Percussion Masterclass to be led by International Solo Percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie

DATE: Sunday April 15th 2012
VENUE: The Stables, Milton Keynes
TIME: 1.00pm to 3.00pm

Booking Details:

Tickets: £6.50 (no concessions)
Email: boxoffice@stables.org
Tel: 01908 280800
Booking Website: The Stables

Box Office opens for priority band group bookings on February 2nd. From February 7th the Box Office will be open to the public.

Proceeds from this master class will support ABLE CHILD AFRICA, Dame Evelyn's adopted charity

"A unique opportunity to experience the expertise of international solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie as she shares her acclaimed skills with young people and leaders from the Marching Youth Band activity. Dame Evelyn is the first person in musical history to successfully create and maintain a career as a solo percussionist, with her diverse collaborations including artists such as Sting, Bjork and Fed Firth. Dame Evelyn has been prominent in lobbying the Government to invest in music for young people, so we are delighted that this Masterclass is aimed at inspiring young musicians. This prestigious Masterclass will clearly be of interest to all who enjoy music"

Dame Evelyn is Patron of The British Federation of Youth Marching Band Organisations who are organising this masterclass to support the UK's marching youth band activity. Tickets are priced at a low level to support bands' overall costs in attending.

Music Gold in 2012

Music Gold in 2012, the Federation's Youth Music funded initiative, has been granted the Inspire Mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme.

This is a second Inspire Mark awarded for a Federation project supported by our member organisations and their bands.

Nine bands from around the country head up regional clusters, and since the summer have begun to offer workshops led by professional musicians in this Youth Music funded project. The rationale behind the project is to support bands as they prepare for local, regional and national Olympic performances.

The nine bands are the 3rd Davyhulme Scouts and Guides, East Coast Elite, Halesowen Scouts, Kingston and Malden Scouts and Guides, Medina Marching Band, Moreton Boys and Girls Brigade, Revolution Show Band, Romford Drum and Trumpet Corps and Warwick Girls Band.

A Federation spokesperson adds 'The whole activity should be pleased that a Marching Youth Band project has again been awarded an Inspire Mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme. As we continue to strive for increased recognition, this award is a very creditable national achievement. We must record our thanks to Youth Music who have funded our 'Music Gold in 2012' initiative.

For further information email the Federation at marchbands@aol.com

Band GB and the New Year's Day Parade

Parading in the New Year's Day Parade will be 70 selected members from the band listed below, combining under the banner of 'Band GB'.

Unlike 2011 when Band GB was an 'all comers' band that paraded 209 with just one rehearsal, this year the most competent players from the following bands have met for four one day rehearsals to perfect their performance.

With a global TV audience of millions and an estimated live audience of 500,000 the bands are to be congratulated on working together to raise our profile in this first Capital City event of Olympic year, and the first in the year in which we celebrate HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Band taking part: Braintree Marxmen, Downsmen, Blazing Brass, Burgess Hill Marching Youth, 1st Sittingbourne BB & GB, 2529 Sqd ATC (Burgess Hill), NTC Corps TS Swiftsure and TS Implacable.

Olympic ceremony cast applications

CLOSES FRIDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2011

Download the London Olympics Bands application form here (in Excel format) >>

Download the text below as pdf here >>

Go to the Olympics Ceremonies Performer Registration Page here >>

London 2012 Ceremonies is now recruiting volunteer performers to participate in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Performing in front of a packed stadium and a broadcast audience of more than one billion people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of one of the largest events ever staged in the UK.

Artistic Directors Danny Boyle and Kim Gavin are searching for 10,000 volunteer performers to fill roles as dancers, actors, percussionists and general all-round performers in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies respectively. To be eligible you must be aged 18 years or older on 1 March 2012. Performing opportunities for under 18s will be facilitated through a separate process to be announced at a later date.

