BOYS' BRASS BAND

Evening Star, Issue 19664, 17 September 1927, Page 10

BOYS' BRASS BAND

ALBANY STREET SCHOOL'S VENTURE Prompted by the interesting reports of tiie Southland tour of tho Albany Street School lirass Hand, a, ' Star ’ reporter paid a visit to tho band’s practice room tho other evening, when he was greatly surprised at tho wonderful mastery the boys showed over their instruments. They played several marches with a swing.and combination that would compare javorably with adult bands. - A noticeable feature during tho'practice was the strict_ attention given by the boys to their conductor (Mr A. Hanna), wlig, alter about'one hour’s vigorous weilding 61 the baton, made some interesting statements in regard to the formation of tho band. “Brass band music, so iar as interpretation and appreciation are concerned,” stated Mr Hanna, “ lias a far better effect on tho minds of young schoolboys than has file and drum music.'’ “While hoys generally have some hobby upon which they spend their spare time, it will generally be conceded that no hobby has such an elevating influence as anisic. It not only appeals to tho finest emotions) of tho child, thereby developing character, but it also provides the boys with opportunities to furnish music in their homes.” , Mr Hanna said that since the inception of the band boys who had no previous knowledge of music wero now able to accomplish this aim, which, with tho spirit of service that would interest and bring pleasure to others, wero some of his ideals in forming a brass band. He also stated that there was not sufficient scope for boys who learnt flute music to carry out their musical work, and no organisations to absorb them all when they left school. Boys who gained a knowledge of brass band music would later on bo able to carry on as members of adult bands. With these ideals in view, Mr Hanna approached the School Committee to see if it would hold itself responsible for the purchasing ot the instruments. To this request the committee acceded, and it is now ton months since the first real step was taken. The Band Committee, which consists of the head master (Mr Sprout) Mr Gray, Mr Dcuchrass, and the conductor, is responsible to the School Committee, which has given its whole-hearted support to tho movement.

Mr Rawlinson, a former liead master of the school, stated Mr _ Hanna, was one of the first to give his support to the school brass band movement, and he was really “ the father of the band.” The present head master (Mr Sproat) and members of the staff are also keenly interested in its welfare. When he first proposed the idea to the School Committee Mr Hanna said he asked for sixteen brass instruments to incorporate in the flute band, and he also invited parents of band hoys to consider the proposal of purchasing brass instruments for their boys, thereby giving them the opportunity to learn brass band music. • As a, result of this appeal, some thirtyfour parents bought instruments for their own boys, thus assuring a band of fifty instruments from the beginning. This speaks volumes for the inthusiasm of the people of the school district for their school organisation. From its inauguration the band has had the sympathy and support of Mr J. D. Dixon and tho members of the gt. Kilda Band. Mr Hanna believes that in tho near future there will be formed au expupils’ hand, which will absorb the boys as they leave tho primary school mid hold them until they are old enough to join an adult band. Apart from the beneficial results attained by individual members of the band, it is au organ by which some of the functions of tho school are fulfilled, for school assemblies, for route, marches, and for the flag salute ceremony each week. . The strictest discipline is, maintained among the boys, who hold their place by virtue of good conduct, and they clearly understand that the privilege is them’s in being members of the band. A. word of praiso must be given to the boys for the keen interest they have shown in their work from the beginning. Their interest is becoming keener as they realise that they are gaming something more than an elementary knowledge of music. Tho band is at present thirty-five strong, and there are fifteen boys, whose ages range from eight to nine years of age, mastering the first ideas with a view to filling up the ranks later. When asked what was the attitude of the Education Department on the question of brass band music in the schools, Mr Hanna replied that the movement had received the warm and cordial support of Mr Douglas Taylor, Director of Musical Education for New Zealand, who stated that a knowledge of brass band music would carry a boy a long way up the musical ladder, and that such a band would form a very important function in the corporate life of the school.

With regard to the forming of brass bands in other schools, Mr Hanna stated he thought that to make a real success of them the conductor required to be a member of the staff, but still there was no real reason why boys’ bands should not be formed in Dunedin. If not in schools, then bands junior to those already established might be formed. Each year the band makes a trip., usually at the invitation of some other school, and these excursions are of valuo not only educationally, but they are an incentive to the boys to practise for a place in the band. This year the band,made a very successful tour of the south, visiting Invercargill, W'inton, Clinton, and Bat-, olntha, where they were received most cordially. It was estimated that 3,000 people attended tho band’s promenade concert at Rugby Park, Invercargill, constituting a record for any musical promenade concert in Southland. "While on the tour it was the band’s privilege to play at several hospitals, and the opportunity to bring pleasure into the lives of the suffering was greatly appreciated. The tour was under the management of Mr Gray (a member of the School Committee, who devotes much of his time to forwarding the band’s interests) and Mr Hanna. Miss King (a member of the school staff) and three lady supporters, who attended to tho interests of tho boys, also made the trip. “There is no question whatever,” continued Mr Hanna, “that the tour of th« band will have beneficial results so far as stimulating music among young people is concerned.” In one district in Invercargill there is every likelihood of a boys’ band being formed, while in each of the other centres _ visited there were evidences of a new interest and a desire to have a similar organisation in its midst.