Welcome to New Buckenham Silver Band 

The band was formed in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee and has continued ever since.  We are one of the oldest bands in East Anglia and celebrate our 125th anniversary this year - 2012! 

PRACTICE NIGHT - THURSDAYS 8 - 10pm.

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**NEWS**  NEWS**  NEWS**  NEWS** 

AGM - THURSDAY 24th. MAY at 7.30pm

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ROGATION SUNDAY AT WILBY.............

The band played at the gorgeous little village of Wilby near Quidenham again and as the weather was just beautiful began the service on the green and then processed up to the church.  As it was 350 years of The Book of Common Prayer, we did the service in a liturgy which had thees and thous - a very lovely change from the modern ways and which really brought back the sense of history and timelessness of the pastoral life all through the centuries.  Bells were rung, the band played very well - one of the best in a church - balanced, melodic, tuneful with good dynamic range.  I say this as over a dozen people came up to us afterwards - including some experienced musicians and singers - and congratulated the band team.  So we were elated!  Cheese scones, mini sausage rolls and homemade biscuits with a glass of something refreshing came round afterwards... What a great start to the day and not a spot of mildew in sight!

Thursday night 10th. May 2012...........

Well, firstly in deference to Steve on Eb Bass I would like to say that the issue of THE BAND PAUSE will not be discussed here as agreed last night.........................................

..............................So, moving on in a quick tempo in 4 or could that be in 2, we will mention our next engagement which is this Sunday.  Rogation Sunday is at Wilby near Quidenham.  09.45 for a prompt 10am start please.  On the green as usual or if it is pouring - straight to the church.  For the beauty/ As pants the hart/ Love divine/ we plough the fields are the hymns and the Singing Rector will be leading the service.  Banners will be available for the stands and hymn books are also here.  Oh PEGS!  Don't forget - could be a bit blowy and lyres...

If you're not playing but will be attending the service, why not wear a hat with a sprig of willow or a flower in the band to symbolise The Spring? Bring a brolley....

Well, no Clive this week - very quiet - no Carl - working, no Ethan - sore throat, no James - at the pub;)... so Kerry, Lizzy and Gill were the stalwarts of the cornet section. Practice went well indeed but no Geoff or Dad On Drums.  Do come along - we miss you old dearies.  No knickers were thrown this week -  although it was discussed in a markedly bright way -  so Tommy escaped unscathed. 'It's not unusua'l is becoming a firm favourite of the band.  Ground Force flowered and no one jumped off the Bridge into Troubled Water and Gill and Lizzy did duet just lovely apparently.  Tracey was fitted up - with a jacket for Sunday and advised to wear a vest.  Auntie Pauline had an unlovely tune in Indian Summer (more later) and it transpired that she was holding down her 4th valve in a most unsatisfactory manner.  It was as if the instrument had a mind of its own - we couldn't work out what it was, then - oooh....Our Chairladywoman has just celebrated a milestone birthday, so the band sang to her and now with the valve thing all sorted she'll get to the next one.

 Now some SUPER NEWS - Eddie Baker has asked if he can come along and conduct 'Indian Summer' for us and the esteemed conductor said YES! so come on down Eddie!  AND, Nick Jackson has agreed to be our SOPRANO for the concert even though the poor chap is up to his eyeballs!  Hurrah!  Muncila Magic may provide us with some scrummy grub for our 125th. Feasting along with everyone elses delicious contributions.

Grimethorpe Colliery Band are at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, Norfolk this Sunday night - 6.30pm.  for the EABBA Spring Contest Concert this year.  Tickets still available apparently.  Best check on EABBA website....  Fab band - have been before, so if you can go - GO!  Nothing on the telly and I bet you don't clean your instrument on a Sunday night do you??!!

KIT GARNER EDWARD SANDERS SAM,  ANDREW, CARL, CATHERINE, WENDY, ROBERT, JOCK, TREVOR, ALISON, KATIE..........Where are yooou??

That's all folks - see ya next week!

Thursday night 3rd. May 2012.............

