidence but she has seen a significant change over the 12 weeks.”
The students are collected from school in the two army vans, file in with their instruments and sit down for a specially-prepared afternoon tea. Then they continue their lessons with Neville Lauridsen who was approached to teach because of his clear and patient tutoring style, Colin said.
The army is paying for Neville to teach the children and works with Captain Stewart Lee.
Colin first came across the Just Brass programme two years ago when he visited Melbourne where the Salvation Army was teaching children from low-socio economic communities.
“It is an appealing project and it adds meaning to the wider community to support them financially through the programme,” said Colin.
“Just Brass transforms children’s lives.
“It is the fence at the top of the cliff. It gives the children stability, self confidence and social skills.”
Colin said since itinerant teacher funding was axed, extra-curricular programmes in primary schools were no longer offered. Just Brass filled a void but it did have a cost.
The army is paying for the inaugural programme and has costed for it to be offered to other schools in the Manawatu¯ region.
“It will cost up to $57,000 with instruments and we will be looking to the community for support,” said Stewart.
Just Brass started in Geelong in 2010 and has been taken up in other Australian states and is now in New Zealand.
■ If you would like to support Just Brass to be offered to other schools in the Manawatu¯, please contact the Salvation Army on 358 7455
■ See LOCAL FOCUS Made with NZ on Air Funding