Page 13 - index

The young

person’s guide

to wind orchestra

I love playing the saxophone. It all started in year four

when I was asked if I wanted to play an instrument
and after trying many different instruments I chose
the saxophone. At first it was just an instrument
but then it turned into a saxophone and then into

something I liked, then something I loved and now
it is a passion. Playing the saxophone helps me to
express myself when times get tough or when I just
want to show people what I can do.
By Naomi Walker
(aged 12)

Why you should join a wind orchestra But there is a down side
You know that feeling you get when you achieve something that There are two main factors that might stop some people from
you have been working on for ages? Well that’s how I feel every joining. I live quite a distance from Maghull, which means I get
single time I play with the Maghull Wind Orchestra (MWO). And home really late on our practice night and this is also a school
you might think that it is scary playing with so many people who night, when I have to get up early the following morning. However,
are all amazing musicians but they all make you feel welcome and since there is no orchestra quite like the MWO nearer to my
the first time I played with them I felt right at home. All of these home, my mum and I make the 80 minute round trip each week –
reasons and many more added together, are why I travel forty because it’s worth it!
minutes each way to be a part of MWO. The second factor is that there are few children who play – out
of more than 150 members there is only a handful of children.
Another great reason to join a wind orchestra is because it can Perhaps this is an area that MWO could promote and encourage
help you develop a greater understanding of your instrument, with more children to join.
your grades, with your confidence, and even with your social skills,
as there is a big age range of people in the orchestra and in the On the other hand, the people who already play in MWO are so
audience at concerts. nice that they sort of make you forget that there aren’t many
children. In particular, our conductor Phil Shotton (also an amazing
Some wind orchestras are free like MWO, which makes it accessible saxophonist) makes me want to play well because he is just so
for people from all walks of life and there is no requirement to kind, funny and talented. When he is conducting you can just see
audition – any level and age of performer is welcome. the passion oozing out of him like a firework and he is what makes
the orchestra what it is today. It started with just a few members
Different Concerts and has grown and grown to the incredible size that we are today. I
hope that we will keep on growing over the coming years and that
If you are a part of a wind orchestra I am sure that you will play at
many more young people will join us.
lots of different venues, and in MWO we play all over the place.
Sometimes we have concerts at the Baptist Church, Maghull – in
fact this was where I experienced my first concert. We have played
Don’t waste any more time – find your local wind band and join today!!!
in Archbishop Beck Secondary School and in June this year we
played in the Palm House in Sefton Park, Liverpool.
The Palm House is my favourite place to play because you feel
amazing playing in a glass building with the sunlight seeping
through and when it rains you can hear the pitta patter, which
always seems to keep in time with the music as if it wants to be a
part of MWO.
40th Anniversary
This year is our 40th anniversary. I am so excited because there are
so many different events happening (details on our fantastic new
website!). In addition, we have a social secretary who organises fun
things to do outside of the orchestra and these help to make it feel
even more welcoming and part of a fabulous community.
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