Shire
Of Baw Baw Since its inception in 1888 the Warragul Municipal band has gone from strength to strength, achieving wide acclaim for its outstanding playing. The first paid performance of the band was at the 1889 Warragul Show. The band has had a number of name changes over the years but has been in continuous existence since 1888. There were a number of periods during which the band struggled to maintain its presence, particularly during the two world wars when manpower was at a premium and also during the great depression of 1930. Without doubt the most successful era has been from the mid 1970s until the present day.
Generally speaking the band consists of members drawn from the Shire of Baw Baw municipality and caters for brass and percussion players of both genders, of all ages and from rank beginners to the very experienced.
From within its membership two bands are established. Firstly there is the Warragul Municipal Junior Band which is currently graded at ‘C’ level. This band is for those aged under 19 years. And secondly there is the senior band , which is graded at ‘C’ level and comprises those over 19 years of age together with as many juniors as maybe needed to make up the numbers. For example a ‘contesting band’ would normally greet the judges with a field of 22 players plus up to 3 percussionists.
The instrumentation of a brass band consists of cornets, flugel horns, tenor horns, baritones, euphoniums, trombones, tubas, tuned percussion and kit percussion. Generally the cornets are the solo instruments but each instrument is has an important part to play. The band itself is a collection of people who play music using brass wind instruments.
Over recent years the make up of the membership of the band has changed dramatically with an even balance between juniors and seniors being achieved. Previously the juniors would have significantly outnumbered the seniors due to the high intake of students from district secondary schools. However now many of these schools have their own music programs and musical groups so the input of juniors is not so great.
The band prides itself on family participation with the membership consisting of many family groups. Parents are encouraged to get involved through committee work, music library or as ‘roadies’ who assist with the setting up and dismantling of equipment on playouts. Parents and friends are very welcome to come to the bandroom to listen to rehearsals and participate in other band activities.
The band has young people and older people. There are chorus members and skilled soloists. There are boys and girls, seniors and youngsters. It is a cross section of the community, working not only to provide enjoyment for others, but to develop their talents as individuals and as a team, working to achieve something, to reach their own goals and the goals of the team. A team who are all joined together with their common interest in music. Its an activity the whole family can participate in whether it be practices, playouts or trips away whilst contesting.
The band is keen to recruit members from all age groups and all levels of experience. The band has a comprehensive teaching program from basic right through to advanced levels. This is carried out by a teacher, weekly on Wednesday afternoon and evenings (except during school holidays). The expert tuition is provided at a nominal charge per term which includes the provision of an instrument and associated maintenance costs.
Anyone who is willing to learn is accepted, however the drop out rate is quite high, normally about 60% over the first twelve months. Music is quite a demanding art form and requires large doses of dedication and self discipline from those who wish to succeed.
Formal lessons are only a small part of the learning process. Regular daily home practice of at least 30 minutes per day will generally ensure an acceptable degree of mastery over the instrument.
Generally students with no musical experience start their training on a cornet however if this proves unsatisfactory the player can transfer to a instrument with a larger mouth piece which may be more suitable.
After learners master the basics of their instrument they can then rehearse with the band proper and become an integral member of the team. Full band rehearsals are held every Friday night (except school holidays) from 7.30pm.
All players are encouraged to participate in competition work either as soloists or in small groups. Such competitions are run by various eisteddfods or the state and national organising bodies of the brass band movement. There is no better way of improving one’s skills than by serious competition.
The band complex is located at the rear of the Education Centre in Smith Street Warragul and adjacent to the south entry of the West Gippsland Arts Centre. The ground floor complex consists of a main rehearsal room, photo copier room and kitchen whilst upstairs houses a meeting room together with instrument storage and an extensive music library.
The main band room is used almost every week day with the main practices on Fridays with lessons, training band and ensemble practices on the other days. The walls of this room are adorned with trophies, photographs and memorabilia of the band’s exploits and achievements which go back over one hundred years. Almost all the instruments are owned and maintained by the band and are provided to members for a small charge which is included in the nominal annual membership fee.
