|
|
INFORMATION
PACK
Being a member of
South West Surrey Concert Band is a worthy commitment. The
Musical Director, his tutors, and the committee are all
committed to maintaining a band of repute. This can only be
achieved by the dedication and commitment of all its members
and the members' parents/guardians to attend rehearsals and
concerts, and to practice their scores. Should there be any
difficulties, it is incumbent upon each member to
communicate with the Musical Director.
1. MUSIC
TUTORS
|
Director
of Music
|
Mike
Fielder
|
|
Junior
Band Conductor
|
Lin
Bedworth-Ray
|
|
Brass
Tutor
|
Michael
Chapple
|
|
Flute
Tutor
|
Helen
Smith
|
|
Percussion
Tutor
|
Jackie
Kendle
|
2. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Association of Friends of South West Surrey (Music
Centre) Concert Band was formed to assist in the
administrative running of the band and its AGM is held in
the autumn term. Everyone becomes a member on joining the
band together with their parents, families and friends and
all are invited to attend the AGM.
3. COMMITTEE
A committee, elected at the AGM, runs the administrative
side of the band, leaving the music tutors more time for the
music. Membership of the current committee is shown on the
attached sheet and on the notice board. Please do not
hesitate to contact any of the committee members with any
administrative suggestions, offers of help, problems
etc.
4. TRUSTEES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS
There are a maximum of five Trustees and these are the
Chairman and the Treasurer, the Musical Director and two
others.
5. MEMBERSHIP PROFILES
Forms are issued to be completed for each new member and
these are a valuable means of maintaining up-to-date details
of each member. We aim to check these annually but should
any of the details given on the Membership Profile change
please notify the registrars ASAP. In order to maintain a
record of former members and to keep in touch for special
particular band events, the Membership Profiles are
transferred to a separate file when members leave; likewise
email details.
6. BAND DATA BASE
Using the Membership Profiles, a database of band
members has been compiled to assist in the administration of
band affairs, the compilation of registration lists,
grapevines and tour information etc.; this is for the use of
SWSCB tutors and committee only. The types of information
contained are name, date joined the band, address, email and
telephone numbers, date of birth, school, instrument
ownership and serial number, grades achieved, medical
details notified to us of which we need to be aware,
photographs and agreement or otherwise to use photographs
for publicity purposes. Separately we hold waistcoat numbers
for each senior band member, short term record of
attendance, voluntary subscription paid and band owned
instrument hire fee payments. As members leave, their
details are transferred to former members' files. If you
wish to be excluded from the database or wish to review your
entry, please advise your register supervisor accordingly;
withdrawal from the database would inhibit our
administration.
We are also required annually to give to SCASW a list of our
band members' names and contact details for them to issue
invoices for their compulsory subscriptions (see 22).
7. VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTIONS
Voluntary subscriptions at termly/yearly rates are
invited to be paid to the register supervisor or to the
Treasurer as soon as possible at the beginning of the
term/year. Cheques should be made payable to South West
Surrey Concert Band, named on the reverse and sent in a
named envelope please.
The voluntary subscriptions are essential to provide such
things as new music, purchase and upkeep of uniforms,
purchase of special instruments and equipment, subsidies for
tours and outings etc., all of which are items that are not
covered by the subscription levied by Surrey County Arts
Southwest.
8. TERMS/REHEARSALS DATES
Queen Eleanor's School, Guildford is the location for
all band rehearsals, which normally commence on the first
Saturday following the start of the school term and end on
the last Saturday before schools finish the term but this is
flexible.