May already and bloomin' freezin' here.  Luckily the hall was warm and welcoming as ever and I don't know if there's something in all the water,  but all we did all evening was laugh!  Oh and play of course but it was infectious terrible.  Got 2 more bits of music - 'It's not unusual' - Tom Jones thing and 'My love is like a red, red rose'  - Robbie Burns - which is the cornet solo one.  For the former we respectfully request that neither members of the audience (this sounds like only 2 are attending, doesn't it?) or indeed the band throw ANY underwear (and certainly NONE like that, Clive) at Tommy whilst he conducts and for the latter for ALL the Eb's to remember just where the 4 band pauses are..... I think the less said about that one the better.  Great news anyway as the lovely Roberto Reeder has said he will come and play in the 125th Anniversary concert on Sunday July 1st. here at New Buckenham Village Hall too!  Yahoo!  Various jolly sorts (Gareth, Sally and Martin, Dave etc...) are now raising their heads above their music stands and offering to come and have a blow with us and WE ARE DELIGHTED!

Next up - Rogation Sunday at Wilby with 'The Singing Rector' - David Hill.

Thursday night 27th. April 2012............

Oops, 8.20pm start.  Tom not pleased.  I was late due to the stray dog belonging to the goat cheese man and a telephone call - yes, reception in NB -  bizarre but true.  Cuts no ice with Tom though.  8 sharp next week EVERYONE and no dogs...

'Is that after 4 or after 8?'  Put the chocolates down Clive.....  Actually, The Lederhosen Two (Carl 'n' Clive) played 'Ein Scnapps' beautifully last night really giving rise to the phrase ' being driven to drink'.  Trombones were heavy and full during 'London River' and therefore sounded great!  We had quite a crowd turn up and Tom didn't know where to shout '' 'N' for naughty!'' during a particularly onerous and repeditive phrase which required rather more practice than we'd like, but ho hum, it was fine eventually.  We must all practice at home to ensure our lips can sustain us this summer.  Take this as you will but our esteemed conductor has requested it of us all - so pucker up and have a quick blast when the veg is on or the child will not get up for school (this works very well I find) - also good for the husband to offer you a nice hot cup of tea.

Oh yes - Sam got his dog back.  Buy his cheese it's very good - Anchor Corner. Little Ellingham.

Practices continue in preparation for the summer fete season and of course the 125th. Anniversary celebration on Sunday July 1st.  We'll be having a meet and greet and eat during the afternoon and if you bring a plate of something yummy it will be greatly appreciated please!  After reminiscing and passing round the memories and laughing our pants off, we will continue with a splendid concert at 6.30pm.  This will feature pieces of music from every decade of the band's reign in New Buckenham and it has to be said that it has proved a challenging blow!  All previous and current members - you too Bb Bass - are invited to attend.  If you wish to join us in the concert - perhaps you have a burning desire to play Ground Force or Asleep in the Deep - then please attend a few practices.  They continue as ever 8 - 10pm every Thursday night in the village hall.  We are thoroughly excited about all the hullabaloo, so do come along and join in the fun!

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Yay!  We started on time! Carl depped on Eb Horn ha ha and had to put in the sop for 'Dandelion' which was interesting!  Come back Marie!  Poor old HuckleBuckle was on the buses again somewhere in England so we missed you too!  No Bb bass again....?  Otherwise we had a full band and sounded really rather good it has to be said!  The programme is being inserted into the folders on Monday and we will be concentrating on it for the summer fete season.  Rogation Sunday at Wilby has been confirmed and we await news from Garboldisham in the next 2 weeks.  We are looking forward to playing at Peter Beales' Roses in June at the height of the rose flowering season.  The sight and scent will be just sublime so we urge you all to join us for cream teas and a proper English afternoon!

We have had a few niggles over late starts so can all players make a real effort to get here before 8pm to enable warm ups/loo visits etc. to be over with for a prompt start at 8pm sharp.  At 9pm notices will be given out and juniors can leave. We need ALL PLAYERS EVERY WEEK PLEASE as the summer season will soon be here!

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Coughs, colds and other hideous ailments notwithstanding, the band soldiers on!  The 2 young cornet players Kerry and Ethan had ago at conducting last week and it is not as easy as it looks!

The Engagement List is beginning to creep up and unfortunately many of our clients are not leaving enough time to ensure a full band can be gathered for their desired engagement.  If you would like the band to play, please try to book us early - 6 months at least to a year in some cases, especially during the fete season in the summer.  NBSB and Watton Silver often play together so although it may look as though we have a free spot, it is often the case that players are depping for WSB and are not available.  Holidays can be booked around engagements and it is far more difficult to do it the other way round!