Previous performance experience is not required; Ceremonies Volunteer Performers simply need lots of enthusiasm, personality, a positive attitude, huge amounts of energy and a willingness to perform in front of a stadium audience and to millions of people around the world. However, to deliver Ceremonies of this scale to a world audience a substantial commitment is required. You must be able to participate in:

• Up to two auditions that will take place evenings and weekends in November and early December of this year;
• Up to two or three rehearsal sessions each week of up to four hours per session from March 2012, and a number of all day rehearsals in the three weeks leading up to each Ceremony.

All of these rehearsals will take place in east London. Whilst it is possible for us to offer assistance with public transportation to and from rehearsals between certain zones within the Transport for London transportation network, you will be responsible for covering the cost of your own transportation outside these travel zones.

If you would like a chance to take part in the greatest show on earth, register your interest by completing the online casting application form. The deadline for receipt of applications is FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9th. You can apply at any time during these three weeks.

This is not a first-come, first-served process and only one application per person will be accepted. If LONDON 2012 are lucky enough to receive over 15,000 applications a computerised draw will be used to randomly create the short list for auditions.

London 2012 Update...

On Olympic Update - ongoing information regarding ‘Marching 2012’, the Federation’s four year development strategy, launched in 2008 following our National Conference.

The Federation has been trying its best for more than two years to get marching youth bands involved in the London Olympics. This has been targeted at the London 2012 organisers, their regional personnel, and of course encouraging bands to prepare for what should be a busy year.

Nationally and regionally, this has ranged from attending small group meetings with Ceremonies Chairman Martin Green and Cultural Olympiad Supremo Bill Morris to developing contacts and being provided with advice from the large number of other key London 2012 managers. We have taken the view that the Federation is raising the activity's profile with these people, who are likely to hold senior posts in the arts, politics, education and grant funding bodies after 2012. Legacy at work!

More important however has been the active involvement of bands. Firstly, in the Federation's 2010 and 2011 Olympic Open Weekend '2012 Together' and 'Marching for Gold' initiatives. Secondly, the parade of the 209 strong Band GB in 2011's New Years Day Parade which has been developed into an elite band for January 1st 2012. Thirdly, the pre 2012 preparation that bands are planning in the next few months. Each of these has shown the activity‟s enthusiasm, commitment and talent.

Download the full document (PDF)

Olympic Update - August 2011 - Marching for Gold

Marching Youth Bands from 20 Counties marked one year to the Olympics with performances and workshops during London 2012s Open Weekend. From marching through the Mersey Tunnel to an end of Pier show at Cleethorpes, bands entered into the spirit of the celebrations bringing live music to thousands of the public.


Click the image below for larger photo montage:

Music Gold in 2012

The Federation are pleased to announce that they have secured a £29,694 grant from Youth music to strengthen preparation for 2012 in nine regions. Targeted at young people with 'talent and potential', nine bands will act as regional hosts for a series or workshops led by professional musicians.


Kingston and Malden S & G

The bands involved are: Wirral Sound, 3rd Davyhulme S & G, East Coast Elite, Medina, Revolution, Romford D&T, Halesowen S & G, Warwick Girls and Kingston and Malden S & G. These were identified based on YM's regional priorities and because they met the deadline after approaches were made to bands representing all styles of performance and from all member organisations.

The main programme will commence in the autumn and lasts until October 2012.

An official London 2012 Open Weekend event.


Workshops

Band GB

209 members from 16 of the UK's marching youth bands took to the streets of our Olympic City for London's 25th anniversary New Years Day Parade. With 'Band GB' branded white tops, this brilliant example of how well our activity can work together paraded to a huge audience and was applauded throughout the parade route. This was certainly the largest combined youth band from different organisations that had paraded the London streets for decades.

The bands involved were from six counties and represented many of our member organisations - Braintree Marxmen, 3rd Davyhulme Scouts & Guides, Burgess Hill Marching Youth, Kings Norton Marching Band, 1st Sittingbourne Boys & Girls Brigade, Downsmen Corps, Kingston & Malden Scouts & Guides, Essex Marching Corps, Blazing Brass and Nautical Training Corps Bands Glorious, Swiftsure, Implacable, Endeavour, Ambuscade, Nautilus, Valiant & Zealous.

