Concert and brass bands in Central Victoria are hoping to boost their membership in an effort to keep the dying art of “banding” alive.
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The Bendigo and District Bands Group - comprised of bands from the Bendigo and Castlemaine areas – was formed to encourage, promote, and support community banding.
The group is hoping the Wimmera Bands Group Music School – which arrives in Bendigo next week – can help encourage new members and keep concert and brass bands alive.
Joining a community band is something that BDBG committee member Claire McLean believes is a dying pastime.
“The original generation of brass banders are well and truly retired. They are aged 70-plus and we can’t rely on that age group anymore,” she said.
Members of the group include the Bendigo & District Concert Band, City of Greater Bendigo Brass Band, Eaglehawk Citizens' Brass Band, Maldon Brass Band, Marist Brass Band and Thompson's Foundry Band in Castlemaine.
Ms McLean said local group and concert bands had made an effort to recruit younger members.
Three of the bands in Bendigo – Marist Brass, City of Greater Bendigo Brass and the Bendigo and District Concert bands – all feature youth programs.
“Young musicians have more options in Bendigo than they realise,” Ms McLean said.
“A lot of kids drop out (of music) because they don’t know where to go when they finish school.”
Coinciding with local bands’ efforts to attract new members is the Wimmera Bands Group Music School.
It is the first time in the Wimmera Bands Group Music School’s 48-year history that the music school is visiting Bendigo.
The seven-day intensive music program will take place at Eaglehawk Secondary School from July 1 to 8. It is for instrumentalists of all ages and experience levels.
Ms McLean said the music camp puts an emphasis on aspects of music often overlooked.
“After orientation, instruments and then students are broken up based on age and ability for workshops,” she said. “Tutors also work with students on theory classes. It’s important to play well but an emphasis on theory can be missed.”
For more on the Bendigo and District Bands Group or to join one of the bands email bendigoanddistrictbandsgroup@gmail.com