Player Looking for Opportunities

[vjarjadian]

Hello

I'm looking for any playing opportunities out there, especially contesting,
but preferably not marching...

Im currently Principal Trombone at Bradwell Silver Band, 4th section.
(I am registered with this band)

but i can play basically anything from BBb Bass to 1st or 2nd horn.
Back row cornet with sufficient notice...

Im in Milton Keynes, willing to travel via train (except with tubas...)

reasonable expenses... AKA.. train fare and a plate of chips...

Bands I've played with;

Bradwell Silver Band (4th Section): My Main Band. 1st/Bass Trombone, Cornet, Tenor Horn, Baritone, BBb / EEb Tuba,

Great Horwood Silver Band (non contesting): On a Regular Basis. Cornet, Flugel, BBb / Eb Bass

Broseley Development Band (4th section): Regularly except contests, 1st/bass trombone.

Wolverton Town Band (4th Section): mainly every xmas, used to be regular player. most things...

Woburn Sands Brass Band (Non Contesting): July - August 2007, BBb Tuba, 1st Trombone, Solo and 1st Horn, Repiano/2nd/3rd Cornet,

Eastbourne Silver Band (Non Contesting): May and June 2007, Eb tuba and Bass Trombone (one of the best Eb tubas I've ever played)

More to come...

[steve butler]

Ever thought about deciding which instrument you'd like to concentrate on?
Jack of all trades and all that.
You could even start your own one man band.
"More to come..." (more instruments? :wink:)

Seriously,I believe to develop a good sound on an instrument you can't play such a wide variety of instruments.

[Mesmerist]

Have to say I agree with Mr B for once. What is your favourite instrument and/or which do you seem to have the best sound on? If you can`t decide you might like to think of sticking with the bass as most bands can find room for one of those.
Also not all bands pay expenses and you are often expected to pay subs especially in the lower sections...
Good luck though X

[vjarjadian]

I spend 90% of my time on trombone,

'more to come' i meant bands...

i get by, it doesnt do me any harm moving about,

besides i enjoy it.

the sound issue is the main reason i dont regularly play cornet, with notice i can do some practice and get back to playing back row, but most things 1st horn down are either trombone pitched or lower, and providing my 1L fits the tuba i can run most things off in a brass band. other than that i can get away with my 5BL HVTP, and a DW for horn. I mainly only need to play cornet to help out the learners at Great Horwood or Bradwell Silver, or occasionally before xmas.

besides, many bands needing deps are happy for 'jack of all trades' as they can be flexible.

[steve butler]

Thats fine, if you enjoy it I'm not going to knock it.
I certainly couldn't do it and prefer to try and make a decent fist of my chosen instrument.

PS welcome to tmp.

[iancwilx]

Seriously,I believe to develop a good sound on an instrument you can't play such a wide variety of instruments.

As Steve mentions, I just wonder whether you are producing a nice warm controlled sound through at least 2.1/2 octaves whilst achieving the full range of dynamics on all these different instruments.

If so, you must have a remarkable talent as it normally takes the rest of us quite some time practicing "Long notes" etc to develop a full, round, and pleasing sound on our chosen instrument.

Have you ever thought about entering show business as a multi instrumentalist ?
Do they still have circus's ???????
- Wilkie (Semi-uni-instrumentalist)
PS:- What happened to band loyalty ?

[chrisjohnston]

Vince

Please read the comments from fellow bandsman, as we have discussed many times, you need to stick to the Trombone and develop this, you have a skill but you need to channel this correctly.

Concentrate on one instrument and in time you will be able to assist many bands if that is your wish.

See you at BP, Four Cities!!

Chris

[andybt1984]

I have to agree that its best to develop on one instrument. If you are a good trombone player the opportunities are endless anyway because as most bands know they are in short supply (well at elast round here)

[vjarjadian]

As you know chris... i spend almost all of my time on trombone, but i enjoy playing valved instruments as well as trombone, and since i cant play what id ideally like to play in the band i will occasionally move around,

and since my mouthpiece will fit trombone, euph, and bari anyway
it's only the occasions where im asked to play horn or tuba that i need to change,

i will slow down eventually, but for now i want to play as much as possible in as many genres as possible.

im not stupid, im not going to go and play horn the week before the areas, but while there isnt much on a may occasionally play others.

