Adult beginners / intermediate bands / ensembles North East Hampshire, UK

Hi
I've been playing now just over two years.

I am getting lessons regularly, but feel it is time to start playing with others. Are there any like minded people or groups in my area that I could join to develop further.

I have reached ABRSM grade 2 Jazz and am studying Grade 3 presently. I play tenor sax.

Any feedback or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Martin
 
Unfortunately you are not in my neck of the woods. I did a search online for training bands, and I began with one in September in Loughborough. I travel 100 miles round trip, but its worth it, and costs me £12 per academic term to attend. It is helping me play 'parts' as opposed to solo really rapidly and I always feel I've progressed and grown each week as I leave. The vast majority (being a training band) are children with several of us adults scattered in there. It is very humbling when you find a 7yr old can perform their part more professionally than you can! Like you, I play tenor, and there is a 15yr old who is at Grade 5, from the Concert Band (you graduate at about half way through Grade 4) who comes and sits in with me, so I learn tips from him every week while we have a good chuckle at my squeaks, burbles, and losing my place so looking at him with my "what bar are we on now?" face. He also shows me any new notes that I haven't achieved yet when a new piece of music is put in front of me.

Maybe a search online for your own area will bring up something appropriate? Don't worry that it may not be a jazz band initially. Any opportunity to learn to play alongside others in a way that compliments, harmonises and produces the whole sound will be rewarding at this stage. Then you can search for your real desire and musical tastes when you feel ready to take that next step up, and in the knowledge that you have developed your 'part' skills.

I'm no expert though, and this is purely reflection from my personal experience of learning to play with others, which is very different from playing alone.

Whatever you do, enjoy it!

Mel
 
Hi Martin,

I'm just a little up the A3 from you, so if you find something please let me know!

I found a small jazz group in Basingstoke to play with, which is just about close enough for me: right now we have a surfeit of reeds (3 x sax + 1 x clarinet, out of 8 players), so the group would not have space for another sax, but if you had undisclosed talents on trumpet or trombone ..... 🙂

Good luck in your hunt for a local group, and let us know if you find something.
 
I don't know if you have considered a military volunteer band, that's what I did and I have come on in leaps and bounds - there's RN bands down in Portsmouth, you're not far from Army land in Aldershot (although I don't know if they have a VB). Those bands are always looking for members - you don't have to be in the services to join, they take civvies too. I don't have any contact details to hand, although I could get the RN contacts. Maybe google for it would help.
 
Hi Martin

You may find something with these websites:
http://www.amateurorchestras.org.uk/index.htm
http://www.windbanddirectory.co.uk/
http://www.bandsman.co.uk/index.htm

Once you start playing with others they will then know of other places....

good luck!

I found a community orchestra for my cello using one of those sites.

Several options. "Community" orchestras usually take all-comers - mine has stirngs, flutes, oboes, clarinets, tenor recorder (as an oboe), bass recorder (as a bassoon....), tenor sax (in pieces without a sax part, it will play bass clarinet or similar), trumpets, trombone, horn, 2 tubas....

There are community wind bands as well.

Local bands will often have a training band.

If you have a 'proper' music shop that sells instruments, they will probably know what's on in the area.

There's an all-comers wind band nea rme which I keep meaning to get involved with.
 
Thank you to all who replied

I have found a band from the sites suggested by c9off and attended my first rehearsal on Monday evening.

Rather daunting, but everyone was friendly and very encouraging. The tenor saxes were all more experienced than me. I have a way to go, but this gives me the opportunity I was looking for.

Thank you all again,
Martin
 
Thank you to all who replied

I have found a band from the sites suggested by c9off and attended my first rehearsal on Monday evening.

Rather daunting, but everyone was friendly and very encouraging. The tenor saxes were all more experienced than me. I have a way to go, but this gives me the opportunity I was looking for.

Thank you all again,
Martin

Good to hear. You'll go from strength to strength.
 
I have found a band from the sites suggested by c9off and attended my first rehearsal on Monday evening.

So pleased to hear it! I certainly haven't regretted starting out with a band of this type as its helped me grow so much more quickly in the playing of parts department. There isn't a single week passes that hasn't brought a sense of new and progress that wouldn't be happening playing alone. I just KNOW this will serve us both well for band playing of any variety so much better in the future.

Well done. Enjoy and let yourself learn from those who are already a bit further down the road without feeling anything lesser than they are.

Mel
 
Just for information purposes, the Bandsman Website has been hacked by extremists and dos not appear to be accessible at the moment.

Hopefully it will be up and running quickly.

Its pathetic that others cant even leave music alone, but not going to get into that argument.
 
Well done Martin. I joined Windsor Community Orchestra a few years ago when I felt I wanted to start playing with others. Best thing I ever did!!

It's great fun, and I now do a solo piece at every concert. Next one's next Thursday - I'm doing "Ain't No Sunshine".
 
Hi

Welcome to Café Sax. 🙂

Perhaps you'd like to say hello on the doorbell section of the forum?

Jx
 
Well done Martin. I joined Windsor Community Orchestra a few years ago when I felt I wanted to start playing with others. Best thing I ever did!!

It's great fun, and I now do a solo piece at every concert. Next one's next Thursday - I'm doing "Ain't No Sunshine".
Hi Nick

Please let me know and I shall come along. Post details please
 

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