We still require more players and it is great that some of our old members will be playing during the 125th. Anniversary Concert on Sunday 1st. July.  However, a full time percussionist is needed and a soprano cornet and a few more Eb horns.  Come and give us a go!

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Can you believe it - January is nearly over already! We've had our first committee meeting of the year and have chosen the music for our 125th. Anniversary Concert on Sunday, 1st. July.  We've decided to host a small exhibition about the band history in New Buckenham Village Hall in the afternoon. Refreshments will be available and it would be great if as many musicians and ex-members could stop by and say hello again before the concert in the early evening.  Now, if you'd like to relive your youth and play in the concert then scoot along on a Thursday night between 8 - 10pm for a chit-chat. 

The band will be playing at the Sport Relief Mere Mile this year in Diss to help raise money for charity - 25th. March and we'll also be helping Tibenham celebrate their beautiful church reopening at their Trinity Sunday service on 3rd. June at 11.00.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hope you all had a great Christmas and are now ready to help New Buckenham Silver celebrate 125 years fo being a band!

Dates are coming in already for engagements and it looks to be a busy year with the  Diamond Jubilee,  GB Olympics and Para Olympics, European soccer, Wimbledon,The Proms - wow and NBSB too!

Band began on Thursday and a good time was had by all.  Tom conducted and appears to be okay.  David Buckle -  Deputy Band Master -will be stepping out of the shadows this year to alleviate  some of the stress of conducting from Tommy.  David joined again last year after a break due to work committments and we are pleased to have him back on euphonium.

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24/12/2011

GOOD NEWS - TOMMY IS HOME!

Some of you may know that our esteemed conductor was taken ill just after his birthday and had to be whisked into hospital to be poked about with by Doctors and the like... The band had to tramp round NB playing carols without him on Thursday and missed his quirky sense of humour and indeed timing - always quicker nearer 9pm and the lure of chips and beer !  Tommy has been 'cured' for the time being and will live to wave the stick once more - hurrah! Good news for Rosemary and their family who must've been desparately worried. 

 Now, New Buckenham villagers have been fantastically generous this year - not only did you donate a staggering sum just shy of £206, but we were offered mince pies in King Street and had our picture taken! We had personal requests for 'Rudolf' and 'Jingle Bells' from several children all dressed for bed and we had dogs listening with no howling or barking - which really does say something for our intonation this year. Tom's favourite carol 'Silent Night' was a popular request as were 'Away in a Manger' and 'Ding Dong'.

 THANK YOU NEW BUCKENHAM FOR SUPPORTING YOUR VILLAGE BAND!

We all really appreciate your kindness.

Thanks must also go to 'The Inn on the Green' (George that was) for the splendid chips and refreshments which awaited us on our return.  How lovely to go in to our local pub again and have a load of ridiculous chit-chat and ribbing after 2 hours blowing!  A toast was raised to NBSB now in its 125th. year and of course to Tommy and his health. We missed you - Tommy,Wendy, Carl, David, Tracey, Ros and the 2 Steves, but we did eat your chips, so silver linings for the silver band!

We will continue our practices on Thursday January 5th., 8 -10pm.  Until then, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Bright and Tuneful New Year in 2012!

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17/12/2011

The Leverett/Doy wedding at OB today was great fun - very Christmassy in content and reventially attended - well done band.  We played a selection of Christmas music before and after the marriage in a church which was perfectly and simply decorated for an Advent wedding.  The bells were rung, the congregation sang and the band played and sang - it was fab!  Our 2nd wedding - last one was in 2005 for one of the cornets, so let's have some more please!

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8/12/2011

Aslacton Church concert was enjoyed by the band and the audience, despite the rain lashing down and the wind a'blowin'.  Refreshments went down very well - as usual yummy...!  Christmas carols and Christmas tunes were played including a fairly jazzy boppy Rudolf arrangement.  The carols were chosen by the audience and Tom made sure everyone was singing loudly and tunefully(!). Both Chris on the euphonium and Dennis on Eb horn both played a lovely solo each in Little Donkey and Mary's Boy Child - very mellow and sweet.  We met the new lady vicar  - (a bell ringer hurrah!) who with the PCC were as welcoming as ever.  What a pretty little church and so beautifully decorated. Then out into a moonlit night, a full moon shining back at us from all the puddles.  A truly magical Advent night to bring us into the spirit of Christmas!