Organised by the Federation as part of the whole activity's Olympic strategy, Band GB was funded by the Federation and each band that took part, with the The Dalton Wright Bursary Fund supporting the November rehearsal workshop.

The Federation is indebted to all of the bandmasters and members that paraded, and to Band GB's Musical Director Adam Tregonning, Bandmaster Craig Knight, Parade Controller Stuart Ginnaw and Guard Captain Hayley Meaguer. Our thanks are also extended to other leaders who played significant roles within Band GB.

More pictures are on our Facebook Page - use the link or search for 'marching youth bands'

Download your digital copy of the latest Marching Youth Music news magazine

Download here>>

Including items on:

• The new Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport sent a message of support
• The Federation's 10th anniversary
• Report on the 18th month long Musique project
• 2,012 Together photos - part of London 2012’s Open Weekend

New Briefing Notes Available

The Federation is developing a series of Briefing Notes to support member organisations and bands. Initially these will be on Insurance, Guidance for new Band Leaders, a Standard Governing Document and Gift Aid.

We will shortly be adding Briefing Notes on guidance for the creation of policies for Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection, written by one of the UK's foremost experts.

Download the range of Briefing Notes here >>

Gift Aid Briefing Notes

Gift Aid is the scheme run by the Inland Revenue to increase the value of donations to your organisation. If you are a registered charity then you are able to join the scheme. Not only is it very easy to make returns but it could be worth £1,000’s to your organisation. Download here >>

Guidance for new band leaders

Our aim is to identify topics for you to discuss so your leadership team and organisation is strengthened. It is important that we balance the creativity of our activity with sound and accountable management – without forming a bureaucratic monster! And of course, do our best to make sure that everyone has FUN. Download here >>

Insurance Briefing Notes

These briefing notes have been prepared by Ladbrook Insurance, specialists in insurance for Charities, Voluntary & Community Sector Organisations
Many individuals working in the Voluntary Sector whether they are volunteers, paid employees, Management Committee Members or Trustees appear unaware of the consequences when something goes wrong. These notes will help you to be better prepared. Download here >>

Standard governing document (constitution)

For youth marching bands, show bands & drum corps
This constitution has been approved by the Charity Commissioners as a Standard Governing Document suitable for the 'Youth Marching Band' activity and which should achieve 'fast track' approval by the Commissioners. As with all such constitutions, this one has been created to broadly cover all foreseeable situations, and experience suggests that this forms the basis of an organisational structure to which must of course be added goodwill and consensus. Download here >>

Child Protection - Information on Safeguarding for members

Over recent years, changes to the law have been introduced that have a direct impact on safeguarding for children and vulnerable adults. It is the policy of The British Federation of Marching Band Organisations to safeguard the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults from harm while participating in Marching Youth Band activities and to support and protect supervising or supporting adults. This briefing sheet is provided in respect of this policy. Download here>>

2,012 Together - We did it!

2,012 young people played live music with marching youth bands on Saturday 24th July at as part of Olympic Open Weekend.

From Sheffield to Somerset, the Isle of Wight to the Wirral, and from Prestatyn to Poole, marching youth bands all over the country rose to the challenge.

On what was probably the toughest weekend of the year for bands because of the start of school holidays, small and large ensembles played to thousands of people. Many bands used ‘hands on’ workshops to recruit – and several reported potential new music makers, with one reckoning they will welcome 17 new members into their next rehearsal.

