Band's commitment marches on

OPINION: We all love the sight of a marching band, and feel roused by the music the musicians make. I can remember, as a child, chasing after one heard in the distance, just for the thrill of being up close to all that sound and energy.

The Alpine Energy Timaru Brass is a group of about 30 people, whose ages range from 15 to about 65. They come from all walks of life, and include business people, freezing workers, retired people, land agents and school students.

How does anyone start out in this interest? A good way is through the learners' band at Grantlea Downs Primary School. Here the band offers the support of instruments and tutors. Most children start at about the age of eight. Before that, the mouth is not sufficiently formed for the demands of the instruments. Youngsters who are keen to have a go are encouraged to try out all instruments before deciding which one to learn.

The junior band contains children up to secondary-school age, at which time they may progress to the senior band. This focus on the learner and junior side is essential for the future of the band, because without new people coming on, the band would soon cease to exist. As it is, there are always some losses to the band, as good young players head away to university. The hope can only be for their eventual return. In this sense, the band finds itself a training band for other bands.

Key people in the band are the bandmaster-musical director, Dwayne Bloomfield, the leader of the juniors, David Wolff, and band president, Kent Smith. They each contribute hugely to the band.

Mr Bloomfield is from the New Zealand Army Band and head of the School of Music at Burnham, and is committed to Timaru to the point that he travels from Burnham twice a week to practise with the band.

Mr Wolff has much skill to contribute, having previously been a brass itinerant teacher for South Canterbury secondary schools, and being past musical director of the band. He gains valuable assistance from Carly Race, a teacher at Grantlea Downs.

Mr Smith has been involved with the band for the last 40 years and is a trombone player.

Right now, the band is practising on Mondays and Thursdays for the upcoming provincial competitions in Christchurch on Saturday, March 27. Members also practise in their own time.

For some, the full band practices involve considerable travel, because they come from as far away as Kurow, Christchurch, Orari, Temuka, Pareora and, as mentioned, Burnham.

There will be no letup any time soon, because after the provincials, they are involved on Anzac Day, with a street march, the civic service and the Last Post.

Next on the calendar is the National contest in Dunedin in July. No qualifying is necessary, just a whole lot of practise, for many months. They are required to play a set test piece, one of their own choice, a hymn test and a street march.

Recent renovations to the bandrooms have totally transformed this venue to a functional building, with the addition of a storeroom, a uniform room and two practise rooms, as well as a library for their collection of 3000 pieces of music.

It is an expensive exercise to get 30 people to a contest and back, with food and accommodation to consider too.

Being a bus trip, the Dunedin contest will be less expensive than flying all to the North Island, in which case costs can climb as high as $30,000.

Members contribute to cover these costs, and the rest is gathered from members' subscriptions and funding.

The band enjoys terrific support from Alpine Energy, and a smaller assistance from the Timaru District Council, although the main source of funding is housie. Currently at the RSA on Tuesdays, all are welcome to go along and have fun, maybe enjoy a thrill of winning, and at the same time contribute to this great asset to Timaru.

- © Fairfax NZ News