Volunteers from Hitchin Youth Brass Band brought music, education, and plenty of enthusiasm to local students at Oughton School last week.
A volunteer quartet from Hitchin Band delivered an engaging performance, treating pupils to a mix of well-loved tunes. The set included crowd-pleasers such as Sweet Caroline, the theme from The Muppets, and the ever-rousing When the Saints Go Marching In. Each piece was met with smiles, clapping, and clear enjoyment from the young audience.
Between numbers, Greg Bush, a local peripatetic music teacher and senior band member, took time to explain the instruments and the fundamentals of brass playing, highlighting how sound is created not just by the instrument itself, but by the player.
Encouraging participation, Greg invited volunteers from the audience to try producing the distinctive buzzing sound essential to brass playing. Using a mouthpiece attached to a length of hose and a funnel, he demonstrated the technique in a fun and accessible way. The hands-on activity sparked curiosity and laughter, with many pupils eager to give it a go.
The interactive session proved a hit, with children visibly engaged throughout and clearly enjoying both the music and the opportunity to learn something new.
The visit also served as an open invitation to budding musicians. The Hitchin Youth Brass Band is actively looking for new recruits and welcomes players of all ages and abilities – even those who cannot yet read music. With membership costing just £1 per week, the group aims to make music-making accessible to everyone.
Rehearsals take place on Mondays at 6:30pm during term time at Oughton School, the band’s home base. For many of the students watching on Friday, it may well have been their first glimpse into the world of brass music – and perhaps the start of a lifelong interest.
Hitchin Youth Brass Band co-ordinator Ian Miles said, “We had a great time at Oughton, which is where the band is based. We hope we have inspired the next generation.”
You can catch Hitchin Youth Brass Band playing at the Hitchin festival – 5th July in Bancroft Gardens, where they will be playing from 2pm and at St Mary’s on Saturday 11th in the evening.