NB SWSCB complies with term dates of Surrey County Council
schools. Rehearsals are not held on the Saturdays at the
beginning or end of all half term holidays. Times, with a
break and opportunity to socialise with other band members,
are:
|
Junior
Band
|
- Ready
to play 8.45am - 10.15am
|
|
Senior
Band
|
- Ready
to play 10.30am - 12.15pm
|
9. ATTENDANCE REGISTERS
An alphabetical register for both bands is laid out on
tables in the entrance hall each week. Members must mark
this on arrival and on departure if before the end of the
full session (12.15pm); in an emergency and the building
needing to be evacuated, it is essential that we know who is
in the premises. Helpers and committee members should sign
also. If a band member knows that s/he will miss a
rehearsal, it is helpful and important to mark the register
accordingly in advance; similarly members should mark the
register in advance when unable to play at concerts having
spoken to their conductor first.
10. REHEARSAL/PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE & NEWSLETTERS
Dates are confirmed in a rehearsal/performance schedule
which is issued in newsletters that are issued regularly,
generally one or two times per term after committee
meetings. These are one of the main methods of communication
and are named and issued via pupil post at rehearsals; in
the event of absence, letters are sent by post. We endeavour
to give as much notice as possible of future events and it
is the responsibility of all members and parents to read
newsletters carefully and note information therein. Further
detailed information is issued directly to players by the
conductors; players need to listen carefully and act upon
all information passed to them. Additional information is
provided as appropriate.
11. NOTICEBOARD
The band notice board is put out each week and displays
several pieces of important information, reiterating
information that has been issued via newsletters etc.; it
also includes details of committee members and their
responsibilities and photographs related to band activities.
Should you wish to purchase copies of any photographs please
ask at the registration table.
12. REFRESHMENTS
Refreshments are available for band members and guests
during rehearsal breaks at a cost of 20p for squash and
biscuit or 30p for coffee/tea and biscuit. The refreshment
break, midway through each rehearsal session, is an
important time for members to socialise.
A rota of parents/guardians is in operation for both bands
and co-ordinated by the person named on the committee list
and displayed on the notice board. Parents are automatically
placed on this rota unless they particularly indicate that
they cannot comply. A new rota is published each term and
posted to the appropriate families. If you are scheduled to
serve on a particular day but find you are unable to do so,
please make your own arrangements to change the date with
someone else on the rota and notify the rota supervisor.
Failure to turn up may mean that no one turns up at all,
leaving the band members with no refreshments. If you are
unable to find someone to exchange with please inform the
rota supervisor, giving as much notice as possible that you
will not be there.
13. HALL SET-UP
We have a parent who helps the Musical Director to set
up the hall for rehearsal each week. It is expected that
senior band members will clear the hall at the end of their
rehearsal.
As a health and safety precaution before rehearsals, each
member should ensure that their belongings and instrument
cases are stowed appropriately and safely.
14. GRAPEVINE
We maintain a Grapevine that is up-dated periodically
and is used when it is necessary to pass urgent messages to
members e.g. cancellation of concert/rehearsal, change of
time. Each committee member is responsible for contacting
specified members.
15. INSURANCE
SWSCB public liability cover for any one event is
£5 million.
It is recommended that all band members' instruments,
whether owned or hired, be insured against theft, loss
and/or damage. Good insurance schemes are available through
Brass Band Insurance Services.
All property that is loaned to members from SWSCB is fully
insured except when left unattended in cars or clearly not
carefully looked after.
16. FUND RAISING
Fund raising is an important and successful part of our
activities. In addition to concerts we also hold social
events for band members, families and friends, of which
raffles are an integral part; all donations for prizes are
gratefully accepted.
17. UNIFORM
The following uniform must be worn at all concerts
(earrings, other jewellery and make up should be kept to a
minimum and hair well groomed and tied back):
|
SENIOR
BAND
|
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Black
shoes - not sandals
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Only
girls in the percussion section may wear smart
black trousers)
|
|
Band ties can be bought from the uniform supervisor whose
name can be found on the committee list on the notice
board.