I know my limitations, and i know what i am capable of doing.

besides, we dont have any gigs on for the next while, so i wont just sit at home and get bored when i could be having fun sight reading for an hour or two, and brass bands are so friendly, it's hard to turn them down...

Im waiting for our next double weekend so when you cancel tuesday rehearsal i can attempt to play with the championship section band in MK.

[steve butler]

This is my last try then I'll leave you alone.
You can sit in with loads of bands (most bands welcome players if they are'nt rehearsing for major contest/cocert) on your trombone or chosen 1st instrument.
You can also play in other "genres", try a local jazz band/dance band/ orchestra etc.
But if you hope to make an impression on MK champs. section band please concentrate and practice hard on the instrument you intend to play with them, its a massive step up from lower sections.
And finally nobody knows the limits of capability until you push those limits as far as possible.
Please don't worry about letting these "bands" down, you are letting yourself down if you don't explore the limits of your talent (on ONE instrument - at least to start with).
Over and out.

[vjarjadian]

Played in London 7/2/08

1st trombone in trafalgar square for the channel 5 neighbours switchover

[Vegasbound]

Did anyone tell James " The Wizzard of Oz" Morrison that you cant be good on more than one instrument ??

[David Mann]

If I had my time over again, I would have:

Learned a harmony instrument (piano, guitar..) when I was younger instead of starting in my 40s.
Carried on singing in a choir.

I am impressed by your enthusiasm and would urge you to channel it into making yourself an all-round musician. I don't see any harm in playing valved instruments and trombone. You list many instruments, all in brass band treble clef. If you don't play bass clef trom/euph, I suggest you learn as that opens up so many possibilities.
I agree with other posters that developing a good sound is fundamental. On one instrument it requires hours of practice on a regular basis. On more than one differently pitched instrument, even more!
Wish you success..

[batonwaggler]

If your intrested we at Moulton 77 based in Northampton would welcome you to our rehearsals. I currently need Baritones, Trombones, Bass Trom, so you would be made welcome anytime. pm me or call 07970482928 for directions to us.

[iancwilx]

If your intrested we at Moulton 77 based in Northampton would welcome you to our rehearsals. I currently need Baritones, Trombones, Bass Trom, so you would be made welcome anytime. pm me or call 07970482928 for directions to us.

He'll probably come along and play them all simultaneously!

- Wilkie

[Bayerd]

Played in London 7/2/08

1st trombone in trafalgar square for the channel 5 neighbours switchover

Get yerself on Bass Trombone.

Once you've visited the dark side, you'll never want to go back.

[andyfake]

Now then Wilkie you old git, don't get too sarcaststic - we'd just like to get you back to a position where you're fit to play anything (2nd triangle maybe?). Hope you're on the mend and look forward to seeing you in the band club sometime soon.

Cheers

Andy

[Vegasbound]

The Dark side....Bass trom, Contra bass and Cimbasso.....then The TUBA !!!

[MoominDave]

No, tuba is the light side again - two wrongs make a right, don't forget.

[vjarjadian]

David Mann,

I can play Bass trombone and read bass clef on euphonium or Eb tuba,

(in fact i prefer bass trombone to tenor)

For bass clef i dont like to be without a 4th valve, but it's still easy enough to do.

i have even adopted the skill of playing an Eb part on a Bb instrument, which some would say is the same thing, but it's still came in handy when the seldom used BBb pads have music missing from concerts.

Batonwaggler,

i would certainly be interested in coming along, regular rehearsals probably wouldnt be a possibility because my main band has two rehearsals a week, and im out a lot playing with bands in my area on some of the other days.

but if your short for a concert then id be glad to help, providing my current band doesnt have a conflicting engagement.

Out of interest, when/where do you rehearse?

iancwilx,

If only i could... ive been trying to imitate Fnugg ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0qIL2ie-VE ) but thats as close as i get to playing multiple instruments.

