Any tMPers off to the New Zealand Nationals in July?
- Thread starter fitzy
- Start date
Okiedokie of Oz
Active Member
Would have loved to go, unfortunately, July is AMEB exam season, and I have a couple of students this year. Plus the local eisteddfod is Early August.
Good luck mate, have a good blow, and keep warm.
Good luck mate, have a good blow, and keep warm.
Roger Thorne
Active Member
The date is Saturday 12th June, 2004neiltwist said:
:lol:
Simon Kerwiin
New Member
Mark: You know that I'll be there
Neil: The band competitions are on the 9th, 10th and 11th July
Roger: That's very naughty
Alex
Neil: The band competitions are on the 9th, 10th and 11th July
Roger: That's very naughty
Alex
Alex(Simon)/Mark: Brilliant - please help us spread the word of tMP yeah... would love to see many more NZ's and AU's signing up with us.
And let us know how you all get on as well.
Good luck.
And let us know how you all get on as well.
Good luck.
Okiedokie of Oz
Active Member
Australian Euphonium
New Member
Seems to be alot of brisbaner's heading across the tasman sea this year. I was planning to go, only I couldn't find a travelling partner willing to try their luck in the icy kiwi winter!!
Australian Euphonium
New Member
jambo said:
The kiwi economy is useless so any european wanting to go would be set... Especially if you go on Air New Zealand! - their prices are already cheap before currency conversion.
Good thread Mark, seriously the New Zealander's have festival contesting downpat. Their nationals is like a weeklong party, with stacks to do, see and heaps of concerts and events. Even better the whole country is so small you'll never be more than 10 metres from a happy-to-socialise bandsman
Okiedokie of Oz
Active Member
They basically model their system from the Brits, Ben.....so if you went tot he UK, that's what it'd be like!
Aussies have a few kinks in their brass banding, but we're getting there.
Aussies have a few kinks in their brass banding, but we're getting there.
Australian Euphonium
New Member
Okiedokie of Oz said:
No they dont. - All divisions of the nationals are held at the same time, the size of the place allows there to be no qualifying contests meaning everyone can mix it with the best bands at the same time, in Britain, its a test piece and one day with a gala concert, in New Zealand it's a week of solo events, own choice, hymn, test, marching, and drinking. plus concerts and a big entertainment festival. Plus aussie bands, in fact any band in the world could enter, they are entirely different set-ups.
There are millions more similarities between Australia and New Zealand in contesting habits than either with the UK.
fitzy
Active Member
It is usually a very well organised contest. The solos on the wednesday and thursday (Im playing against Kerwintootle!!!!!) The Test and Hymn on the friday and the Own Choice on Saturday.
They don't have a stage march like we do in Australia but they take the street march MUCH more seriosly than we do here.
Im quite looking forward to it!
They don't have a stage march like we do in Australia but they take the street march MUCH more seriosly than we do here.
Im quite looking forward to it!
Okiedokie of Oz
Active Member
Why don't us Aussies take marching seriously??
I used to be in an A grade band, and I swear they never tried doing a proper marching rehearsal, let alone a strong effort on the day.
I used to be in an A grade band, and I swear they never tried doing a proper marching rehearsal, let alone a strong effort on the day.
I don't think the street march is worth the effort.
1. It doesn't count.
2. Preparing a hymn, 2 major pieces and a stage march is too much already.
If we let our major pieces decided the championships (like the Euros)
then we can have a Whit Friday contest type kinda thing where all the bands march to the park and perform a hymn there. (and make that compulsary for all bands, free for audiences)
back on topic, apart from David Thornton, are there more big name players going over as guest players?
Ted
1. It doesn't count.
2. Preparing a hymn, 2 major pieces and a stage march is too much already.
If we let our major pieces decided the championships (like the Euros)
then we can have a Whit Friday contest type kinda thing where all the bands march to the park and perform a hymn there. (and make that compulsary for all bands, free for audiences)
back on topic, apart from David Thornton, are there more big name players going over as guest players?
Ted
fitzy
Active Member
I can never take marching seriously. It is only a publisity stunt at the Australian nationals to promote the contest to the public and get a bit of news time. It takes the focus away from the "real" contest inside. Thats not to say that marching is bad but it is not well organised over here and there are realy no top level bands that take it seriously. We would love to do a Whit Friday style of march contest! That would be a blast!
On "star players" coming for the NZ contest, other than David Thornton, Woolston are bringing out the sop player from Tredeger I heard. Not sure about any others but there are always a few floating around. This will be my first trip as a guest player and I hope it won't be the last!
On "star players" coming for the NZ contest, other than David Thornton, Woolston are bringing out the sop player from Tredeger I heard. Not sure about any others but there are always a few floating around. This will be my first trip as a guest player and I hope it won't be the last!
Australian Euphonium
New Member
I like marching here only cause every time the Nationals come around it usually means a thousand bandpeople socialising, sorry literally taking over the town square or major landmark of one of the capital cities! the atmosphere is fantastic and the best publicity the event gets, even if the marching is a bloody pain in the ass.