Community Bands Need Players

[Gandalfe]

Many community band exist out there. If you are just sucking on your mouthpiece and trying to get the guts to go public, performing in a community band can be a good way to build your chops. As many of you know, I started playing sax again over a year ago after a 28 year break. I bought an alto, started playing my favorite arpeggios (Rubank) and then played a solo at the funeral of a fellow musician. I also transcribed a solo off a CD and started using Jamey Aeversold books/cds.

So I looked at the community bands available in the Seattle area (fortunately there were many) and selected the one I play for now. I found a list at http://www.boerger.org/c-m/groups.shtml.

My first year was a heady experience, and I played one concert band solo and a couple of dance band solos. I wanted to do a better job of solo's so I started taking lessons. And I now in year two and making the most of the experience.

Some people find concert music boring, but I use that time to work on my long tones and intonation. Every minute playing is a minute of practice.

Enjoy.

[Mark5047]

Thanks for the tip! I just joined a community band in my area and had the first rehersal tonight. It was awesome. I am looking forward to next week already

[Steve T Sax]

The Community Band that I play in has musicians at many levels of experience, from late bloomers to studio musicians, and all are very enthusiastic.
Community Bands are a great place to make contacts that lead to involvement in other bands!

[goodsax]

I agree with everyone. I joined the Placentia Community Concert Band about 3 -4 months ago and it has given me a new perspective on my sax playing hobby. I have one concert under my belt and another set for April 18th. Our 83 members include high school and college band directors and retired directors, ex-military band members, one who plays full time in the Disneyland Band, and others with equally inpressive musician's credentials. I feel very humbled playing with some of these folks, but I'm holding my own, and there are many others like me who played in school, laid off for a lengthy period of time, and decided to return to playing one or more instruments later in life. It's a very enjoyable learning experience and, as others have shared, I look forward with eager anticipation to every weekly rehearsal. Besides, you get to meet a lot of very friendly players who share your passion for music and appreciate the opportunity to play and perform in a quality musical organization.

[AmyPf]

The community band I play with is called The Northeast Kingdom International Wind Symphony. Pretty fancy schmancy, huh? What makes this band unique is that the players come from all over, (Vermont, New Hampshire and the Eastern Townships of Québec) all ages (12 - 76) and all degrees of musicality. One of the tuba players is completely self-taught, he also taught himself how to read music. I was inspired to join when I attended a concert back in January. Afterwards I asked the director if he conducted auditions and he said, "No, just show up for rehearsal on Monday night". He added that they really needed a tenor player, so that did it for me. I'm enjoying it immensely, but finding a consistent space and time for practice is a problem. We are playing our first concert of the season on Mother's Day May 9th, as a fund-raiser for a much-needed dialysis unit at our local hospital. Please come if you're in the area!

[goodsax]

Good luck with your benefit concert. I'm in the Placentia Community Concert Band in Placentia, CA (Orange County) and we just had our annual concert to benefit the band (to buy equipment, music, etc.). An estimated 400 people attended at $5 each last Sunday afternoon. We had 85 band members participate including 3 altos, 2 tenors and 3 bari's.

If there is anyone in the Anaheim, North Orange County, CA area who knows of a reasonably competent tuba player who would like to play in a community concert band, we need one in the worst way. We rehearse every Thursday night and average about one concert each month. You can reach me by clicking on the email button below.