As one long-time leader said “Marching Youth Music Month and its finale this year - 2,012 Together- are great opportunities offered by The Federation that are ‘hooks’ which bands can exploit to their own advantage, as there are all too few opportunities nowadays for us to appear in front of the general public and excite youngsters to join”

As photos come in, we will post on the Federation’s Web site – some are already on London 2012’s Open Weekend facebook site - www.facebook.com/london2012openweekend

The Federation’s next project is ‘Band GB’ – a 100 strong combined band for London’s 25th Anniversary New Years Day Parade.

Government Minister supports Marching Youth Bands

From the Isle of Wight to Hawick, from Dartford to Prestatyn, from Cleethorpes to Bristol and from Devon to Yorkshire, the Country's Marching Youth Bands take on the '2012 Together' challenge for London 2012's Open Weekend

Full list of bands taking part and their location >>

The Country’s marching youth bands take up the 2012 Open Weekend Challenge Government Minister Sends Support.

At precisely 11.00 am on Saturday July 24th the drums of Marching Youth Bands all over the Country will strike up as they become part of the ‘2,012 Together’ nationwide challenge to get 2,012 young people to play live music with marching youth bands as part of London 2012’s Open Weekend. Supported by BP the Open Weekend is a series of sporting, arts and cultural challenges set up across the UK to lead the nation into the two year countdown to the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

This country-wide challenge, organised by the national charity ‘Marching Youth Music’, has been awarded the coveted Inspire Mark by London 2012 and involves youth marching bands from 29 counties.

The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP Minister for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has sent the UK’s youth marching bands his best wishes “..... I would like to congratulate you for the foresight in adopting a development strategy aligned with the London Olympics .... I am pleased that Marching Youth Bands are taking part in Olympic Open Weekend this year with [an] ambitious challenge .... my best wishes to Marching Youth Bands throughout the UK”

Drums, Saxes and Sousaphones will he heard all over the UK. The seaside promenade in Cleethorpes will see an ensemble from East Coast Elite striking up, and the historic stones of Stonehenge will rock to the sounds of Bournemouth’s Air Training Corp Band as they take a break from their journey to a gig in Devises. Market Squares in the Isle of Wight, Lincolnshire, Worcester and Bedfordshire will be livened up with bands such as Medina, Marxmen, Spalding Ambassadors and Upton Fusion trumpeting their unique sounds.

The Priory Campus in Burnley, Spring Park School in Croydon and Ingrebourne School in Essex are educational campuses that will host The Company Drum and Bugle Corps, Nautical Training Corps TS Endeavour, and Romford Drum and Trumpet Corps. Town Centre shoppers in Kingston, Dartford, Poole, Prestatyn and Cleckheaton will be entertained by Surbiton Royal British Legion, Talbot Corps of Drums, Blazing Sounds and Spen Valley Scouts and Guides.
Manchester’s 3rd Davyhulme Scout Band will be combining with the Dutch Band ‘Eigen Hulp’, Devon and Somerset Air Training Corps Flight band will take to the field at Taunton FC. Cheshire’s Poynton Commodores will play on the steps of their Civic Hall, and the vibrant Kinetika Bloco will be at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Brentwood’s Royal British Legion Band will be outside the studio of Baytree Phoenix FM, and Concord from Sheffield will be at The Moor as their whole city celebrates Open Weekend.

With the support of BP, Premier Partner of the Cultural Olympiad and long-standing supporter of arts and culture in the UK, Open Weekend will take place every year until the start of the London 2012 Games.

Now in its third year, Open Weekend enables everyone across the UK to share in the excitement of the 2012 Games and actively celebrate the two year countdown by challenging themselves to trying something new or taking an interest to a further level.
2,012 Together joins with hundreds of other Open Weekend challenges – ranging from learning a new dance an hour before it is performed, to talent contests, learning stonemasonry skills to creating sundials to 3 kilometre relay races through unusual places, sports days and guided bicycle rides. There is an opportunity for everyone to challenge themselves to discover something new or take an interest to another level.
The Federation’s Jim Vaughan says “ This is a great opportunity for bands to raise local profiles, recruit through the ‘hands on’ workshops, and bring our unique activity to the attention of London 2012”.

