Bands need to concentrate on recruiting young players
AFTER every local band contest, I am usually expressing the need for bands to concentrate on recruiting youngsters because they really are the future of brass banding.
It was great to see six youth bands taking part in the Spring Festival Welsh League event at Merthyr in May and also a youth band playing in the Fourth Section against adult bands. The Youth bands were BTM Beginners, Melingriffith Beginners (M4), Melingriffith Youth (M3) Milford Haven Town Juniors, Rhondda Fach Youth and Upper Rhondda Juniors.
The junior band playing in the 4th Section was Cwmtawe & District Youth.
Getting youngsters to join is not easy, but some bands are really doing an excellent job of attracting young players to learn to play percussion instruments and/or brass instruments.
One example is the combination of Tylorstown band with Ynyshir to create the Rhondda Fach Youth under the guidance of Angela Westacott.
I asked Angela if she could pen a few words about the Youth band and how things are progressing.
She wrote: “Rhondda Fach Youth Band was formed in October 2014, the idea of Gary Davies, musical director of both Tylorstown and Ynyshir Senior Brass Bands.
“Having seen first hand the hard work the tutors of both junior bands put into every rehearsal, Gary suggested they join forces and work together towards the Youth Section contests held by both SEWBBA (South East Wales Brass Band Association) and WWBBA (West Wales Brass Band Association) during the year.
“The idea was well received and with both bands residing in the Rhondda Fach, the Rhondda Fach Youth Band was formed.
“It was only weeks before the band was noticed locally and was invited to play its inaugural concert on Thursday, December 11, 2014, at St John’s Church in Porth.
“Here, a mixture of festive arrangements and audience participation pieces made for an excellent start and a fantastic first impression on the packed audience.
“Next, the The Rhondda Fach Youth Band competed in its first SEWBBA Youth Contest in May 2015, where after weeks of hard work and a fantastic performance on the day, a gold award was achieved - a great debut and start to the band’s contesting ca- reer. Since then, the band has competed in a further three Youth contests, all of which have seen gold awards being achieved and a further accolade of receiving the youngest player award for fiveyear-old (now six) Noah Davies, the band’s upand-coming kit percus- sionist. The age range of the band is from six to 18 and incorporates abilities from absolute beginner to established youth player. The band also benefits from the experience of senior players from both connected bands offering free tuition.”
Rehearsals are every Friday evening at 6.30pm and alternate between Tylorstown and Ynyshir band rooms under the direction of Tylorstown’s principal euphonium, Angela Westacott and Ynyshir’s solo baritone Derek Andrews.
The band also benefits from tuition from experi- enced soloists and players from both senior bands and a watchful eye is cast over many rehearsals by the senior bands’ musical director, Gary Davies.
The band plays all types of music ranging from Holst’s Planet Suite to Pharrell Williams’ ever popular Happy, with the most recent addition being Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk!
Angela said a strong emphasis is placed on selecting music that the youngsters are familiar with, so their interest is always maintained. In addition, a vital role of the youth band is to ensure that young talent is being developed and integrated with the senior band where appropriate for the individual.
Instruments are supplied by both Tylorstown and Ynyshir Bands to every youngster that would like to take part and all music is supplied free of charge.
The band is currently self funded, but always welcomes opportunities for sponsorship and support from local businesses and individuals.
Angela added: “As for the band’s future, our mission is that more and more youngsters from within the Rhondda Fach and indeed from all over Wales take up this wonderful opportunity to experience not only playing a brass instrument, but how rewarding being part of the brass band movement can be.”
Anyone interested in playing for the Rhondda Fach Youth Band is asked to contact Angela Westacott 07887 954890 or Derek Andrews 07989 113694 or pop along to the designated bandroom on a Friday night (term time) www.facebook. com/RhonddaFachYouthBand. www.twitter. com@RhonddaFYBand.”
If you would like your child to be involved in a band and you are not sure where your local band rehearse get in touch with me, David Francis, and I will put you in touch with your nearest band.