Corona virus/COVID-19 & community band

[Spit valve]

Our community band has not been able to practice for two months, and the church where we practice is closed until September. This means that for at least five months there will be no practice.

A good number (maybe 35%) of our members are "seniors" so I have some concern that it may not be advisable for them to return in the current environment. Also, if the the prohibition on large gatherings continues we won't be able to assemble to practice and we won't be able to hold concerts with 100+ in attendance.

1. How long can the band "hold together" under these conditions? Do you have any experience that might shed light on this question?

2. What is your community band doing to keep interest up at this time?
_________________
Trumpets: 1952 Conn 22B NYS, 1972 Conn 6B Victor
Cornet: 1918 Conn 81A Victor New Wonder
Flugelhorn: Jean Baptiste

The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

[blbaumgarn]

Boy, you reminded me that the city band I used to play in would have a nice concert and some speaking in their Chautauqua Park on Memorial Day. I will have to call my brother to see if they are going to play. This would be, I believe, the 127th year of their existence. I feel for ya not being able to get together for practice. Some day soon the music will play, the voices of each instrument will sing out!!
_________________
"There are two sides to a trumpeter's personality,
there is one that lives to lay waste to woodwinds and strings, leaving them lie blue and lifeless along a swath of destruction that is a
trumpeter's fury-then there is the dark side!" Irving Bush

[Comeback]

My community band is planning on restarting in early July. Like the OPs band, mine has a large percentage of senior members. Rehearsal venue is still a question. Whether or not some planned concerts will actually happen is a question as well.

Jim

[WxJeff]

I play in a 20 member church orchestra that accompanies a 60 voice choir. Obviously we have not met in quite some time either. The church opened its doors this past Sunday for the first time with a single service and best practices in place for seating, spacing, wipe downs etc. I think the contemporary worship guitar player and a couple vocalists led some of that genre worship songs.

The orchestra director approached the church staff about the possibility of small instrumental ensembles to play offertories and preludes in light of the fact that the full traditional church musical group will not be able to get together for the foreseeable future. They were very excited about this opportunity to bring instrumental music back into the service.

Perhaps community groups could break into smaller ensembles that allow for more space between musicians. Performances may have to be impromptu (show up in a public park unannounced?) to avoid the congregating of more the "X" number of attendees.
_________________
Kanstul F Besson International 800 Bb
Jupiter SCR-520

[pinstriper]

Our two bands (east and west side of the city) also fit the pattern. Mostly 50+ with a few youngsters scattered in. We practice at city facilities/community centers.

We have been having two zoom meetings a week with some local pro musicians on a variety of topics and also to stay connected.

I have missed a few recently due to other commitments (no, really !)

I will say that right at the start of the year a problem developed that turned out to be a herniated disc in my neck, which has prevented me from holding the instrument or being in a proper playing posture, so I have set the horn aside for a while to heal. I do some light buzzing here and there and some very short periods of soft long tones just to keep the lips a little pliable.

Things are starting to settle down in my neck, so hoping by the time things restart I'll be able to play again.
_________________
~'77 DEG Dynasty II Soprano Bugle in G
'13 Chinese POS "Hawk" branded Flugel
'59 Olds Ambassador Cornet
'51 Olds Super
'69 Olds Studio
'40 Olds Special Cornet, Military Issued

[WxJeff]

Oh, man. So sorry to hear about that. I guess this is one of those things that only heals with time, or did you require surgery?

I always shake my head at Peyton Manning's decision to continue playing football after his neck surgery. Obviously it worked out for him but what a risk management decision! I'm guessing you had some similar thoughts when the desire to play became strong.

[pinstriper]

I have so far managed to avoid surgery. There is a non-zero chance I will go ahead with a cortisone shot into the disc, but hoping to avoid that as well.

It has gotten to the point where the inflammation is down a lot, so if I can avoid irritating it long enough to get some healing (18+ months) it should more or less go back to normal, within the bounds of good taste as they apply to a man in his late 50's.

Bad sleeping/pillow position is the most immediate trigger day by day, but of course avoiding any kind of traumatic injury or even over-exertion while also attempting to rehab some strength into the supporting musculature is going to be the long term determinant.
_________________
~'77 DEG Dynasty II Soprano Bugle in G
'13 Chinese POS "Hawk" branded Flugel
'59 Olds Ambassador Cornet
'51 Olds Super
'69 Olds Studio
'40 Olds Special Cornet, Military Issued

[trumpetchops]

I play with a 70 pc. (or so) band. Mixed ages, not too many really older people. We rehearse at a school. I don't know if the school will ever let us back.

Everybody in the band still has their music because of the way things ended. If somehow we do get together again, will we ever get enough music back to perform it again? I'll bet I have 20 or so pieces. A big loss to the band to lose those arrangements.

I can't see the band playing again but, who knows.

Now, what about the professional bands? My gigs are being cancelled about a month ahead. I don't see that coming back any time soon.

What about a band like the NYP or BSO?
_________________
Joe Spitzer
Monroe Ct.