London 2012 is the first Organising Committee to create such a wide platform of public participation in the Games, taking the values, ideals and benefits of the Games to people and communities like never before. Opportunities such as London 2012 Open Weekend are encouraging participation and recognising the contribution people, places and projects are making to the success of the 2012 Games.

Open Weekend is part of the Cultural Olympiad and this year’s event follows the success of the last two years, which has enabled over 1 million people to take part in sport, arts and cultural events across the length and breadth of the UK.

For further information: E. marchbands@aol.com W. www.marchingbands.org.uk

South African Field Band Foundation at World Cup

Changing lives one tune at a time
Since our founding thirteen years ago, the Field Band Foundation (FBF) has grown tremendously into a mature and goal achieving non-profit organisation, whose dream is to dramatically impact the lives of our economically challenged and often misguided youth through cheerful music and dance. With our incredible forthcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup performances, the FBF gains an opportunity to soar even higher and achieve global exposure.

Our objective at the FBF is to attract youth from socially and economically challenged communities. Through the magic of an exciting and creative activity we can bring about positive change, giving our students the ability to end their cycle of poverty and meaningfully shape a constructive future. Our FBF Academy is the substructure on which the Field Band Foundation aims to fulfil each member’s emotional, spiritual and intellectual needs. targeting the youth between the ages of 7 and 21 all from various socially and economically challenged parts of South Africa. Through the power of music the FBF stimulates, excites and empowers the youth.

The many difficulties faced by our members include: 61.2% of their parents being unemployed, or living in child headed households, as 1.8% of them do. Before joining the FBF 92.7% of our members had no access to arts or music and our members average age is 15.5 years old. However, on a positive note, the FBF has expanded and now boasts 38 field bands countrywide with 4000 members from 297 schools in 114 townships. With results such as these, the invaluable change to each member’s life is proof that the FBF is both very necessary and a success.
The FBF is fortunate to have a productive and close relationship with the Norwegian Band Foundation, (http://www.musikkorps.no) whose steady commitment over the years has had a massive impact; contributing to our overall growth as an organisation and greatly enriching the experience and lives of our children. We are fortunate as this association allows the FBF to undergo continuous external evaluation, helping in providing a constant challenge for us and a standard to live up to.

The FBF was delighted to be given the honour of playing a part in the 2010 FIFA World Cup celebrations. Being given the opportunity to be part of an event that means so much to their country, is more than these young people could ever wish for and acts as a personal reflection to each student of their remarkable progression - considering the many difficulties they have faced.

The FBF has performed in the 100 and 50 day countdown celebrations. FBF will also provide training for around 370 of their members to participate in the prestigious opening event. Another 60 Field Band members will also be given the duty of leading performers from the rehearsal area to the stadium at the start of the proceedings on 11June. To conclude, they will also perform at the world cup closing ceremony, the format of which is shrouded in secrecy. This association with the 2010 FIFA World Cup will undoubtedly boost the confidence of the young men and women, becoming an experience and memory never to be forgotten.

18 FBF members will also be part of the IFAS production of “Les Grandes Personnes” during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the Grahamstown Festival.

We passionately believe in the astounding impact that the discipline of music and dance has on our youth. With our field bands in full action over the world cup period, we will have a chance to show the world our youth’s amazing talent.

Visit us at www.fieldband.org.za or contact: Retha Cilliers on 083 775 4348

First to gain leadership awards

Stacey Odell from Upton Youth Band and Matthew Kemshed from Liberty Drum and Bugle Corps are the first to complete the Federation’s ‘Leadership in Youth Marching Band’ course. Accredited by the Open College Network, this is the only UK course recognised by an external body specifically for Leadership in our activity and, we believe, the only such course in Europe.
Photo: Matthew Kemshed of Liberty Drum and Bugle Corps, Northampton.

