It’s loud… it’s great fun… and it can be addictive as Nicky Carter finds out when she samples a practice session with Ovinos Samba Band
My primary school music teacher discovered my abilities at an early age. She determined, I believe from what’s called a pitch test, that I don’t have any.
While my friends were selected to be given the opportunity to learn the violin and flute, I was relegated to the back of the class sans instrument.
I remember thinking it was rather unfair. I wanted to play an instrument. After much badgering my parents did agree to send me to piano lessons. But after only six months of lessons illness forced me to withdraw. My sister stepped in supposedly temporarily to keep my lesson, but when I had recovered, she refused to relinquish the spot.
My next brush with learning an instrument came shortly after watching the annual Whit parade in Barney. I was in awe of the marching bands. But when I declared to my parents, I wanted to join a band I wasn’t specific.
While I was dreaming of throwing a baton and playing a kazoo in a marching band, they got in touch with Ronnie Henderson, Barnard Castle Band’s conductor.
Six months later and after quite a few split lips from trying to get the instrument I was given – a cornet – to utter a noise, I gave up. But I still admire people who play an instrument, and I haven’t lost my ambition to learn to play something…
So, when I heard Ovinos Samba Band were hosting a taster session to give potential new members a try out I thought I’d give it a go.
And after chatting to band caller Martin Ordish, who reassured me “as long as you can count to four” I would get by, I popped along to Ravensworth Village Hall on a snowy Monday evening earlier this month. And I’m pleased I did. I had a blast.
They’re a friendly, welcoming bunch and as well as providing me with a set of ear plugs – the combined noise of all the drums in an enclosed space was quite loud – there was coffee, biscuits, and lots of encouragement.
Viv Dinning, from Cotherstone, joined the band’s ranks with friend Sabina Kamall last summer after a similar taster session.
She said: “Even though I have a musical family I had never played a drum before. We came out of the blue and I loved it.
“We started in July and how fast you progress depends on how much you practise. Martin posts videos on our WhatsApp group for us to practise for the next session.”
While Viv plays the Caixa drum, similar to a snare drum, Sabina opted for one of the larger ones, a Surdo.
Sabina said: “I played the ukulele and was in a band before, but you don’t have to be musical because you are not having to read music. For a small person I like to stand out so I wanted the drum that makes the biggest noise.”
After a warm-up session of circular clapping, I got to try out an instrument – a tamborim. It’s a bit like a tambourine, but smaller, and rather than tapping it with your hand, you use a flexible “whip”.
Martin added: “We do have a number of instruments for people to try out on, but we find as soon as people try out, they are hooked and get their own. The key thing is having fun and having a good time.”
And I did have fun trying out the Tamborim, despite counting to four and not three for a while, but I may need a lot more practice before I will be able to don one of the band’s striking orange T-shirts and join them in a public performance.
Martin said: “We’re hoping to get more members to be able to form two bands – increasing the number of percussionists – so we can do more gigs. Sue Stewart, who used to be with Jack Drum Arts Banshees, would lead one and me the other.”
All the money the band receives for their performances is donated to the Great North Air Ambulance at the end of the season. To date they have nine gigs lined up this year including May Day Festival in Richmond and Barnard Castle’s Meet.
l Ovinos Samba Band is looking for new members aged 16-plus. The band meets at Ravensworth Village Hall. Anyone interested should call Mr Ordish on 07412 632531.