[Seymor B Fudd]

[dstdenis]

Our band did one of those multi-part video projects, where each member recorded a video playing their part. The video is still in post production. Anyway, it was fun preparing it and having a goal to aim for.
_________________
Bb Yamaha Xeno 8335IIS
Cornet Getzen Custom 3850S
Flugelhorn Courtois 155R
Piccolo Stomvi

[Louise Finch]

Hi

Things the same in the UK. I play in a brass band, community light orchestra and symphony orchestra. The symphony orchestra is only on for two terms each year (coinciding with the UK school terms). We start back at the beginning of September, focusing mainly on one symphony, but also practicing other shorter classical pieces, performing the symphony in its entirety in the band room in our civvies on the last rehearsal before Christmas, as an informal run through for friends and family, followed by mince pies. We then start back in January, practising just the orchestra's favourite movement of the symphony, and mainly concentrating on the shorter pieces, ready for an end of season Easter concert in a church, the proceeds split between the orchestra and church.

This year the Easter concert, which was due to take place on Monday 23rd March, didn't happen. Neither did the community light orchestra concert on Friday 20th March, or an orchestral play day on Friday 27th March, with an orchestra that gets together a few times a year to do the occasional concert but mainly play through days, and all were cancelled in a matter of days. First the community light orchestra concert and all rehearsals for the foreseeable future were cancelled on Sunday 15th March, on Monday 16th March, the symphony orchestra play through concert was cancelled and the season ended abruptly, and all brass band rehearsals were put on hold.

I've playing everyday at home since. I've been putting in some good practise and I'm happier with my playing than before, but I'm really missing my bands and orchestras, and have absolutely no idea when they will be returning. The community light orchestra practices on a Tuesday morning during school term times (I have no idea why only during school term times, as I am the only member with school age children). Most of the players are retired, with there being only one younger member than me, and I'm 46, and with a few people in their 80s, I imagine that the average age is 70. Will players in this age group have the confidence to return to rehearsals when lockdown is over?

The average age of the symphony orchestra members is younger, but there are still quite a few members over 70, including most of the committee. We are hoping to get at least one term of playing in and to do the Easter concert in the church.

Regarding the brass band, we have produced one compilation video so far, are planning another, hoping to do a last night of the proms concert in September, but wondering whether we will be back rehearsing in time for Remembrance Day in November or even Christmas.

I'm completely fed up to be honest. Bands and orchestras are my only hobby, and driving to band /orchestra rehearsals a few times a week, with weekend concerts, has been a big part of my life for over 25 years. If feels very strange to be playing only at home. After the initial shock to my system, I didn't mind, as on a personal front, my life has been manic for the last few years, and I was overdue needing to slow down. My Father-in-Law died last June, my Mother-in-Law has been ill, and with my husband being their only child, my husband and me have been very busy looking after my Mother-in-Law, who lived for us for quite sometime. She became more ill, went into hospital followed by going into care around one month ago, my youngest child has been off school, and my middle one with learning difficulties only returned to school on a part-time basis a few weeks ago, so life has been unusually quiet.

I've had my break, am wanting to get back to my rehearsals, and am fed up of the complete uncertainty regarding when rehearsals will be able to start again.

I guess that most of us are in the same boat.

I hope that everyone keeps safe and remains well.

Lou
_________________
Trumpets:
Yamaha 8335 Xeno II
Bach Strad 180ML/37
B&H Oxford
Kanstul F Besson C
Yamaha D and D/Eb
- James R New Custom 3Cs
Flugel:
Bach Strad 183 - Bach 3CFL
Cornets:
Yamaha Neo + Xeno
Bach Strad 184ML
B&H Imperial
- Kanstul Custom 3Cs

[blbaumgarn]

All people make good and valid comments. We can have all the productive practices alone in the world, but human beings are meant to do things together. The thing that has taught me patience through all of this is knowing with a certainty that returning to quickly and catching this stuff could be fatal (I'm 70) and no one wants it or needs it so I just "tell" myself to be patient. How great it will be when each of you has your first concert or performance back after this stuff settles down!
_________________
"There are two sides to a trumpeter's personality,
there is one that lives to lay waste to woodwinds and strings, leaving them lie blue and lifeless along a swath of destruction that is a
trumpeter's fury-then there is the dark side!" Irving Bush

[harry-pedler]

[JayKosta]

My community band is currently not active - and no word yet when/if we might start again.

I also play with a local college group that has band as part of a 'for credit' course - no word about whether that will continue when the 2020-2021 school year begins.
To finish the current year we recorded our parts with the intention of the director being able to overlay them into a usable form. I haven't heard the final results yet, but it seems possible for a piece that has a steady tempo.

I've been giving thought (fantasizing?) about doing some public solo playing - just to entertain people. It would be familiar ballads and dixieland standards. Does anyone have experience or advise to offer? Maybe I'll start by playing for the neighborhood folks who walk by ... perhaps the howling of the dogs will be an indicator.

Jay
_________________
Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.

[WxJeff]