Following the success of its recent Brass Band Conference held in Sale, Brass Bands England (BBE) has announced that it's to launch the first phase of its follow-up survey to find out more about the brass band community's views and opinions on contesting.

The Conference, under the banner heading of 'Better Banding for All', saw a number of different topics and issues explored and discussed, including a panel discussion on the purpose and structure of brass band contests.

Investigating

Following the debate a 'show of hands' from delegates saw them vote overwhelmingly in favour of investigating constructive changes in the structure of brass band contesting.

BBE has now announced that it intends to produce a report into band contesting in the UK. It has stated that it will be "reflecting fully the views of all stakeholders in the banding community".

It was confirmed that central to this report will be a comprehensive survey, to which they say "...everyone with an interest in brass banding will be invited to contribute", with the aim that "BBE would like to know the questions you would like us to ask on your behalf."

It is understood that contest organisers will be invited to make submissions directly, but in order to make the project as comprehensive as possible BBE would also welcome the views of all interested members of the brass band public.

The question

The question being asked currently is: 'On which aspects of contesting would you like to know the views of the brass band public?'

BBE Partnership & Development Manager, Dr Alex Parker, who is leading the project, told 4BR: "As far as we are aware, this is the first time that all members of the banding community will have been asked what they think about contesting in such a comprehensive way, as well as looking for their solutions to some of the perceived problems facing bands.

We will be applying academic rigour to the process of creating the report to make sure the report presents an unbiased reflection of the true feelings about contesting, and this starts with the process of creating the survey in the first place."

We will be applying academic rigour to the process of creating the report to make sure the report presents an unbiased reflection of the true feelings about contestingBBE Partnership & Development Manager, Dr Alex Parker

Have your say

To have your questions considered for the process, please send e-mail to alex@bbe.org.uk

The closing date is: Saturday 14th December.

BBE confirmed that all contributions will be treated confidentially and nothing will be specifically attributed to any person or organisation in the resulting survey.