Never Too Late!

A year ago, at the age of 67 years, I had not even considered being in a band. I was asked over a year ago if I wanted to learn, but declined at the time, then five months ago I changed my mind and asked if I could learn and here I am! Joining a band has opened a whole new world for me. Discovering my capability to play a brass instrument has been a revelation!

My biggest challenge was my first public performance, in our local church at an Easter Service. I was nervous of performing in front of friends of the church but it was a great success.  Being one of the founder members of our newly formed Bonchester Band, to see my fellow players being surrounded by my friends being praised on their performance, and congratulating me on my ability, my pride overwhelmed me.

I am very fortunate in that I have experienced players within the band who are my tutors and have brought me on to this stage of my banding life. To them I say thank you for passing on your experience and knowledge to me.   Now to those who say “I cannot” I say “YOU CAN, I did and I can”

Over the last few months I have been going up the ladder, although still a novice, building my ability to play week to week.   One great thing about being a member of the world of music is that you make new friends who were once just passing acquaintances, and live a whole new different life from the usual daily routine. 

There is always some involvement in performing with the band at different venues, and also the public are always appreciative of us entertaining them at concerts etc. 

Just 5 months, on now and I am preparing to go to  Brass In The Park, a brass banding contest that is being held at the Scottish Mining Museum in Newtongrange, and I am looking forward to competing alongside more experienced musicians.  The experience will be a revelation and something that I never would have thought could happen to me a year ago, as in the past years I have just been an onlooker, travelling with the band to and from the venues as a supporter.