A CAMPAIGN to teach children to play musical instruments is safeguarding the future of a dale brass band.
Last year members of Middleton and Teesdale Silver Band received funding to visit four schools to identify and provide lessons to children with an interest in learning music.
Band leader Trish Smith said: “Four or five of us went in and every kid in years four, five and six had a go at blowing three brass instruments – a cornet, a horn and a baritone. It was fabulous.”
More than 20 pupils from Woodland, Butterknowle and Hamsterley primary schools went on to enjoy lessons with Darlington music teacher Paul Krywysyn.
The band leader said the campaign was made possible through cash received from the neighbourhood budgets of county councillors Richard bell and Ted Henderson.
She added: “We got £13,000 which was for free music lessons for a year and for sheet music for them, which is expensive. We also got instruments for them – we got cornets, tenor-horns and baritones, which they use for free and take home to practise.”
Each child also received a band hoodie.
Cash from The Village Bookshop, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, helped pay for additional sheet music and bags to keep them safe.
Six of the children have already joined the junior section of the band and had their debut public performance at Eggleston’s Moorcock Inn in May in front of an audience of their families and funders.
Ms Smith said: “It was brilliant, they were wonderful. Since then they have played with the band at Toft Hill and Etherley Fete, Ingleton Fayre, Staindrop Carnival and Cotherstone Fun Day.
“The children love it. They have got their own music, which is quite simple.”
The band leader said the children were joined by senior members when they play their “Tour of the World” music repertoire, and they particularly love the one for Italy which is “Just one Cornetto” .
The other children who are still receiving lessons will be invited to join the band in September after the summer holidays.
The band meets each Thursday for practice at Middleton-in-Teesdale’s Masonic Hall between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.
