NEW HORIZONS BANDS
New Horizons Bands have these features in common:
They have a minimum age for
membership of 50Membership is offered to
musicians
at all ranges of experience, complete newcomers, those who played years
ago,
and those who have been plauying all along. Beginners are offered group
instruction in a small instructional band setting before joining the
established bands.Emphasis is placed on making good
music in a non-stressful, social and fun experience.Members have an opportunity to
attend week end or week-long band camps throughout the year and
throughout the
country. In the past, camps have been held in Hawaii and
Australia as well!A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NEW HORIZON BANDS OF MADISON
The New Horizon Band in
Madison was started with the sponsorship by Ward-Brodt Music Mall
of "Seniors Play Days," which were held at the Music Mall on a Thursday
and Sunday in October, 1992. Senior citizens were invited to the store
to have a cup of coffee and try out any band instrument of their
choice. A feature story in a local newspaper announcing the formation
of the band prompted about 10 people to join. Two weeks after the "Play
Days," the New Horizons Band -- the concert version -- held its first
meeting with 16 members. Instruction consisted of similar instrument
group lessons (for example, sax and clarinet, flute and oboe, and
trombone and baritone). Trumpet and percussion groups were taught
separately. The instruction materials consisted of the Yamaha Band
method and associated books. The teaching staff included three teachers
(one brass, one woodwind and one percussion). The band gave its first
concert just before Christmas, after about 12 weeks of rehearsals.
Others followed elsewhere as the group became more accomplished.
In 1994, the band performed a joint
concert with a local sixth grade school band, for a real joining of the
generations and to further encourage the young students. The swing/jazz
band program began in the summer of 1994 and has proven to be very
popular with both the band members and their audiences.
June of 1994 also was the date of the first week-long national New Horizons Band Institute, with this one held in Aspen, Colo. Since then, national institutes have been held at Devil's Head Resort in Wisconsin, Chautauqua and Lake Placid, New York, and at Palm Springs, Calif., in conjunction with the National Association of School Music Dealers Convention which met there in February, 1997.
The first "Band Music Weekend" in Bailey's Harbor (Door County), Wis., was held in September, 1995.
A New Horizons Bands booster group, Hooked On Bands, was established in the fall of 1996, with membership open to current and former band members, members of their families, friends, and anyone else who enjoys the kind of music played by the bands and who wants to ensure continuation of the New Horizons Band experience for others to come
The New Horizons musical organization consists of
two units -- the New Horizons Concert Band and the New Horizons Swing
Band. The first plays traditional concert band music, which includes
classical selections, marches and Broadway and movie themes, while the
second concentrates on big band music from the 1930's and 1940's. Both
were established and are sponsored by the Ward-Brodt Music Mall in
Madison.
The Concert and Swing band members are offered
frequent rehearsal opportunities and periodic public performances.
Membership in each group is open to a wide range of individuals --
those playing in a musical group for the first time ever, those
renewing the musical skills they learned in school and are either
resuming playing their old instrument or picking up a new one, and
those who are accomplished musicians and perhaps even play in other
musical groups.
Members are from all walks of life. They
include teachers, nurses, business executives, bus drivers, doctors,
and other managers and administrators in the public and private sector,
to name only a few. Many are still employed part-time or full-time,
while some are retired.
Membership in the Concert Band totals over 60 members, while the Swing Band has about 35 musicians. Concerts include an assortment of marches, waltzes, ragtime, swing tunes, overtures, and show tunes at various Madison-area locations and neighboring communities.
Some events for which the Concert or Swing Band has played include the Dane County Junior Fair, the Madison Area Technical College, the State Music Educators Convention, Senior Citizen Day at the Dane County Forum, Flag Day ceremonies at the State Capitol, the West Towne Mall, and several nursing homes. The Swing Band has played for dances and dinner parties for WAGS, The East Side Businessmen's Club, Elks, Columbus Carriage Days and even the wedding of one of our own members!
The Fall Door County Band Weekends are open to non-members, as well as members of any New Horizon Band in the U.S., with only a small fee charged to participate. Rehearsals and sectionals are held from Friday morning through Sunday noon, and are open to the public at no charge. Time for shopping, attending theatrical performances, and just relaxing is built into the schedule, as are at least two group meal options. This weekend program has been expanded to include brass and woodwind choir experience, as well.
Membership in Hooked On Bands exceeds 80, with members in at least eight states.
For more information about the New Horizons Bands
or how to become a member, contact: Ward-Brodt Music Mall, Education
Department, 2200 W. Beltline Highway (Todd Drive exit, next to American
TV), Madison. Call 608/661-8670 (or toll-free 800.369.6255. Or you can
write to them here.