SBBA workshops provided the delegates with valuable advice
21 brass band conductors from across Scotland and other parts of the UK came together on 13th and 14th April at Whitburn Academy to participate in an intensive weekend of conducting workshops. Presented by The Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA), the workshops provided the delegates with valuable advice, guidance and instruction, led by two experienced and acclaimed conductors, Nigel Boddice OBE and Ian Porthouse. The weekend's activities were also greatly enhanced with the support of two attending bands - The Whitburn Band and Tullis Russell Youth Band - who enabled the delegates to apply their newly learned skills to a live tutoring session, culminating in a public joint concert to bring the workshops to a close in style.
The weekend's workshops were streamed into 2 categories - one designed for new/less experienced/youth band conductors, the other targeting the demands on advanced conductors. Nigel Boddice OBE led the workshop for new/less experienced conductors and combined the sessions with the Tullis Russell Youth Band, whilst Ian Porthouse led the workshop for advanced conductors, working the delegates with The Whitburn Band. The full and busy sessions enabled the attendees to look, listen and learn with the workshop leader, then apply their new knowledge in the practical sessions with the bands.
Andrew Duncan, Development Manager for The Scottish Brass Band Association commented: "This is now the third Conducting Weekend Workshop we have run and it is fantastic to see the benefits of this initiative. With the dramatic growth of participation and interest in Scotland's Brass Bands, we as an Association are enthusiastic to ensure all aspects of this musical genre are supported appropriately. We have already introduced a Tutor's workshop and are also looking to run a Band Administration and Management workshop, enabling the many areas that make up a brass band's infrastructure to receive guidance and advice from experienced representatives.
This year's Conducting Weekend Workshops really have been big successes and through our feedback session we are delighted to have received some very interesting and innovative ideas to develop the sessions further, which we look forward to introducing to future events.
On behalf of SBBA, we are extremely grateful to both the advisers for their hard work and the expertise they have shared. We are also very appreciative of the two supporting bands that enabled our delegates to put the theory into practice."
The weekend concluded with a public joint concert between the two supporting bands, also enabling selected delegates from the weekend to take the baton for part of the performance.
In conclusion, Andrew Duncan added: "It has been a very busy couple of days, but definitely to the benefit of everyone attending. I believe bands will see a noticeably positive difference to rehearsals when their conductors return to them!"
