FEATURE
Banding together What do you do when you have youngsters at your corps wanting to learn to play an instrument but there’s no YP band for them to play in? Rock Ferry and Birkenhead Corps got together to solve the problem by developing a new approach to fellowship banding. Captain Andrew Stone reports…
‘B
ECAUSE we don’t have a YP band at Rock Ferry, any youngsters who can play an instrument play with the senior band,’ explains Bandsman Steve Cutler. ‘But that’s difficult because the senior band can’t always drop its level down to what the kids can play and the youngsters struggle to play at the standard of the senior band.’ When Steve looked into how other bands outside the Army dealt with the problem, he discovered that the City of Chester contesting band had a training band. ‘The training band is just that. It’s not a YP band, so it is made up of adults and kids who all learn together,’ he explains. ‘I went to my officer and told him I thought we should combine with Birkenhead Corps and start an Army training band.’ The invitation for anyone to go along to the first practice was given out and, in May 2012, 25 people gathered at the hall. Now the band has nearly 40 members! ‘The band is made up of Salvationists, people who have attended the Army in the past and those with no formal Army or church links,’ explains Steve. Practice nights for the band alternate
between the full band one week and then the learners, who are known as apprentices. ‘Our youngest apprentice is seven. The eldest is in his forties; he is learning the bass, but if he joined the Army at his age, he might struggle to learn to play an instrument because he would be too old for a YP band,’ says Steve as he describes one of the benefits of the new venture. Another benefit of the band is the way it opens doors for people not connected with the Army to become linked with the two corps. ‘Anyone can join,’ says Steve. ‘There is no requirement for them to attend any other part of the Army’s activities. Some mums who have brought their kids along to join the band have themselves ended up playing!’ As well as playing religious music the band plays Disney songs and Beatles tunes to appeal to people who do not yet have a Christian faith. But the band is based on Christian principles and reflects that in its name: Trinity Brass. ‘When we play “It Is Jesus” and “Amazing Grace” we make sure everyone in the band is aware of the words that go with the tunes,’ Steve explains. ‘We also have a God spot at the end of every practice and we close in prayer. Those who come along who don’t go to the Army are more than happy to have these times at the
practices. They realise we are a Christian-based band.’ Other areas of the two corps have benefited from the forming of Trinity Brass. Some of the adult members have started to attend other Army meetings at both corps, while some of the children now go to Army youth clubs. Trinity Brass has also been active in staging performances to raise money for the Army and other charitable causes, both in the United Kingdom and abroad. ‘I believe God led us to start Trinity Brass,’ enthuses Steve. ‘It has led to greater co-operation and improved relationships between members of the two corps. Forming Trinity Brass has also enabled us to reach with the Christian message people who we weren’t reaching before.’ A weekend, led by Lieut-Colonels Ivor and Carol Telfer (THQ), to celebrate the first anniversary of Trinity Brass – and all it has achieved – was held last month. During the Saturday evening programme the band was joined by Liverpool Walton Singing Company. The band played ‘I Will Follow Him’ and ‘Trinity Praise’, a piece written especially for it by Captain Martin Cordner. Members of Trinity Brass joined with members of Rock Ferry Band for the Sunday meetings and in the evening meeting a number of people rededicated their lives to the Lord. Salvationist 15 June 2013
11