RAMSEY TOWN BAND - REPORT ON PARTICIPATION IN 3RD SECTION OF NORTHWEST AREA REGIONAL BRASS BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS (The Areas) 9 MARCH 2008 PREPARED BY: ROBERT QUANE (Musical Director)
Background	In 2006 the band entered, for the first time, the 4th Section Northwest Area Regional Brass Band Championship, held in Blackpool, achieving 4th place out of 21. In 2007 the band entered the competition again and achieved 3rd position. As a consequence of the 3rd placing, the band was invited to the Finals of the Championship, which were held in Harrogate in September. The band finished 16 out of 21 in the Championship. As a consequence of the 3rd and 4th results, the band was promoted to the next level, the Third Section. Including beginners and Juniors, Ramsey Town Band has a total of 70 playing members.
Purpose	The 28 Band members travelled to Blackpool to take part in The Areas on 7 March. The purpose was to compete but on a broader level to push the band and its individual playing members' abilities to play and perform to new levels and to encourage excellent musicianship, attention to detail and at a higher level to develop the overall sound of the Band. More than 15 of our 26 permitted competing players are still at school and some are as young as 11.
Duration	The tour commenced at 5pm departing from Ramsey on 7th March finishing at 11pm on 9 March with the competition on the morning of 9th March.
Demographic	The age range of the Band was 11 to adult. One player was of Primary School age.
Amount of playing	The band rehearsed on 3 days a week for the three prior weeks and daily for the prior week. Over the weekend the band rehearsed twice on Friday, three times on Saturday and three time prior to the competition on Sunday. In total for the week prior and the competition weekend the band put in over 60 man days (7 hour days) of practice.
Achievement	The Band finished 12th out of 20 bands in its section. This is a fantastic achievement for such a young developing band in its first year in third section, having been promoted from fourth at the end of 2007
Benefits gained	Benefits for the contesting band were huge.
Performance	The Band probably achieved its best performance of the piece on the competition stage.
Individuals	Many young players had their first chance at playing "big seats" such as Daisy Revill on 1st baritone, Illiam Quane on solo cornet and Martin Kennish on B flat Bass. For three players this was their first experience of contest playing - Mark Turner, Ellen Quane and Charlotte Underwood. For several there was an opportunity to play solos under the pressure of "the big stage". For some this was the first time.
Individual skills	The overall sound of the band developed greatly through the experience thanks to all of the extra playing and tuition,. This means that individuals gained new or improved existing skills including concentration and ensemble playing and found new levels of performance
Team building	The chance to play together at such an event builds team spirit and the exemplary behaviour of the band was a credit to the organisation of Ramsey Town Band and the Island
Future	We hope to use this experience as a springboard to further build the band and its individual playing member's capabilities and see it used as leverage to help several of our younger players make the grade with the National Youth Brass Band and Children's Band of Great Britain.