The Coalburn Band family has once again teamed up with South Lanarkshire Council Instrumental Services to put on a fun filled day of workshops.

The event at the Blackwood & Kirkmuirhill Community Wing was led by Scott Kerr, solo euphonium of Whitburn Band and Helen Minshall who has set up a very successful music teaching company, Minshall Music Ltd to deliver high quality brass tuition in a growing number of schools in Salford and Bolton.

Educated fun

The day was attended by members from the Coalburn Percussion Academy, Silver, Intermediate and Bronze bands, as well as, a number of young brass beginners.

The players got to take part in a variety of educational and fun workshops — percussion academy working on a performance of the 'Game of Thrones' theme tune with their tutor Caitlyn Monaghan.

The Bronze Band and brass beginners took part in interactive workshops lead by Helen as well as working on two new pieces of music that they then performed alongside the Silver and Intermediate band members at the end of the day.

Scott ran masterclasses for both the Intermediate and Silver band members, as well as, providing feedback and advice to some the band's soloists during rehearsals ahead of their concert performances.

The open day was a fantastic way for the Coalburn family to begin another busy year. It was an extremely enjoyable and educational and the workshops with Helen and Scott were really engagingCoalburn Band

Concert to close

The day ended with a short concert for friends and family which featured all of the players who had taken part and included excellent performances from Scott, the percussion academy and two of the Silver Band's young principal players — Anna Biggart on trombone and Jack Archibald on E flat tuba.

A band spokesperson told 4BR: "The open day was a fantastic way for the Coalburn family to begin another busy year.

It was an extremely enjoyable and educational and the workshops with Helen and Scott were really engaging."