EBOP brass works with the Whakatane Children’s Music School to provide two levels for beginning brass players.
The beginners are for folks who have never played an instrument before, we help with choice of instrument, provide an instrument, tutor book, music and instruction. This group is usually about 10 -12 children. The beginners meet in the EBOP Band room at 3.30 – 4.30 on a Wednesday afternoon. We offer the full range of brass band instruments to these beginners, Bass, Euphonium, Baritone,Tenor Horn, Trombone or cornet, and help them choose depending on their size, interest and initial assessment of the child.
The Development Squad Brass is the next level of band. After learning in beginners for up to one year, the musicians progress to this level of band. This band is made up of young players, several parents, and a few older brass players. The DS band plays a wide range of repertoire, fun movie and pop tunes, traditional marches, reflective pieces and serious band works. The music is chosen aiming to extend the players abilities, but also incorporating some easier pieces to keep the students engaged and interested. The DS band meets every Tuesday 3.30- 5.00 in the EBOP Band room. The band is approximately 25 members strong, with all traditional brass band instruments covered.
Students in both these groups are enrolled through the Whakatane Childrens’ Music School, listed as beginners and advanced brass classes. EBOP appreciates the support of the music school and the DS band always joins the other branches of the music school in their end of year concert.
Lou Davey tutors both these groups. She has been playing brass and teaching music all her professional life, having recently retired to Ohope. Te Awamutu Municipal Brass was her first brass band, playing cornet, horn and flugel.
After several years working for the brass instrument and publishing company Boosey and Hawkes in Sydney, and playing with the Willoughby Brass Band she returned to NZ to gain a B.Ed (music) at Waikato university. She was head of music and band at Otorohanga College for 7 years before moving to work in the American System and syllabus at the International School of Kuala Lumpur as middle school band director. While at ISKL she gained an M.Ed (Music) through the University of New England. Most of this work was focused on teaching instrumental ensembles in a classroom setting.
Lou became a board member of the AMIS organization (Association for Music in International Schools). This role involved working with band, string and choral directors all over the world running festivals for music students at international schools.
After 10 years at ISKL, she moved to Shanghai American School in China, 8 years as middle school band director there and then a move to Ohope. Lou was delighted to find the EBOP brass band and is now 3 rd cornet in the senior band as well as running these two support groups. It’s a great life to be working a job that is your passion!