For those people, both adult and child, who wish to learn to play a brass or percussion instrument, the band has a regular set of Friday night tuition classes, with the ultimate aim of the players joining the full band. There is currently a waiting list for those wishing to begin lessons. If you would like to put your name down for lessons then please let us know by contacting the Band Secretary through any of the channels listed on the contacts page.
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Our Child Protection Policy can be found here.
TRAINING BAND - BALLAFESSON BRASS
Once learners have had tuition for a while they will start to play with the Training Band, now called Ballafesson Brass. Ballafesson Brass are an ensemble of between 10 and 20 players that play more challenging music than that played in the first few months of tuition. They are available for concerts and have played at several engagements where the Full Band has not been playing; as well as playing slots at the Band Fayres and the Richard Evans Workshop Weekend.
CHILDREN'S UNIVERSITY
We are delighted to announce that Rushen Silver Band (including Ballafesson Brass and Learners) is now a validated 'Learning Destination' for the IOM Children's University. This enables anybody who has obtained a passport through their school to have their time spent at RSB count towards CU Awards. CU gives children from age 5-14 a range of opportunities to have their out of school commitments recognised and RSB are pleased to be able to play a part in this scheme.
Further information about Children's University can be found at www.iomcu.im
ENGAGEMENTS
Ballafesson Brass play at various local events throughout the year, including concerts at The Howe Chapel and St. Catherine's Church.
All of Ballafesson Brass's engagements and practices now appear on the main engagements page of this site.
PICTURES
Pictures of Ballafesson Brass playing at the Workshop Weekend with Richard Evans in October 2010 and other engagements are now on the archive pictures page of the website. A selection of pictures from earlier engagements are below.
Training Band at the Christmas Fayre 2008
Training Band at the Workshop Concert with Richard Evans - 21st September 2008
Training Band at the Summer Fayre - 14th June 2008
The Band do a lot of work with the younger members of the community in the south of the island. To help with this work a donation was made to the Alistair Drinkwater Memorial Fund by the Kelly Fogg Memorial Fund on 8th September 2007. A picture of the presentation is below:-
As well as the teaching on a Friday night, the learners have the opportunity to take part in a number of social events organised by the band during the year. Recent events have included indoor football, ten-pin bowling, the Department of Education "Wet and Wild" event, as well as the band quiz and treasure hunt.
The younger members of the band also play in the solo classes at the Manx Music Festival every spring.
