HAWERA MAIN SCHOOL BAND

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1932, Page 8

HAWERA MAIN SCHOOL BAND

ANNUAL REPORT BY MR. FOX. INTEREST OF PARENTS WANTED. “The school military band has made good progress and the playing has reached a very high standard,” said Mr. H. C. A. Fox in his first annual report delivered on Tuesday night after the solo competitions had been decided in the Hawera Methodist hall. “During the year,” continued Mr. Fox, “they performed at New Plymouth and received a great ovation, general surprise being expressed at the ability shown by the children. They also played at the Egmont Agricultural show and assisted at the school fete, playing the music for the folk dancing, rhythmic drill and infants dances. The preparation for this school fete entails much hard work requiring the special writing of all the music for a military band.” The membership was 42, and several good boys left during the year, the Whyte brothers to join the Stratford band, N. Jones the Tauranga band, Jock Wallace to. join the Queen Alexander band (Wanganui) and Ivan Lord, now a member of the Hawera band. Though it was, hard to lose boys there was a consolation in knowing they were joining other bands and that the musical education given at Hawera school was helping music in .other centres.

Referring to the number of boys leaving school Mr. Fox said this would entail a re-organisation of the band, three solo clarinets, one solo horn, E flat bass, euphonium and four cornet players having gone. This would mean extra time teaching fresh boys and bringing them up to the required standard. He impressed on the parents that they could help in this work by seeing that children had the necessary time for practice at home. He gave much time for the benefit of the children and he feared parents did not realise the sacrifice he made. He added that after the giving of much work to the tuition of a boy,' the instrument was often returned without any explanation. Tile orchestra numbered 33 and through Mr. Rupert George’s efforts in the string class, the string section was the most complete the school had ever had. There were four cellos, four violas and a good line of first and second violins. The brass and woodwind sections were also very complete, owing to the fact that the band had the requisite brass instruments. These included bassoon, oboe, horns (2), clarinets (4), cornets, trombone and tuba and all percussion instruments.

The filling of places was not so difficult as in the band and children leaving for the high school would be able to pursue their training there. Mr. Fox thanked Mr. J. Thomas for much consideration and the band committee for the keen interest shown in the movement towards helping many children to acquire a knowledge of music and an education which, besides being of benefit to members, had been able to help other institutions at Hawera.

CHRISTIE SHIELD CONTEST. \ Ten teams have entered for the Christie Shield bowling tournament which is to be held on the Manaia greens on Monday and Tuesday. The teams are from *’■ Opunake (3), Kaponga (2), Manaia (2), Okato, Pihama and Auroa. The contest will take two days and the draw will be arranged this week. A beach picnic will be held at Kaupokonui on Monday to assist beach improvements. Hot water will be provided free and there will be swimming and races for the children. Refreshments will be obtainable.