2016 SBBA Conference and AGM details

BANDS across the country have been reminded to send delegates to the 2016 Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA) Annual Conference.

Incorporating the AGM and SBBA Learning Festival, the event is due to take place on Saturday, January 9, 2016, at the Mercure Hotel in Livingston.

Download SBBA AGM letter 2016 here

Download SBBA AGM reply form here

SBBA AGM

Proceedings will begin with the AGM and registration of delegates at 9.30am, followed by the SBBA Learning Festival. The new initiative will offer bands and non member bands alike a variety of training and educational workshops to develop and enhance the work of brass banding in Scotland. These workshops will cover band management, tutors, percussion, instrument maintenance, funding, child protection, teaching your beginners, registration and more.Trustees, members of the SBBA Executive and some egular traders will be on hand throughout the day to answer any queries.

Up to four delegates from a band can attend the conference. All four delegates may attend the AGM but, as normal, only two delegates will have voting powers. Lunch will be provided for all delegates.

Anyone interested should complete and return the attached form with details of the delegates who will represent the band, along with the appropriate payment, to: Tom Allan, secretary and registrar, 71 Tantallon Drive, Paisley, Renfrewshire, PA2 9HS.

Cheques should be made payable to Scottish Brass Band Association or paid directly by BACS.

SBBA Learning Festival

The Scottish Brass Band Association exists to support and provide initiatives for its member brass bands at both senior and youth band levels. As such, the SBBA Learning Festival is aimed at promoting best practice within the band movement by offering the opportunity for conductors, educators, players, tutors, band managers and supporters in Scotland to come together for training and musical fellowship.

This is a free event, supported by Creative Scotland, running from 10am until 4pm on January 9.

Anyone looking to book a space should contact SBBA secretary Tom Allan by calling 07881920361 or email: tom.allan@ntlworld.com. 

Throughout the day a number of trade stands will be in the foyer with a variety of goods and information.

Instrument Maintenance | Euan Meikle

A presentation on instrument repair, which will use photographic and video evidence to demonstrate issues common to all brass bands. This will culminate with an open question and answer session relating to experiences that impact on our members.

Topics to be discussed are:
1. Repetitive issues bands have
2. The possibilities and advantages of repairing band instruments with limited funding, and importance of frequent maintenance to enhance the life of each instrument.
3. The pros/cons of student instruments.
4. Your rights and what to look for when purchasing a new instrument.

Youth Music Funding (YMI) | Morag Macdonald

Morag Macdonald is a creative learning officer at Creative Scotland working predominantly on the Youth Music Initiative.The YMI is a Scottish Government funded programme which annually provides 10 million towards youth music activity across Scotland. In this workshop Morag will provide an outline of the access and strengthening funds.

Percussion Workshop | Alasdair Rankin

Since graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Alasdair has performed with some of the finest orchestras in the UK such as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Alasdair's musical diversity has taken him to music festivals across Europe including performances at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, and a season of ‘Phantom of the Opera' in the Edinburgh Playhouse. Alasdair has also performed with many of Scotland's prestigious Brass Bands including Co-operative Funeralcare Band, Whitburn Band, Kirkintilloch Band, Newtongrange Band and Dalmellington Band.
Alasdair is endorsed by Freer Percussion and owner of Edinburgh Percussion, the exclusive UK supplier of Freer Percussion Products.

Workshop will include:
1. Preparation, Technique & Sound.
2. How to preparing for a major contest and the role of a Principal Percussionist.
3. Percussion sounds and colours influenced by technique.

Working with students with additional support needs | Dr Lio Moscardini

Lio is a senior lecturer in the School of Education at The University of Strathclyde. He is currently the course leader of the MEd in Inclusive Education and Course Leader of the BA Joint Honours Education. Lio is also a member of the Inclusion Group of STEC (Scottish Teacher Education Committee) responsible for developing the National Framework for Inclusion which was commissioned by Scottish Government. Prior to moving to the University of Strathclyde in 2007 he worked as a teacher in mainstream and special primary and secondary schools and was Depute Head teacher of a school for children with learning difficulties. Before requalifying as a primary teacher he was a professional double bass player and worked for many national companies and arts organisations. This included an involvement in music education.

Lio will deliver a workshop on how to work with students with additional support needs within a brass band setting. 

Brass bands and the media | Kenny Crookston

Kenny Crookston was born in 1963 and began playing the cornet around the age of five, joining his first band - West Calder Public - three years later. Having suffered his first bout of banding politics and being sacked at the age of ten (for the heinous crime of having two older brothers who had both left to join another band!), Kenny found himself playing in the Championship Section with Broxburn Band, making his Scottish Championship debut in 1975. He remained at Broxburn, having played both principal and soprano cornet there and won a number of solo prizes, until 1982, when he was invited to join Whitburn Burgh Band under Major Peter Parkes.
Over the next 22 years, the vast majority of which were spent in the repiano cornet seat, Kenny performed with Whitburn in countless contests, concerts and recordings across the UK and Europe, also serving the organisation as President for ten years and being elected to the SBBA Executive Committee in 2001. In 2004, he was appointed Editor of British Bandsman, the world's oldest weekly music magazine, and has held that position since then. In April 2015, his company - KGC Media Ltd. - purchased British Bandsman and the magazine is now published weekly from his office in Mid Calder, West Lothian.

At last year's SBBA Conference, Kenny gave a presentation on banding in the media, which was well received by the delegates. At today's event, in an attempt to encourage band representatives to make greater use of the countless free resources available, his sessions will be more ‘hands on' and he welcomes questions on any aspect of brass banding and how best to get bands' message to their target audiences.

Kick Start (A system for absolute beginners) | Alan Friel

Alan is currently head of East Ayrshire Instrumental Music Service. Before that he was an instrumental Teacher at Stewarton Academy developing one of the strongest wind band programmes in the UK. The foundation stone and key to success of the Stewarton band programme is the Kick Start system for absolute beginners.

Alan is delighted to explain how Kick Start can work for our new youth band start-up programme.