The key person in any brass band is the Musical Director or Bandmaster. The success or otherwise of a band is directly attributed to the musical skill, organisational abilities and dedication of its musical director. At Warragul we are fortunate to have the services of one of the best in the land in Bruce Armstrong, commonly known amongst banding circles as ‘Mr A’.
Born in Hay NSW, Bruce spent his childhood at Bendigo in central Victoria. The Armstrong family were generally musical with the previous three generations producing singers of some renown. Mr “A” commenced his musical career as a choir boy but was given the ‘boot’ at a tender age after being caught fighting in the choir stalls. He began learning cornet with the Bendigo Citizens & Boys Band (now Strathfieldsaye) at age nine. He is now a life member of that band as well as Warragul Municipal. Whilst at Bendigo he became principal trumpet player with the Bendigo Concert Orchestra and at the same time had his own 8+ piece dance band.
In 1963 he left Bendigo for Melbourne and two years of teacher training. While there he played solo cornet with the Kew Citizens Band, an association which continued until 1968.
He competed as a soloist, in small ensembles and in band contests for many years, with the view that competing provides feedback on performance and is directed at improving rather than winning. Although Mr “A” has no formal qualifications, his success as a bandmaster was self evident when he took the Warragul Municipal Band from a lowly “D” grade band right through to one of the top “A” grade bands in Australia.
Bruce arrived in Warragul in 1965 and soon established the Drum and Bugle Corps at the Warragul Technical School. Some of these players later became part of the Municipal Band.
In 1968 Bruce took over the position of Bandmaster at Warragul, a position which he has held almost continuously until the present day. In the beginning the band consisted of only six players but grew in quality as well as quantity and has yielded many champions under Bruce’s direction.
As musical director, Bruce spends almost every available moment working to help the band. He conducts lessons after school, band practices on Tuesday & Friday nights, as well as organising weekend playouts, contests, competitions, workshops, music camps, musicals, music preparation, music arranging, dawn Anzac services, lodge ceremonies, rotary meetings, guest speaking and radio programmes.
He has provided many hundreds of people with a love of music, a sound basic education in its production and a lifetime of interest. The citizens of Warragul & District remain indebted to Bruce for what he has done and continues to do for the Warragul Municipal Band and our community.
For the most part the Band sees itself as a community service organisation, providing the pageantry of brass music at ceremonial occasions throughout the Shire. For example the band’s year starts off with Australia Day at the Drouin Breakfast followed by the Warragul gathering at the West Gippsland Arts Centre. Probably the next most if not the most important playout is on ANZAC Day. The band participates in ceremonies at both Warragul and Bunyip and which are always well attended by the players who deem it a privilege and honour to be able to participate in this most important of national days. From time to time the band plays at what could only be described as ‘once in a life time’ experiences. The recent Olympic Torch Relay Street Parade in Warragul and the Federation March in Melbourne are recent examples.
Other community events attended by the band are Carols By Candlelight (Drouin & Warragul) , Ficifolia Festival, Hospital Fair, Service Club Dinners.
During the year the band is also involved in ‘in house’ competitions at regional, state and national levels. This usually goes un-noticed by the general public but is an important activity of the band as it provides a yardstick for its musical competency. There is no better way to motivate the players and bandmaster alike than to enter a competition and contest against other bands in friendly rivalry. The spin off from this is that the playing of the individual and band improves.
Of course the band also plays out at many other functions which includes fundraisers (like the famous coffee melody nights), concerts, street processions and parades, luncheons, dinners, field days, agricultural shows, weddings, garden parties and pre function ensemble work just to mention a few.
The band is always available for hire (subject to availability) to playout, the fee is $300 which normally guarantees two hours of music with 20 to 25 players.
The information supplied is designed to ensure that your organisation will get the best value from the Band’s performance and enable the Band to provide the most enjoyment for the audience.
