Welwyn Garden City'ss 75th Anniversary celebrations, recently included a 'Masterclass and Workshop' day followed by a barbecue.

The event took place at Bonneygrove Primary School, where the band’s flugel player and event organiser, Anne Gorolini, is Headteacher.

Top of the bill

'Topping the bill' were the band’s Professional Advisor, Rod Franks, Principal Trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra, and cornet star Roger Webster.

The event which attracted 45 invited players representing seven bands across the London and Home Counties area, began with Rod Franks warming up the enlarged ensemble with some hymn tunes.

Welwyn Garden City’s Musical Director, James Marshall, then took the baton as the band played the march 'Cornish Cavalier'.

Educational talk

Rod Franks then gave an inspirational and educational talk on brass playing technique, covering breathing, note production, embouchure, double and triple-tonguing, vibrato and posture.

With his trumpet in one hand and a flip chart close by, Rod illustrated his lecture and also enhanced it with numerous anecdotes of amusing experiences from his brass banding and orchestral career.

After fielding a number of questions, Rod took the baton again and worked with the band on Shostakovich’s 'Festive Overture” with Roger Webster joining the front row cornets.

Buffet lunch

Following a buffet lunch, James Marshall took the band through the piece again as Rod Franks 'adjudicated' and commented on the performance.

Roger Webster, who researched performance psychology as part of his PhD, then spoke to the band about performing and nerves.

Nerves

He discussed some of the reasons that players suffer from nerves before going on stage and the many symptoms encountered. Roger was assisted by John Morahan who is Musical Director of the Enfield Band and a Chartered Psychologist.

Discussing some of the ways in which the brain functions, they were able to show how performers can help themselves in minimising their chances of suffering from nerves when playing.

This was a wonderfully enjoyable day of music-making and education and we are most grateful to Rod Franks, Roger Webster and John Morahan for giving up their time for us allSteve Dias

Musical element

The musical element of the day closed with James Marshall taking the band through a short programme of music before the assembled masses enjoyed a sumptuous barbecue, with baritone player Bruce Douglas wearing the chef’s hat.

A collection was taken at the end of the day and, thanks to the generosity of those who attended, £300 was raised which Rod Franks has asked to be shared between the Herts Air Ambulance and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Benevolent Fund.

Wonderful

Welwyn Garden City Band Chairman, Steve Dias, told 4BR: "This was a wonderfully enjoyable day of music-making and education and we are most grateful to Rod Franks, Roger Webster and John Morahan for giving up their time for us all.

My thanks also to all the players who participated and to our own MD, James Marshall, who when relinquishing his baton to Rod, joined the band on Tenor Horn.

This has proved to be such a successful day that I hope we will be able to arrange a similar event in the near future."