The NZ Foundation Youth Pipe Band visited Greenmeadows School on Friday 15 April and presented their music to the children. They also invited the youngsters to ‘have a go’ and there was much enthusiasm for this as these photos show.
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The Youth Pipe Band at Nelson Park
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Foundation Youth Pipe Band visits schools
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Recent parades/events
We played for the graduation ceremonies and the parade through Napier for our local polytechnic, EIT.
Our youngsters competed at the Highland Games in Hastings at Easter.
The Foundation Youth Pipe Band of New Zealand
NZ’s Youth Pipe Band will be having a weekend training camp in Napier on the 16th and 17th April, 2016. As is becoming a tradition, the band members will arrive in Napier on the Thursday afternoon/evening and on Friday will visit several local schools, giving them a 20 – 30 minute concert. Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday morning are utilised for rehearsals which will be at our band rooms at Nelson Park.
The band has a video showing their visit to the Remarkables School during their Great Southern Tour last year. It shows the children of that school ‘Having a go’ at piping and the three types of drums.
The Youth Band comprises talented youngsters from throughout NZ who come together on a regular basis. In recent years they’ve been to Australia and Canada and this year will be returning to Australia in October to compete in the Australian PB championships. In 2018 they will again be travelling to Canada and the USA.
We’re excited by the visit of the these ambassadors for pipe bands as it gives us an opportunity to promote pipe banding to the local populace and with the youth pipe bands teenagers not much older than the children at the schools that are visited, will hopefully encourage new learners to get involved in piping and drumming.
Everyone is welcome to call into Nelson Park while the Youth Band is practising. There’s a special welcome for Saturday evening when we’ll be joining them for a meal and their relaxation time.
Updates 7 8 and 9
It has been good to see everyone at recent practices. We are covering a number of aspects of our playing including the tempos we are likely to need for upcoming Anzac Day and Navy Charter parades and will in the near future be revising a number of tunes including The Battle of the Somme.
Thursday night we are meeting at the Haumoana Hall at 6.30 to play for the community’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations. Dress uniform to be worn.
There will be no practice on Easter Monday (28th) but don’t forget that later in that week there are the EIT Graduation Parades on Thursday (31st) and Friday (1st).
I mentioned that in April (15/16) the RNZPBA’s Foundation Youth Band will be in Napier for their practice, staying at Kennedy Park, visiting local schools and using our band rooms for practices. Everyone is invited to come along to the practices and there will be a social event on the Saturday evening to which we are invited.
Updates 4 5 and 6
What is to be said about Art Deco weekend? The band did a superb job and you should all feel pleased with what you achieved. Thanks to Kurt, Ken, Robert, Richard, Hugh, Penny1 and Cameron for playing at various events. Our participation in the vintage car parade continues to be a highlight for the very big crowds that watch it. I hope you have all received positive feedback from people who enjoyed our music. Thanks also to the team that turned out Sunday morning for the Vintage Car Club’s event at Meeanee. From St Paul’s “A very big THANK YOU to the band from our stall on Saturday. It certainly is a highlight when the band arrives with lovely music. The weather and heat was lovely for all but the band in their uniforms but the crowd certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves. I heard lovely comments about the band concert in the afternoon.”
On Saturday 27th we met at the Sound Shell in the vicinity of the colonnade to tune up for our free concert. The Band then played at 12noon featuring a programme of tunes reflective of our heritage plus some new compositions. Many family and friends were there along with our supporters and others. Well done everyone it was a good venue (although it was a bit hot). The Sound Shell has good acoustics so perhaps we can play there again.
Coming up we’ve got the Taradale RSA Concert – Monday 7 March – band to meet at 6.30 as usual to prepare
Some preliminary information about the Navy Charter Parade Saturday 19 March. The venue is Sound Shell, by Veronica Bell. We’ll meet at 1015 to tune. The official ceremony is at 1100 and is followed by the march down Emerson St to Clive Sq with officers and ships company
Sound Shell Concert: Its Mission Concert so we might get a few extra people watching us.
Update number 3
Monday 1 February already. We had an enjoyable evening with the youngsters practicing together at 6.30 and then the rest of the band from 7pm. Being able to play out on the park on nice evenings is special.
- Well done Robert and Angus who played at Turakina – Robert gained 2nd in the veterans event
- We thanked all those who worked on tidying up the band rooms over the break – its looking good so we need to take care of this wonderful asset
- We ran through some of the tunes for the Art Deco concert – the tunes will be the focus of practice for the next two weeks. Harry has given everyone some flyers to hand out to family and friends and will have more available next week.
Update Number 2
It was good to get started again last night even if it was a bit hot. Thanks Betty for organising supper. We’ve been invited to Dave Nicholson’s on Saturday afternoon. Two important dates for you to note on your calendar – Art Deco weekend (Sat and Sunday events this year) and our concert at the Sound Shell on Saturday 27 February – the opportunity to use the Sound Shell arose and so we will be playing at 12noon to entertain the public. We’re hoping for a big audience as that’s the day of the Mission Concert. Betty recently distributed the first Band Blurb of the year – Don W does a great job producing this but I know he’s always looking for articles to include so please share interesting items with him.
Update January 2016
Welcome back to the new year for the band.
Just confirming that due to EIT’s operational requirements we will be at the Band Rooms at Nelson Park for the next two weeks (Mon 1st and 8th Feb).
Two important dates for you to note on your calendar – Art Deco weekend (Sat and Sunday events this year) and our concert at the Sound Shell on Saturday 27 February – the opportunity to use the Sound Shell arose and so we will be playing at 12noon to entertain the public. We’re hoping for a big audience as that’s the day of the Mission Concert.
Don’t forget that you can get a list of upcoming parades and events on the calendar link on this website, meanwhile our first practice is on Monday 25 January at EIT.