[imthemaddude]

Im confused now... do you want a contesting band to be regular with or do you just want to offer your services to bands that are short and need a one off dep?

It's great to have versatile people in band but you do need to have a 'root' seat.

Have you got enough time to commit to another band fully, if you are playing with lots of others?

[vjarjadian]

Im registered with Bradwell Silver Band, and this is not likely to change.

they rehearse on tuesdays and thursdays, so even from just that band, theres no chance of regularly attending another band on those nights.

I have a decent evening schedule, and im playing with almost all the bands in my town, im looking for any opportunities to play,

this part of the forum afterall is the 'deputies database'...

if i can work it into my schedule for a regular rehearsal then i would certainly enjoy that, but with contesting bands, many need deps to fill in positions but obviously unless you can borrow players for the contest your entering there isnt much use for deps... I know that with Broseley's dev band, now that the areas are approaching i will only go when their contest 1st trombone isnt at rehearsals, and if he is i can help 2nd trombone or something else.

i would love to participate in more cotests, where you can borrow players, as it's not only helping the contesting band but also helping myself.

(and i did say in my original post who i was registered with)

[batonwaggler]

Moulton 77 rehearse at Moulton Park in the Nationwide Building Society Head office building. Off at Jun 15 (M1) follow signs to A43 then pick up Signs to Moulton Park. Bit difficult from there the first time,call me and I can talk you to the place.

[vjarjadian]

Moulton 77 rehearse at Moulton Park in the Nationwide Building Society Head office building. Off at Jun 15 (M1) follow signs to A43 then pick up Signs to Moulton Park. Bit difficult from there the first time,call me and I can talk you to the place.

which night of the week?

[batonwaggler]

sorry,forgot to put that bit. Monday and thursday 19.30 to 21.30

[vjarjadian]

Lovely concert with Wolverton Town Band last night.

had to bring in my friend in so we could do 2nd and bass trombone.

[vjarjadian]

I was amazed at this, but MK Brass (championship section) asked me to dep today on 2nd trombone.

most enjoyable, if only i could do it more often.

[vjarjadian]

Whit Friday was great with the KM Medway Band, (Championship Section)

and Diggle for Whit Friday morning (1st Section)

although playing the BBb Bass all day was very tiring,

If they do it next year i hope they'll call me.

[tonygee]

Hi There! I am putting together a brass quartet in Leighton Buzzard and we need a bass ..... would this be of interest? Cheers Tony

[boogaloo]

If i may put my 2 pennys worth in, i can move around the band also, but this has restricked my playing ability, mainly through my sound, i can produce well on bigger instruments and my range is really good, but now i am a MD i would not recommend any of my players to move around the band, unless they are playing ie trombone and baritone, the mountpiece size is very similar, if you can find where the mouthpiece is similar you won't damage the musles the your lips.

please, please take heed of what people are saying, if you carry on you won't be to play anything, and no band will touch you.

kind regards.

boo

[vjarjadian]

This is exactly why i dont often play cornet, unless im asked to teach it.

I know what i am able to do, and to a degree what i am unable to do, I keep within my boundries, tomorrow i will be playing 1st trombone with my band at the areas, on wednesday i will be playing the tuba and trombone on the same night with the MK music service.

I wouldnt be in these positions if i was unable to play to an appropriate standard, and MK Brass wouldnt have called me to dep on bass trombone in their concert before christmas or last summer if they didnt know i could do it.

For me moving instrument is a requirement, one band i play with doesnt have any tubas, so i play tuba there so they can have a full band. My main band has only 2 trombones, so i am needed there. I know many people say to stick to one, and in some cases i agree, but i have no problems playing tuba / trombone or even tenor horn one after the other. There are also many people i know who can competently move around.

Also, i like to write/arrange music, so having experience of what the instruments can do can mean avoiding producing parts which are too difficult for a standard, or out of range for a part. Too many pieces of music nowadays have horrific trombone parts (especially bernaerts music) or other parts which are not fun to play, this is only going to put people off, and i know if i was forced to play pieces which were not interesting at all most of the time i would probably just stop.

I think most of this discussion would be better placed in other parts of the forum.