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Old Buckenham Methodist Chapel was a pleasure to play at on 1/12/2011.  Full occupancy of every chair and the carols and Christmas tunes were well received.  A soloist sang of Mary with Auntie Pauline on the organ which was finally switched on!  - You had to be there, it was sooo funny.  Anyway, the song was sung and after further carols, jokes and general jolly banter a marvellous selection of cakes/pastries/savouries were served up with tea and coffee.  Fantastic!  Lovely evening as ever and we hope to pop along next year!

Band went well last night - nice to have both Bb and Eb bass together with a euphonium - work will get in the way of band practice!  Anyway, Christmas carols are proceeding well and just to remind you all that we have 2 carol concerts coming up on the 1st. and 8th. with a Christmas Fayre in between on the 3rd.  It is vital that band members attend the outdoor carol playing sessions we have at this time of year.  This is when the band works hard at fundraising for its own coffers.  Hall fees and insurance have gone up and the majority of functions we play at are to raise monies for the function organisers - not ourselves. Thursday 22nd. December is our night out round New Buckenham 7 - 9pm, collecting on behalf of the band.  If you have a favourite carol or Christmassy tune you would like us to play, then stop us and buy one!  Merry Christmas!

The band provided cornet players for Last Post and Reveille on Sunday 13th. November at Attleborough, Hingham, Old Buckenham, New Buckenham, Bunwell and Carleton Rode this year.  If any budding brass players would like tuition in learning to play for this most important service, then do contact the band.  The ACF in Attleborough have expressed an interest in having tuition for a bugler.  This would be an excellent way for our young cadets to show their appreciation for the senior members of the Armed Forces who died in their quest to ensure liberty prevailed in Europe and the Far East.

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We hope that everyone enjoyed the recent concert at Carleton Rode - the band was again supplemented by members from Watton Silver Band and so once again we thank them most heartily.  Watton have a new conductor and have recently changed their band night to Monday rather than Wednesday.  NBSB still continue to canvas for new brass or percussion players as we are aware that with extra dates to play, Wattonites may be unable to dep for us.  NBSB is 125 years old next year and would like to invite players old and new to meet and celebrate with us and the community in New Buckenham.  So spread the word!

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NEW BUCKENHAM FETE IS ON 29th. AUGUST - BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY  - What a great day!  Thanks to Wattonites for coming along and boosting us on drums, euph, trombone and cornet - although we DID miss the delicious James!  Everyone played very well and the 12/8 in Pirates was fine!  I was asked by several people if we had more players and I think the secret was the heavy brass and the percussion giving us extra va-va-voom!  Fab burgers and tea and cakes, so brass players and the sticks all content.  Thanks to all our supporters and see you next year when NBSB is 125 years old!

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**Band practice at NEW BUCKENHAM CHURCH this Thursday 28th July is cancelled !INSTEAD, we shall be playing at St. Martin's Church Garden Party, 730. pm on the Friday 29th July 2011!

So, bring a picnic and something to sit on and enjoy (weather permitting!) an English summer evening in the grounds of the church.

Village Hall is being used by NB Players for a production, so we will decamp to the Church.  Pauline and Tommy will collect stands and music and take across, but help clearing up will be appreciated!

Last week the 12/8 bit went well in 'Pirates'!  We will walk the plank after all, so strap on the fake parrot Tommy and pop on the water wings !? 

Liberty Bell went well and Johann Strauss was probably humming along with the Radetzsky.  We're very pleased with the new books and think they will be a useful and tuneful addition to the band - especially this summer fete season. 

Oh the week before - playing piece of music which requires all players due to harmony - bit of a mess and chaotic...

Tom stops conducting and asks Clive and James 'are you doubling up?'  'Yis' says Clive, 'We're in agony, I don't know about you!'  Front row unable to play - it was one OF THOSE nights - due to laughing.  I s'pose you had to be there...... 

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NBSB AGM - Thursday 26th. May at 7.30pm.

