What is it like being the youngest member of Lofthouse 2000!
Senior Band Cornet Player, Shannon Empsall, explains what it is like for a young person in a brass band.
I joined Lofthouse Sept 2010 aged 11 and found it was a massive leap from what I was used to playing, everything seemed to be played at 100mph. The band is a great bunch of fun people of all ages playing all sorts of music from traditional Brass band to modern pop. After a couple of months of hard practice and loads of help I found I could keep up. I played my first concert with the band at Pudsey Parish Church in December 2010. Since then I have played in lots of concerts and competitions and loved every minute of it. Some of my friends at school think I’m really weird “What you play in a Brass Band?” but it is because they don’t understand what is involved. The more I try to explain the worse they get.
Playing in the band is great fun! Last year I played in around 30 different performances ranging from St James’s Park in London to Christmas Carols round the tree in Lofthouse. I really enjoy the variety of music that we play and I have made loads of new friends in the band and they all treat me as one of them and not as the little kid. I know that if I am struggling with a piece of music or have a problem they will always try and help me. We sometimes get together as friends outside of concerts and rehearsals with band BBQ’s and meals out together and coming up in March is the band Christmas party, (we were too busy in December!)
I love playing in concerts and competitions because getting dressed up in a smart uniform makes me feel like I belong in the band, it makes you feel special and proud of your ability to play. People will come and talk to you in the interval and they always ask me how old I was when I first started playing. And then the applause at the end makes you feel really proud.
I always love travelling with the band to contests and concerts because we always a have a good laugh on the coach, there is always a lot of joking - I am usually in the noisy crowd at the back.
It is hard work as well though - I have to fit in rehearsals twice a week, I also do Scouts and Guides and a Zumba dance class and my homework. And oh yes, there’s a Cornet lesson and practice to fit in as well as helping with the Acorn beginners band on a Saturday morning.
Rehearsals are really hard at the minute because we are practising hard for the Yorkshire regional’s at Bradford. There are lots of extra rehearsals and cornet sectionals and sometimes with guest tutors.
I enjoy rehearsals though because although there is a serious side to them we usually have a bit of fun and a laugh during the session and when Andy is in a good mood he will bring in some of his baking for the band to try, (he is a top chef as well as the MD).
Would I change it? - No - I love it how it is.
If you can play a Brass instrument I would definitely recommend giving it a go.
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