Waistcoats are the property of the Association and are
loaned to members for the duration of their time with the
band and must be returned when each member leaves. It is
each member's responsibility to ensure that the waistcoat is
not lost, is kept on a hanger and in good condition. The
Association reserves the right to claim the full replacement
cost for any waistcoat that is lost or damaged. Waistcoats
are called in periodically by the Association for
stocktaking and dry cleaning. If you need a waistcoat or
wish to exchange for a different size please speak to the
uniform supervisor.
|
SENIOR
BAND
|
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Only
girls in the percussion section may wear smart
black trousers)
|
|
Band bow ties can be bought from the uniform supervisor.
18. TOURS & SPECIAL EVENTS
The Senior Band has generally undertaken a Concert Tour
that is open to all players of suitable standard and
maturity, every two years. Tours have been very successful
and countries visited in the past have been France, Holland,
Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and USA. Tours are an
excellent way to secure new friendships and concerts are
played at excellent and exciting venues.
The Junior Band has undertaken a concert break in the UK and
consideration is given to short breaks and day trips for
both bands.
We always welcome any suggestions of venues at which either
band could play as these experiences enhance the enjoyment
and motivation of the bands. The junior and senior bands
charge £175 and £250 respectively to participate
at events reflecting their high standard of playing.
19. BAND MUSIC
Saturday mornings are for rehearsing as a band, not for
practicing the music, therefore the borrowing of music to
practice at home is very much encouraged. If members take
music home but find they are unable to attend the following
rehearsal they must arrange for the music to be returned in
time in their absence so that others sharing their stand and
music are able to participate fully and are not
disadvantaged. The cost of music is very high therefore it
is essential that good care is taken of all music in
members' possession; one missing part can make a whole score
unusable as it is not possible to purchase parts of scores
individually. SWSCB reserves the right to charge for losses.
Photocopies can be made of music for personal use at home
only, the original to be returned to band at the first
opportunity. It is illegal to perform from photocopies.
20. INSTRUMENTS
There are occasions when one of the tutors will ask a
player to play another instrument for the benefit of the
band as a whole from a small selection that the band owns.
Alternatively there are occasions when players may request
the use of a piece of band equipment. In both instances
players and parents will be asked to complete a simple form
outlining the terms of the loan, whether or not payment of a
fee has been requested.
21. RECORDINGS
The Senior Band has made three professional recordings
that reflect the variety and high quality of music played by
the bands. They are an asset to any CD collection and useful
learning aids for players, especially when tracks featured
are in the current repertoire. The first, "Strike up the
Band", originally sold out in cassette form but was
re-mastered and is now available as a CD; the second,
"Encore", is also sold out; the third, "Reflections" made in
2003, is currently available. Each CD costs £6, £5
each for multiple purchases, from registrars or
via
the website,
please ask if you would like to hear them!
22. TRANSFER FROM JUNIOR TO SENIOR BAND
The usual minimum requirement for entry into the Senior
Band is Grade 5. There is however no automatic transfer once
Grade 5 has been attained but it is subject to arising
vacancies for particular instruments rather than just to
swell numbers, plus a successful audition; promotion is at
the discretion of the Musical Director and the tutors. It is
the Musical Director's responsibility to maintain a
competent and balanced band.
A scheme is in operation whereby a junior member, when
selected to do so, is able to play at rehearsals each week
with the Senior Band as a rehearsal member but is still
considered a member of the Junior Band and with whom they
are expected to play in concerts and attend both band
rehearsals until accepted as a full senior member. Rehearsal
members do not play in Senior Band concerts unless
specifically requested to do so by the Musical Director.
23. SURREY COUNTY ARTS SOUTH WEST - "our music
centre"
We are grateful for the support we receive from SCASW at
Bramley and SCA based at Woking. SCA make an annual charge
for membership of the county's regional and local ensembles.
This charge covers membership of one or more ensembles in a
particular area, tutors' salaries, and the hire of the
rehearsal venue for ten sessions plus one concert per term.
Their membership fee should be paid directly to SCASW who
will invoice directly when it is due on SCA's
behalf.
Information
Pack - August 2006.
|