Brass

HEAD OF BRASS

Mrs Alison Bryce

Despite this year being one of many challenges, our Brass and Piano Team has continued to thrive, with new Brass scholars, a fantastic Sonata concert given by Caleb and Will (insert link) and a Virtual Brass Bonanza given by nearly all of our amazing Brass students!

Congratulations to Caleb, Kesu and Harry, who will join the Scholars Programme from September. For those of you who were unsuccessful this time around, I am immensely proud of you and your dedication, and please do reapply next time!

Well done to all of you who have taken either an online exam or an internal exam this year. Everyone has achieved a merit so far, so well done to Caleb (grade 8 Trumpet), Kesu (Grade 6 Trombone), Fergus (Grade 1 Trumpet), and Ryan (Grade 4 Piano). Congratulations also to Millie, Harry, Miles and Rishan who sat their internal exams last week.

This term it has been a joy to be able to get our BSAK Brass Quintet together for a few socially distanced sessions. How wonderful to be able to play in an ensemble together after so long! We have also had some rehearsals with our Year 7 Trumpet Trio and I look forward to more exciting projects with these two groups once we are able to run ensembles properly again.

Thank you all for your fabulous “Extreme Brass photos” I have laughed so much seeing them (look out for who got in the shower and turned it on...) and some of the dare-devil positions you managed to get yourselves into are amazing. I hope everyone enjoys seeing them as much as I have - you are all legends! I’m pleased to report that no instruments were harmed in the making of these photos.e to come to work every day!

The end of the summer term is always a time when we say a sad and fond farewell to our leavers. This year, Will is leaving us to head to university in Manchester. Will has been a fabulous student to teach piano (and more recently trumpet!) to, and he has made my job so easy and rewarding. He got through to the second round at YMOG this year on piano (and won the Plucked Strings award for the 4th time) and more recently performed the entire Pathetique Sonata by Beethoven live in Secondary Reception and for a virtual Sonata Concert. I wish Will all the best for his new chapter and will miss him. Keep in touch - we will watch your musical journey with huge interest.

All that remains for me to do is wish you all a happy and restful summer, whether you are travelling or not. If possible, please keep playing in the summer holidays. This will avoid us having to start all over again in September. Many students come back after not playing for the entire summer holiday and find that their instrument valves have seized up or they are unable to play a note which then makes them want to quit. This is because embouchure muscles are muscles that need to be exercised regularly or they forget what they are supposed to do. It doesn’t take long for playing to come back, but it can be frustrating. So… please play when you can!!!

Have a wonderful summer and thank you all for your support and enthusiasm this year in often difficult circumstances. You make it a joy for me to come to work every day!

Have a great holiday!! Ali Bryce

Head of Brass