Well, we had the AGM - 1 1/2 hours - so a little longer than usual!  We have Tom Winser still as Conductor, but a NEW DEPUTY CONDUCTOR  - David Buckle.  Wendy Muncilla - Treasurer. Pauline Bott -  Chairwoman and Elizabeth Abbott - Secretary.  We still need a willing player to take over as Band Sergeant and help keep stock of the instruments, mutes, stands, uniforms and keep the band members from being rowdy at concerts!  A beautiful red sash complete with tassel is available for the lucky recipient!

One of the issues raised was  - surprise - music!  We've spent money this spring to freshen up the repertoire and indeed we have some great tunes.  However, we still needed smaller arrangements - quartets/quintets for when holidays and other committments cause our numbers to be depleted.  We discussed this and today on Rogation Sunday at Wilby we were approached by an anonymous benefactor (no, don't ask me for I shall not tell) who has offered to buy the music we had talked about.  We also received a donation from Wilby Church for which we are very grateful - many thanks!  It was a lovely service and although we didn't play on the green as we usually do, the church more than made up for it upon entering.  A wedding on Saturday had ensured the most splendid flower arrangements in this tiny, rustic, holy place.  The font was tremendous and the bride's posy was of white orchids.  Despite the boom, boom, boom of Play Fest - rather over shadowing the calm - blaring over the fields from Eccles Hall School, the service was very wonderful, with the emphasis on the cornucopia of plenty that we are priviledged to have - unlike those peoples in countries blighted by drought, flood and other natural disasters causing a dearth of crops.  Perhaps we should think about this in relation to our little band, for we have a skilled, dedicated corps of players, generous benefactors just when needed and a cornucopia of music and therefore a wealth of enjoyment. Thank you anonymous benefactor -  we are truly blessed.

More on the AGM as I get around to writing up the minutes - h and nice to see Geoff and his Dad from Gislingham Silver comingover, sittng through the AGM and joining us for our practice - cheers! 

Oooh, on that - can it be true that The King's Head AND The George will be openng again imminently????!!!  Let's hope so.  We brass players become VERY thirsty after 2 hours of blowing!  Beer and crisps again!

Thank you Crazy Clive for tootling at Wilby with us!  May have to rename the service as Lemon Drizzle Sunday!  Yum!

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Banham Royal Wedding Celebrations on Friday 29th. May 2011..............................

NBSB and Watton Silver Band will be playing jolly tunes from 1.00pm on the green outside the church.  It all kicks off at around 10ish with an enormous screen televising the event.  Bring a picnic, a corkscrew and pray for warm weather!  Lots of attractions for the family to enjoy together.

Well Hello again!  I received this rather alarming email yesterday ( April 7th. 2011) and all of you PLEASE PLEASE READ -

Yes!  We have purchased more 'new' music - at least it's not in the bulging filing cabinets (we need another, so if anyone has one spare....) and wasn't sent for archive at Cheethams.  Some of it is in the  'Black Books' which we are unable to use as they are sooo old and fragile.  So, 'Teddy Bears Picnic' is joined by the theme from 'Toy Story' - 'You've got a Friend in Me', 'Batman', 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', 'Alfie' a bit of Boney M,  WW2 'Singaong', and 'Til I Hear You Sing' - from the new Phantom of the Opera musical.  There's more - let's have a few rehearsals and soon a new exciting summer reportoire shall emerge! All toe tappers and the sort of tunes you find humming to yourself when brushing your teeth last thing.  We're all keen to get our mouthpieces ready but and if you fancy coming along to join in - then do!

Many Thanks must go to Watton Silver for their continuing support and also to new supportive comments and offers of help from Loddon and Gislingham.  Eddie B. of Cawston has also made some great suggestions to encourage new players and for the first time in many monhs we have a small sense of optimism for the near future.  Thank you.

DISS MERCURY

New Buckenham Silver Band faces shutdown

By STEPHANIE BROOKS Saturday, March 5, 2011 1:09 PM

An historic south Norfolk band due to celebrate its 125th birthday next year could fold if more members do not come forward soon.

