By Noelle Williamson
Tomorrow (Sunday, 9 November) at 10.45am, Bramley Youth Brass will be playing in the Service of Remembrance at Bramley War Memorial.
Here are some photos of last band practice, at Trinity Methodist Church on Tuesday.
If some of the ‘youth’ seem surprisingly tall, even whiskery, it’s because some children have discovered music through their parents, while some parents have rediscovered music through their children.
This is why members of Bramley Youth Brass include a father and daughter on trombone, and a father, daughter and son on euphonium, cornet and trombone.
Rob Gardner used to play the cornet, years ago, but when his son joined Bramley Youth Brass and took up the cornet.
Rob said: “They were looking for adults to help out. I was, like, I’m not really good, but I’m happy to play a bit, if you want. And Joelle was, like, yeah – come and help.”
Joelle Braithwaite, professional music teacher and long-standing member of the Salvation Army, recently stepped down as Musical Director of Tutti! Community Concert Band, which she started in 2018 “with the goal of supporting people in West Leeds to make music together and to support their mental health and wellbeing through music”.
She remains MD of Prima, the adult beginners’ band that she started on Zoom during Lockdown “to encourage and support brand new players starting an instrument as a new hobby”.
Of Bramley Youth Brass, she said: “It began as an initiative of the Salvation Army and Leeds 2023, to reprise the brass band that once existed in Bramley and to give kids and youth the chance to learn a brass instrument where they might not normally get access.
“It’s free for children aged 7+ to attend, receive tuition and have an instrument to take home. All leaders and helpers volunteer their time. Our aim is to grow the band and for it to be a recognisable part of the Bramley community.”
As for the young musicians, themselves: from the 10-11-year-old cornet player who was trying out a tenor horn at seven, but switched after discovering the cornet at summer camp; to the boy who couldn’t get on with the cornet, but then discovered drums; to the girl who only took up the cornet two months ago, and simply likes its sound – they all clearly enjoy making music together.
One said: “I play euphonium, normally, but I can’t get it here. It’s a big instrument. So I have to play baritone!”
Towards the end of the hour, Joelle told the band: “The point is that you’re all playing, and you’re doing your absolute best and I’m proud of you already. I’m already proud of that. If you could do some practice, that’ll just tip me over the edge into euphoria – but I’m already impressed with how it sounds today.”
There used to be a community brass band in Bramley, back in the day. But that day passed, and so did the band. Now, though, there are three: Prima, Tutti! and, of course, Bramley Youth Brass.
Bramley Youth Brass rehearses on Tuesdays, 4-5pm at Trinity Methodist in Town Street.
Prima and Tutti! are on the bill at the Autumn Festival at St Peter’s Church, on Hough Lane on Saturday, November 8.
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