It's been a while... ...and lots of things have happened in the last 3 months. The latest news is that all the students who took exams this term have passed and most with a Merit. I'm really pleased for all of them, from those that did their first exam to my grade 7 trombone player. The next exams are in June/July and anybody who wants to try needs to prove they are ready by the end of April. I suspect I will have a lot of students entering next term... get practising those scales!
Last month also saw the National Brass Band Championships: the biggest brass band contest in the country where every band tries for promotion up the league tables. City of Bristol Brass Band competed, playing Edward Gregson's The Plantagenets (as did every other band in the second section) and was very pleased with the performance when they came off the stage. Unfortunately it was not to be for us, being placed 7th out of 16 bands. This places us in a good position for next year's championship... but that's next year! I'm looking forward to competing with the Band again in May at the Weston-super-Mare Own Choice contest. I have bought me a new trombone. I have been after a large bore trombone with a trigger for some time and earlier in the year I was able to get one. It plays really well and I am really happy to have it. It does mean that I now have to do my Grade 8 Trombone, as a condition set down by my wife for buying the 'bone. (The trombone is one instrument I have not done any exams on.) Back to work on Monday for the long term that is Summer (14 weeks!). Keep practising!
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It's been a good start to the year so far... Many students have practised at least once over the Christmas holidays and some have even been preparing for their exams. Six pupils have been entered: grades 1 to 7 and on cornets, a trumpet and a trombone. I will notifiy everybody of the exam dates and times as soon as I know (which should be by the middle of February). I have been having so much fun with my new plastic trombone! It has gone down a storm with all of my students (old and young, beginner and advanced!) as well as my colleagues! This is such a great trombone for anybody, especially younger students who may not handle instruments as well as their parents would like them to and comes at a fraction of the cost of even a budget 'bone! For more information on these fantastic instruments, visit plastictrombone.co.uk/. I am busy preparing Edward Gregson's The Plantagenets with the City of Bristol Brass Band at the moment. The test piece will be played in Torquay on 9th March by us and 15 other bands hoping for a place in the National Brass Band Championships Finals in September and to gain promotion.
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