FIRST challenge set, Ballarat Memorial Concert Band is taking its game to the next level and fittingly has been training to the Rocky theme song.
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This is a move that has set a motivational tone to regular skaters and guys shooting hoops at Ballarat Skate Park. Cars slowed down going past, passengers winding down the windows.
The band has proven an impressive sight, with about 50 musicians in formation winding around the park.
Their mission is Ballarat Begonia Festival’s annual parade on Monday.
It will be the first time, at least in a long time, Ballarat Memorial Concert Band has marched – a move usually made by brass bands.
Band president Bec Paton said it was an incredible challenge for most of their members, physically and mentally but they were having a lot of fun learning the art of marching.
“We have saxophones, clarinets, flutes and French horns and all sorts of things that don’t tend to get out on the road as much, so it’s a whole new ball game for some of us,” Ms Paton said.
“Some of our members haven’t had to memorise music before so a lot of us are playing this by memory and that’s a challenge in itself as well, so it’s got all the neurons going.”
Ms Paton said you could see the smiles of band members as they played. More family members have been turning up to watch practise, especially marching sessions.
Ballarat Memorial Concert Band has been growing in members and diversity. The youngest musician is nine years old, and the eldest is in their 70s and members range in ability.
Ms Paton said a key driver of the band’s rejuvenation was musical director Wade Carman with a lively repertoire and setting exciting new benchmarks, like testing the art of marching.
The band has expanded into a new developmental band for juniors on Thursday nights, where youngsters can learn the basics and try new instruments. Some even play with the concert band.
It is an exciting time for the band, which is still recovering from the theft of more than $100,000 worth of their musical equipment just before Christmas.
But, if their Rocky training is anything to go by, they are ready to try any musical challenge.
*ONLINE: Watch Ballarat Memorial Concert Band in training for their ‘Rocky’ marching parade debut.