[boogaloo]

i wish you luck in what you do, but please try and dedicate your time more to one discipline, you'll find yourself a more attractive player to other bands you may want to dep with.

my hat goes off to you, that you can play all these instruments in succession, and keep your lip in for your cintesting band, and good look at the areas.

i hope that you prove everyone wrong, including myself.

good luck.

boo

[Bayerd]

This is exactly why i dont often play cornet, unless im asked to teach it.

I know what i am able to do, and to a degree what i am unable to do, I keep within my boundries, tomorrow i will be playing 1st trombone with my band at the areas, on wednesday i will be playing the tuba and trombone on the same night with the MK music service.

I wouldnt be in these positions if i was unable to play to an appropriate standard, and MK Brass wouldnt have called me to dep on bass trombone in their concert before christmas or last summer if they didnt know i could do it.

For me moving instrument is a requirement, one band i play with doesnt have any tubas, so i play tuba there so they can have a full band. My main band has only 2 trombones, so i am needed there. I know many people say to stick to one, and in some cases i agree, but i have no problems playing tuba / trombone or even tenor horn one after the other. There are also many people i know who can competently move around.

Also, i like to write/arrange music, so having experience of what the instruments can do can mean avoiding producing parts which are too difficult for a standard, or out of range for a part. Too many pieces of music nowadays have horrific trombone parts (especially bernaerts music) or other parts which are not fun to play, this is only going to put people off, and i know if i was forced to play pieces which were not interesting at all most of the time i would probably just stop.

I think most of this discussion would be better placed in other parts of the forum.

Are you joking?

Bernaerts? Horrific trombone parts? Don't make me laugh. If you think that you're great because you can 'play' a whole host of instruments then good luck to you. On the other hand, if you think that Bernaerts writes difficult parts for trombone, then give up.....

[MoominDave]

Alternatively, he might have meant that Bernaerts trombone parts are horrifically dull...

[vjarjadian]

by horrific i meant dull and not fun to play

[daveredhead]

This is exactly why i dont often play cornet, unless im asked to teach it.

I know what i am able to do, and to a degree what i am unable to do, I keep within my boundries, tomorrow i will be playing 1st trombone with my band at the areas, on wednesday i will be playing the tuba and trombone on the same night with the MK music service.

I wouldnt be in these positions if i was unable to play to an appropriate standard, and MK Brass wouldnt have called me to dep on bass trombone in their concert before christmas or last summer if they didnt know i could do it.

For me moving instrument is a requirement, one band i play with doesnt have any tubas, so i play tuba there so they can have a full band. My main band has only 2 trombones, so i am needed there. I know many people say to stick to one, and in some cases i agree, but i have no problems playing tuba / trombone or even tenor horn one after the other. There are also many people i know who can competently move around.

Also, i like to write/arrange music, so having experience of what the instruments can do can mean avoiding producing parts which are too difficult for a standard, or out of range for a part. Too many pieces of music nowadays have horrific trombone parts (especially bernaerts music) or other parts which are not fun to play, this is only going to put people off, and i know if i was forced to play pieces which were not interesting at all most of the time i would probably just stop.

I think most of this discussion would be better placed in other parts of the forum.
You amage me , a man with obviously so many talents, being a natural virtuoso and being a one man genious, why do you need to look for opportunities, i thought they would be hammering down your door, registration forms in their hands, Have you tried Simon Cowell

[m.brannigan]

Thats what I like a player who can multitask! Belle Vue Brass in Manchester have vacancies and our band is going places! www.bellevuebrassband.org.uk

[steve butler]

I'm sure superman will fill a few chairs for you :wink:

[daveredhead]

You amage me , a man with obviously so many talents, being a natural virtuoso and being a one man genious, why do you need to look for opportunities, i thought they would be hammering down your door, registration forms in their hands, Have you tried Simon Cowell


Sorry for mistakes in spelling , you can tell i am not a genius, and amaze would have done better, Just wonder what sec he will be playing in next year as a one man band :clap:

[Roger Thorne]

This thread has been locked at the request of the Author (vjarjadian)

:tup