On Monday, some of our DYJO players took advantage of a wonderful opportunity to spend a day with the Big Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines CTCRM at Lympstone. It was the idea of Corporal Joe Rowlands, now a member of the band, and a past pupil of mine who helped DYJO out in the past when we’ve been short of trombones!
The day started with the Marines’ big band under the expert direction of Colour Sergeant Nick West playing through three varied tunes from the likes of Glenn Miller to Gordon Goodwin. Having whetted our young musicians’ appetites, our players joined them to sight read five more varied tunes, including Count Basie’s ‘All Of Me’ and the very funky ‘John Brown’s Other Body’. They were encouraged to recognise and respond to the different styles, especially thinking about the grooves and how to get the right ‘feel’ for each.
After a presentation on possible careers in the Royal Marines Band Service (always a bit of an eye opener for someone thinking about a career in music – visit http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/rmbs for more details), the players split off into sectionals, before coming back together again to play through the five tunes – quite transformed from the earlier readings! They did so well, they even sight read through one of the tunes they had had played to them at the start of the day!
Certainly, a most interesting day – massive thanks to Colour Sergeant Nick West and his swinging band for making it so enjoyable and informative, with the music right at the heart of it all!
Thanks to Musician Kirsty Chatterton – RM Band Service for the excellent photos!
