Mullingar Town Band launch ‘Choose Your Sound’ recruitment

Walk through the Bandhall Doors - you never know where you might end up: that is the message from Mullingar Town Band as they launch their latest recruitment campaign.

'Choose Your Sound', invites a new generation of musicians from across Mullingar and the surrounding communities to discover what life in the band is all about.

The band are encouraging young people aged 12 and up to try an instrument, and there is a focus on recruiting new players interested in drums, trombone and tuba. But the invitation is open across the band.

New members are also being sought for saxophone, French horn, clarinet, flute, euphonium/baritone and trumpet, with beginners welcome and no previous experience required.

The name of the campaign reflects exactly what the band hope prospective members will do — go in, try something new and find the instrument and musical experience that suits them.

For those who have never played before, the idea of choosing an instrument can seem daunting. That is why the band are opening their doors and giving young people the opportunity to try the instruments, meet the members, see the band in action and find out what is involved before making any decisions.

And for those considering drums, trombone or tuba, these instruments have a particularly important role to play.

Drums provide the rhythm that keeps the marching band moving together. They bring the energy, and are essential to keeping a marching formation together.

Trombones add a strong, distinctive brass sound to the ensemble, helping to give the marching band its power and character, particularly when performing outdoors.

Tubas, along with the band's other lower brass instruments, provide the deep musical foundation underneath the ensemble. Their sound gives the band weight and presence and can be felt as much as heard when the band are marching.

These instruments are an important part of the band's marching sound, but all instruments are welcome.

More than a weekly lesson

Being part of Mullingar Town Band is about much more than learning an instrument.

Instrumental lessons take place once a week during term time, and there are combined band workshops once a month, allowing members to develop their individual playing while also learning how to perform together as a band.

Beginner classes for those aged 12+ take place on Saturdays, while beginner classes for younger musicians are for age 8+. They will begin learning music on the recorder and classes are on Tuesdays

The band also welcome adult instrumentalists interested in joining the Adult Concert Band, who rehearse every second Wednesday.

But it is what happens beyond the lessons that can make the experience particularly memorable. There are friendships, performances, parades, community events and opportunities to travel.

Mullingar Town Band this year enjoyed an unforgettable trip to the USA, where members travelled through Philadelphia, Washington and New York, and they put music and performance at the heart of the experience.

The band travel abroad approximately every couple of years for performance and competition opportunities, while closer to home they are a familiar sight at parades and community events, including the St Patrick's Day weekend celebrations.

For a new member, the journey might begin with simply picking up an instrument for the first time. Where it leads from there is another matter.

Mullingar Town Band are also making a particular effort through the Choose Your Sound campaign to reach out to all communities across Mullingar.

Music lessons are taught through English, but the band believe that music is a language everyone can share. You don't need to know anyone in the band. The Band welcome new members across all instruments.