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P. 13

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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