Over the last decade the number of players at New Buckenham Silver Band has decreased from more than 35 to just six. It means the musicians are having to join forces with other local bands to play in public or are having to turn down regular concert invitations. Last year, for the first time in the band’s rich history, it had to cancel its memorial performance on Armistice Day, instead sending just one cornet player to perform the Last Post. Pauline Bott, chairman of New Buckenham Silver Band, said it would be a tragedy if the band had to shut up shop. “There are only four or six of us who are members of New Buckenham Silver Band. Watton has a brass band as well so some of them come to help us out and between us we can make a decent sound but that’s not the answer. It has worked for the last year but without the members we cannot get the subscriptions in because we have quite a big insurance to pay for the instruments and the hire of the village hall,” she said “If it was to fold it would be such a shame because in 2012 we will be 125 years old. We have never stopped being a band through two world wars. As long as I have breath in my body I will go to practice every week and blow but I do not make a band.” The band, thought to be one of the oldest in Norfolk, was formed in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. In 1998 it received a Lottery grant to buy new instruments – many of which, including a selection of percussion instruments, now sit unused. If the band was to fold then, as a charitable organisation, all its assets such as the instruments, music and uniforms will be returned to the Charity Commission and redistributed. Mrs Bott said an immediate input from experienced players was needed to ensure it could honour its calendar of events, but an injection of young people was required to ensure its long term success. “We’re in the situation of many bands - we’re just not cool. They’re not cool enough for the youngsters. They want guitars and saxophones and those sort of things which are more like rock music although we do play quite a big selection of music,” she said. “Music is such a wonderful thing and if they do go off to university or college or new towns to work, if they play an instrument they’ve instantly got a group of people who are like-minded. You make friends because there is something there, which I think is lovely, and you never lose music once you’ve become involved in it.” The band meets every Thursday at New Buckenham Village Hall. Beginners’ practice takes place between 7pm and 7.45pm, while full band practice takes place between 8pm and 10pm. For more information, call Pauline Bott on 01953 860425 or visit www.nbsb.org.uk

MARCH 2011.....

The band is in grave danger of folding as we have so few members who are struggling to keep it going.  This means we are unable to take on many engagements - therefore our income has decreased dramatically and like so many organisations at the moment, we find ourselves in a predicament.  The band has been going for over 120 years and has a wealth of history and we feel very responsible as caretakers of this organisation.  As we are a charity, all our assets - instruments, music, uniforms, stands, banners, mutes etc. would have to be returned to The Charity Commission with the hope that some other band may benefit from them.  It would be a very sad day for the village of New Buckenham to lose such a splendid organisation and also for those of us who still enjoy making music and entertaining the public.                                                       We are urging anyone - especially if you have past associations with NBSB to think of any solutions to our problem - and if any past players would like to rekindle their interest then we would welcome one and all whatever your ability or age.  Beginners are also welcome as we have a range of instruments to borrow.  If there is a percussionist out there looking for an outlet to play  - well we have a full kit, timps, bells etc. which are desperate to see the light of day again.

Please help us to save this wonderfully historic band so that many future generations will continue to benefit.  We have a wonderful musical reportoire with music to suit all ages.  If you have any ideas that could help us or would like to come to a meeting to air any ideas then please contact either Pauline (Chairwoman) 0n 01953 860425 or Elizabeth  (Secretary/Treasurer) on 01953 452314.

Thankyou so much for taking time to read this letter.  we look forward to hearing from you.

Anyone can join - there are no age restrictions and currently junior band members receive free tuition and a free instrument to use.  We are looking for brass players due to vacancies to play a wide range of music for our local community. Beginners are welcome too!  If you have time to visit us on a Thursday evening you will be assured of a warm welcome!

We play every Thursday evening in New Buckenham Village Hall.                                                                                    

 New Buckenham is situated about 5 miles south of Attleborough on the B1117.

Junior band : 7 - 8pm

Main band : 8 - 10 

NEWS..........NEWS..........NEWS.........NEWS.........NEWS

Okay, here's a link to BBC Radio 3's Musicality Test for all you music buffs!  Some of us at NBSB have had a go and whilst some have not divulged their scores (!) (?) YET -  we urge you all to have a go.  It's jolly good fun and you do have to concentrate, but it is really interesting how the scoring of the individual tests add up.  This hopefully means that most of us are able to 'tra la' along to the tunes we hear as opposed to those unfortunates who are unable to carry a tune in a bucket let alone in their heads.  Good Luck!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/labuk/experiments/musicality

NBSB want to stage a musical collaboration this year wth other New Buckenham organisations and would welcome suggestions for formats etc.  Perhaps NB Players and other musicians would be keen to join together to host a musical entertainment evening in the villgage hall and proceeds could be given to a selected local good cause.  Children and adults, even singing dogs would be welcome to a really great community event.  A bar (and fresh water for the dog) can be provided.  Poetry (NOT The Ancient Mariner - not even if you can recite it by heart) could be read also, FUNNY jokes, a raffle of sorts and general silliness could take place and even a prize for the best entertainer as voted by the audience - you see, the added glamour of the Z Factor has permeated even our little village!