You will appreciate that different circumstances will apply depending on the type of playout involved. For example if it is indoors or outdoors, or if the Band is marching or seated.
Only rarely will the playing conditions be ideal. The seating pattern of a static band or the marching formation of a band is generally fixed.
At an indoor venue, the main factors that come into play are:- access, adequate space for band to set up; lighting and acoustics. At an outdoor venue the main considerations may be location, shelter (from wind or rain), shade, acoustics, noise interference (such as a loud public address system or amplified music) or in the case of a parade, marshalling, traffic control, route, location relative to other bands or floats in the parade.
Access to cool drinks particularly during warm weather is essential. If the playout is spread out over a meal time then food should be available at the venue, either supplied as part of the playout or available for purchase.
It is also required that the organisation responsible for the venue and/or function will exercise appropriate duty of care in respect of security and safety for the Band (personnel and equipment) whilst it is setting up, performing and packing up.
At a playout the Band would normally be seated and consist of approximately 25 players. Therefore an area of at least 12 by 10 metres would be required (percussion instruments take up quite a lot of space).
Normally, comfortable stable chairs with upright backs are required. If the venue is unable to supply seating the Band can (by prior arrangement) brings its own.
Some consideration should be given to the needs of the listening audience - preferably there should be a comfortable area where the public can sit, to watch the Band and to listen to and appreciate the music.
The type of music to be played is important and is normally left to the discretion of the Musical Director. However if you have any specific requests (for example, anthems, fanfares, accompaniment, background, marches, hymns, carols etc) these should be discussed with the Musical Director at least four weeks prior to the event.
Finally if you are advertising your event, then we would require the Band be acknowledged in any publicity or on posters. We have a high profile in the district and a dedicated group of followers and any such pre-event publicity will be to the advantage of your function.
The Band is an incorporated body and is administered by a committee which meets monthly (annual meeting in November) at the bandroom. Anyone can be on the committee provided they take out membership of the band.
Over the years many people have served the municipal band faithfully and exceptional service is recognised by life membership. Those who have been so acclaimed are:- Bruce Armstrong, Ethel Armstrong, Tim Armstrong, Frank Calway, Bob Davidson, Harry Davies, Roy Hammond, Bill Keeble, Vivienne Keeble, Jackie Kerr, Laurie Trewern, Robin Trewern, Stewart Tweddle and Anne Tweddle.
The municipal band is affiliated with the Gippsland Band Group which comprises brass bands in Gippsland. These are at Bairnsdale, Sale, Maffra, Traralgon, Morwell, Wonthaggi, Leongatha and Warragul. The group runs a mid year school holiday music camp of one weeks duration where the theory of music is taught fairly extensively. An annual ‘fun day’ is also organised by each of the bands on a rotational basis where all the Gippsland bands get together for music and social enjoyment. A recent innovation has been an annual ‘reading day’ where new music can be played by a composite band so that musical directors can hear arrangements before they buy.
Nearly all brass bands and players are registered with State body which is called the Victorian Bands League. The League looks after player registrations, clearances, transfers, competition rules, sets test pieces for competitions and generally represents the brass band movement on a state basis.
To provide the opportunity
of brass musical education and enjoyment to the people of Baw Baw Shire.
To be good ambassadors of
the Baw Baw Shire community through regular band performance and
competition throughout Australia.
To provide an opportunity for self development of members at their own pace.
Shire
Of Baw Baw
Website:- www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au
Email:- bawbaw@bawbawshire.vic.gov.au
Gai Duncan
Telephone 03 56 232984
Email:- duncan@dcsi.net.au
Bruce Armstrong
Telephone 0356 235196
Email:- bearm@dcsi.net.au
P O Box 32, Warragul
Victoria 3820, Australia
|
|
since 20 November 2001
This web page is provided by the Victorian Bands' League on behalf of the band. The views and information presented on the page are those of the band and not of the Victorian Bands' League Inc.