News & Events of the Brass Band Düren
The workshop with David Childs
- A group with David Childs
Previously to the 11th annual concert of the Brass Band Düren and in collaboration with Fa. York the conductor Martin Schädlich managed to get the world-renowned euphonium soloist David Childs from Wales for a workshop in Düren. To the delight of many euphonium, bariton and tenorhorn players David Childs not only accompanied the last rehearsal of the band, but also hosted a workshop for all interested people on the morning of the 25th of October 2009.
For both beginners and experienced
- A mixed group
The interest was big. With about 20 people the room in the "Haus der Stadt" was nearly bursting at the seams. It was a mixed group of participants. There were beginners aswell as experienced players with up to 30 years of musical experience, and some even came from belgium and the netherlands. At the same time the participants weren't only "die-hard" Brass Band fans, the majority of the players are active in local wind orchestras and brass choirs. Despite David Childs playing the euphonium the workshop was directed towards brass players in general so that there were also trombone and tuba players present.
- David Childs warming up
After some time to warm up, which everyone was to do individually, David Childs asked the participants about their expectations towards the workshop to frame the following course. It was no surprise that the questions centered around the typical "brass player's problems" like playing high and quick notes and how to keep your embouchure without hard practising, e.g. during the holidays.
"Music starts where perfection ends"
- Impressive presentation
- Instruments from York - developed with David Childs
- Group exercise
Before the actual workshop started David Childs introduced himself and delivered the group insight into the british brass band history due to its important impact on his personal musical development. The participants were amazed by the information that 100 years ago there existed about 28.000 Brass Bands in Britain. David himself had learned the euphonium from his father and through all his musical career the brass band has always been the ideal place for practise for him. Playing in a brass band has been a good training specially for the development of the beautiful and voluminous sound which he needs for his solos. David Childs plays in the Cory Brass Band from the south of Wales. This band celebrated its 125th anniversary this year and won fitting to the jubilee the european brass band championship in Oostende, Belgium, aswell as the concert division of the world music contest in Kerkrade. It was interesting to know that despite the very high standart of the british brass bands most players are "amateurs" and earn their living with "non-musical" jobs, e.g. the principle cornet player from Cory works as a firerighter. That way a very important aspect of making music is preserved: everyone does it for the joy and passion for the music. Maybe that's one of the reasons brass bands casts a spell over the audiences. Of the same tenor David was told from his father "music starts where perfection ends".
Everyone is individual
- that way one can get high notes
After an impressive solo from "grandfather's clock" David started to satisfy the inquiries of the participants. He started by explaining the meaning of warming up and why brass players should take this -often unpopular- matter seriously by comparing it to the necessary warming up of athlets. He gave various suggestions on how to warm up but also pointed out (as he did for the following matters too) that most important is for everyone to find the best solution for him-/herself as every person is different and the exercises depend on the personal form of the day.
"practise what you are bad in and perform what you are good in"
- David Childs explains what could be improved
For every topic a participant was asked to come to the front. That way everyone could experience how the play improved in short time by following the theory they just learned. Specially in regard of high note playing there were many surprises on what is possible. But the players still had to take note that only practise makes perfect as they heard following motto from David Childs:„practise what you are bad in and perform what you are good in“.
"Imagine you're playing a solo with the Cory band in the Royal Albert Hall"
- Demonstrating a solo performance
- Even practise can be fun
In the end David told some helpful hints and tricks for soloists to perfection their performance and the choice of a suited solo. For this all participants were asked to imagine they were invited to play a solo in the famous Royal Albert Hall as a german euphonium player- accompanied by the legendary Cory band. The thought of playing in front of a full Royal Albert Hall has certainly made the one or other participant quiet nervous, but thanks to David Childs' suggestions the players will now be able to approach performances calmer.
For more pictures on the workshop ...more
For informations on David Childs ...more
For informations on York ...more
For informations on the Cory Band ...more
We'll soon announce the title of the school David Childs was teaching of.
On the 8th and 9th of may 2010 the Brass Band Düren will host another workshop. This time our guest will be the world famous cornett player Roger Webster. More informations will be sent through the newsletter and will be published late on this homepage.
Looking for a tuba player!
For the next concerts-specially the annual concert on the 25th of october- the Brass Band Düren is looking for another b-flat tuba player. If you master your instrument well, if you’re looking for a new challenge aside from the usual harmony and sinfonic orchestras and –of course- if you’d like to play with us please contact our conductor Martin Schädlich.
you can look forward to...
Besides meeting a great group of people you can look forward to the unforgetable experience of playing in a real brass band tuba section consisting of 2 e-flat bases and 2 b-flat bases.
Just come over and visit us during a practise in Düren-Gürzenich…. But be careful! Most of the ones coming stayed! ;)
Contact us here...
Where we practise...
Brass Workshop with Prof. Malte Burbach
On the weekend of the 5th-6th of September the Brass Band Düren will host a workshop with Prof. Malte Burbach, who was the professor of our conductor Martin Schädlich. This workshop specially targets all players of brass instruments, who would like to expand their knowledge about the physical procedures during their playing. Additionally one will get assistance on how to exercise various functions of the body to improve ones security, endurance and hight. For more informations on Prof. Malte Burba and the workshop look under www.burba.de .
Participation:
the participation fee is 100€,
for members of the Brass Band Düren it is 90€
The number of participants is restricted to 25 people.
To participate contact Martin Schädlich. (contact)
10th year anniversary concert in Düren
Dates:
02. November 2008
Haus der Stadt Düren (for more information)
Beginning: 18:00
Entrance: 17:00
Tickets:
Buy tickets in Düren:
Gärtner & Thul (...more)
Meisterwerkstatt für Blechblas- und Schlaginstrumente
Zülpicher Straße 36
52349 Düren
Tel.: 0 24 21 - 58 75 0
Buy tickets in Jülich:
Musikstudio Comouth
Grosse Rurstr. 72A
52428 Jülich
Tel.: 0 24 61 - 49 49
Of course you can get tickets from all our players or pre-order them by email!
Information
On the 2nd of November we will offer you a very broad and entertaining program, covering almost all styles of music.
It ranges from classical pieces, like the ouverture to the opera "Nabucco", over film music (Harry Potter) and original compositions for Brass Band ("Ship builders") into jazz pieces. With his arrangement of the funk-piece "Theme for Miguel" by the band Jaguar, Johannes Meures ventured an unusual but promising experiment for a brass band.
The highlight of the evening will be this years guest soloist Ulrich Haas. He is a tuba-player from the Duisburger Philharmoniker and will impress us with the piece "Capriccio" by Rodney Newton for tuba and Brass Band. Ulrich Haas also gained fame as a member of the "Melton-Tuba-Quartett" since 1987. Since 1985 he is a tutor for tuba at the Folkwang-Hochschule.
New Website
Finally it’s done and our website moved to the new system. In the beginning there’s not information available to every section or it might not be up to date, but we are working hard to complete this new homepage. Due to the new technical possibilities this homepage offers in comparison to our old one we are also planning on expansions as regards content.
We are indebted to René Herpertz, Mario Fraikin and Stefan Gottschalk. Without their help the realisation of this website would not be possible.
We hope you have fun discovering and getting to know our new homepage!
Login on the website
At the top of our website you can find a login-field with a registration-field.
In the moment you can visite every part of the homepage without a login, so
a registration is not necessary!
Perhaps we will create some areas for association-members in the future which will just be visible after a login.