Stacey completed units in Leadership and in Performance, and Matthew in Leadership and Administration. Each completed a folio which included certified evidence of children and young peoples’ development and how this influences their participation and progress in marching bands, plus leadership and teamwork skills. Stacey’s Performance unit included solo and ensemble playing, and Matthew’s Administration unit included strategic planning and budgetary control over a designated period.

The Federation launched this course with the Open College’s support, following agreement by member organisation representatives that this was a major activity requirement to support development and sustainability. Stacey and Matthew are two from a cohort of 23 leaders and supporters who began the course in 2009.

All participants have to attend an introductory day introductory seminar and then record what they do within their bands and corps in a folio of evidence. This folio is then externally verified by the Open College Network. The Federation is keen to stage additional introductory days for groups of leaders and supporters. This works best if 15-20 people from a number of different units can attend. A summary of the course appears on the Federation’s web site www.marchingbands.org.uk and further details can be obtained from Jim Vaughan on marchbands@aol.com As initial funding for this course has come to an end, the current cost for each person is £20, which is the registration fee that has to be paid to the Open College Network.

New People With Special Skills Wanted For The British Federation Of Youth Marching Band Organisation’s Future Development

We are keen to recruit new Trustees, and young specialists in the early stages of their careers. People with skills in the following:

• Finance and Funding
• Communication
• Marketing
• Training
• Business Administration
  

During 2009 the Federation received funding from the John Ellerman Foundation to contract the National Council for Voluntary Organisations to undertake an operational review of the Federation and its role within the UK–wide marching youth band activity. One aspect identified was the need for additional Trustees to be appointed that have the specific skills to take the Federation into its next stage of its development. This will be in addition to the skills and experience of existing Trustees that have steered the Federation since 2010.

2010 is the 10th anniversary of the Federation, and Officers of the National Board have decided that the best way of celebrating this is to move forwards with this NCVO recommendation with the aim of further developing a sustainable strategic role into the future.

Many local, regional and national charities publicly advertise for specialist Trustees and this is the first step along this route. It would make sense for new Trustees to have experience in the activity, but we are anxious that this does not weaken either any band or any of our member organisations by any new Trustee undertaking too many tasks within the activity. New Trustees could come from outside of our activity. Band leaders and member organisations will we hope be able to help us identify new Trustees for the Federation and are asked to make this paper known amongst respective parental and other support groups.

In all cases the new Trustees must have a strong belief in the value of youth marching bands for the individuals who are members and for the communities in which they meet and perform. All Trustees must have a wide appreciation of all styles of performance within the UK youth marching band activity.

Length of experience is not essential as the Board is also keen to include young people who have qualifications in any respective area – for example those who have recently begun careers in marketing, finance or business - who wish to use this national voluntary experience to further their career development and who might or might not want the full responsibilities of trusteeship.

All posts are voluntary with expenses paid dependent on the level of funding achieved. The basic roles that have been identified are listed below. Each is naturally interdependent on the other, and some roles may need to be divided depending on the expertise offered and tasks that are identified. The new posts listed below are not in order of priority.

Finance and Funding

Someone with proven experience in successfully identifying revenue opportunities and in securing and monitoring grants from a range of sources.

Communication

Someone with the knowledge to review and extend the Federation’s communication strategy

Marketing

Someone with the knowledge to further develop marketing strategies in support of the UK-wide activity

Training

Someone with the knowledge and experience to further develop the current OCN accredited leadership course and other training opportunities for leaders, instructors and young members.

Business Administration

Someone with the knowledge and experience to review and develop the administrative support offered to the whole activity.

Applicants for these voluntary posts should apply by letter or e mail identifying the role for which they are most interested, what they can personally offer, and some examples of how they think the post could be developed. Please indicate the name and addresses of one referee. Applicants are advised to view the Federation’s website www.marchingbands.org.uk. Those interested should respond by May 31st. It is then anticipated that a meeting of interested parties will be held in late June or early July. (CRB certification applies to these roles).