So, email us and we can try to fix a date!

Find us on FACEBOOK

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

Practice bgan last night  ( Thursday 6th. January - where were you?) and the carol books were collected up and put back into the cupboard!  New music is the order of the day and so we raided the archives and pulled out some pandas.  We were looking for teddies to take to a picnic but found more Asian cousins - quite fitting as we are in the East after all!  So, 'The Pandas' Picnic  - turned out nice and 'Herewake' was on the back.  Both were really great little pieces.  Each week we are having a ferkle in the music files and sight reading so it has been 'interesting in the syncopation department' !  It was so good to be together again after the festivities but our lips took a bashing.  Too many mince pies and not enough practice over the holiday...

Sad news - our euph champion Ken Angell has moved south to be with his family and will no longer be able to attend the band.  We will sorely miss him, his friendship, his musicianship and his loyalty to our little silver band.  We all wish Ken, his wife and family a wonderful retirement together and fond memories of NBSB

 Sunday 19th. December, some members played some carols outside Sainsbury's in Attleborough to help raise money for the homeless in our midst.  Can you imagine what it must be like for those living on the street in the freezing conditions we have this winter?  The band help out each year for this worthy cause - you never know what's around the corner and we were again priviledged and humbled to be asked to help. 

Hello Peter Weir - lovely Bb Bass, nice  to see you again and hope you will send our regards to one of the best percussionists in East Anglia - David Pugh!  Hello also to David Barnard, an Eb Bass player just waiting in the wings!!!Come back and play again you oldies! 

Carols around New Buckenham on Thursday 23rd. - practice night - snow/ice willing!  ALL BRASS PLAYERS WELCOME !Meet at the village hall at 7pm, bring lyres and/or stand (with pegs) and we will pootle round NB til 9pm or until the valves freeze up!  Off to The Game Keeper in Old Buckenham for a pint afterwards as - Boo Hoo - The King's Head AND The George have closed!  What will we brass players do?   Last blow til Thursday 6th 2011......

St.Mary's in Attleborough resounded to the voices of LiveWire Opera Company and the band on Friday 17th.  The congregation sang their hearts out and Rev. Matthew Jackson told us of the journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus.  Christmases past were remembered in several readings which had the listeners in absolute stitches, Joyce Grenfell being a favourite!  It was a frostily freezing night with a temperature of -4 C so we were pleased to see such a great crowd on such a night.   Thanks again to the stalwarts of Watton Silver who treked out from deepest Breckland to blow too! Winter Warmers and mince pies certainly hit the spot in the interval. 

Snow and ice caused the OB concert to be cancelled - a real shame as many in OB contribute  - not just NBSB.  Aslacton went well as ever and many thanks for the delicious refreshments that brass players devour with gusto each year!

Practice night  - 16th. December is cancelled as we are playing on Friday night at St. Mary's in Attleborough.  7.30 start and carols galore.  Livewire Opera Company will  be sharing their vocal skills and Watton Silver will also be playing, so it should be a festive occasion and a lovely part of Advent for all to join in.

We offer our sincere thanks to Watton Silver Band, many of whom have helped us greatly this past year in fulfilling our engagements.  Without their wonderful musical friendship NBSB would have had to put the baton back in the box after 122 years.

We are actively looking for new players - so if you have grown too aged for your youth band and still want to play - instrument or not - then come and join us.  We serve the communities around New Buckenham on the 1113 and Attleborough on the A11. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

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My goodness, how time has flown!  November half way through and already we are reading the Christmas selections ready for Church Carol Services and concerts!

Armistice Sunday.........  Hmmn.  For the first time in a decade, NBSB did not play at the memorial due to a lack of players.  We provided a cornet for Last Post and Reveille at Attleborough in the morning and at Hingham in the afternoon and another for New Buckenham and Carleton Rode in the afternoon.  We did not play in Church last year either.

New Buckenham Silver Band relies on a steady stream of young and older brass players.  It used to have unwavering support form the two High Schools - Old Buckenham and Attleborough - due to brass tuition within the schools themselves.  However, in May only 1 school - Old Buckenham High - had the courtesy to reply to a letter inviting music teachers or a letter from them to the AGM to discuss the way forward for music locally.  The other schools - Attleborough High and Middle, OB Primary, Carleton Rode, Great Ellingham, Rocklands and Morley did not respond. 

This is very worrying as it would appear that your children are not receiving the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument and to therefore experience the positive rewards that come from it.  It has been shown that children who learn an instrument are more socially able, their concentration is better than that of children who do not play.  They are good team players, yet confident in their own personal ability.  Maths improves, comprehension improves.  Their sensitivity and interaction within their peer group is markedly more mature.

So, again NBSB welcomes comments and hopes that our community will ask the local schools what their music curriculum offers to their pupils and to the world class British Orchestras, because without music tuition these will fail.

Alison Balsom, trumpet player of Last Night of the Proms began her lessons in school and attended her local brass band.  She took up the cornet aged 8 and 'was hooked'. Read her story in the BBC Music magazine and think about what you would like for your child.  A safe environment, warm, with a full child protection training - several of us are enhanced CRB checked - educational yet fun and with a great history of producing fine musicians. (And you get a night off!)

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The New Buckenham Fete on Bank Holiday Monday 30th. August 2010!  Weather looks clear so far after all this rain, so come along, we'll be under The Market Cross!

All brass players are welcome to turn up for a blow - the more the merrier and if we like your stuff, we'll buy you a pint and some crisps if you're really ace.  13.30 - 16.30ish.

NBSB and Watton played at The Wayland Show on 1st. August and were lucky enough to be sited by the refreshments, especially The Donut Stand, which saw a roaring trade from the brass band world....!  Great Show, loads to do and nice for us to have such a large and varied audience.  Many friends came to listen and say hello and a few unknown dogs howled along (just joking - there were loads) to joly marches and showstoppers.  Amazing Grace was received particularly well with a definite lull in audience conversation, but then it is such a lovely tune and a great arrangement too.

Thursday 29th. July saw the band accompanying The Singing Rector of Banham in a musical medley of show tunes and hymns.  The Mountains of Mourne was rendered in a suitably wistful way, a foil to the rumbustious Oklahoma and joyful Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man - surely a hint to vocation if ever there was.  Cheese, wine and further delicious nibbles were pounced upon in the interval and the sum of £91.60 was donated by the audience, equally split between Church and band.  Many thanks from us all for a very funny, enjoyable evening!

On Sunday 4th. July a suitably Yankee repotoire of music was performed within The Bishop's Garden in Norwich to help raise money for The Wulugu Project.  A lovely sunny day with cakes, tea, stalls, a beautiful and interesting garden and of course the combined Silver Bands of NBSB and Watton.  Sousa on Parade was followed by Oklahoma, Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man, Hootenanny and other traditional marches and hymn tunes.  A truly British Day with an American twist!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

We would like to wish our euphonium player a very happy 90th. birthday!

Ken has played in the band for many years - RAF trained, always punctual, always immaculately turned out and a perfect gentleman with a fantastic tone.  Hmmmm, does this mean that NBSB has THE BEST GOLDEN OLDIE PLAYER IN THE UK????!!!

Here's the link for the Eastern Evening News:

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/eveningnews24/norwich-news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=xNews&itemid=NOED15%20May%202010%2012%3A25%3A30%3A123 ****************************************************

AGM - Thursday, 13th. May 2010, 7.30pm.

Presentation of Bott and Winser Shields:

Kerry Hunt won the Winser Shield - Best Junior

Ros Forfar won the Bott Shield - Best Adult

Both have worked very hard this past year to improve their ability to play a new instrument. Intonation, interpretation and listening to the other instruments have really shown them to be great team players, real assets to the band.  Well done!

New band photograph, so uniforms please!

Alex Bailey has taken a great photo of us all - soon to be posted!

Normal practice afterwards....

Yahoo!  Thanks to Watton Silver we had a super time.  Pauline conducted asTommy a bit poorly....  Get well soon!

 Please come along to support us and help to continue the fine tradition of brass tuition and playing in your village and local community.