My goal is not to become the best player I can, but instead to be the most useful musician I can be.
I first started learning a brass instrument at the age of 4. I met with my Granddad M once a week for tuition on the Cornet.
At the age of 6 or 7 I was shown the positions on the trombone slide and how certain positions were the same as certain valve combinations. I then used this information to teach myself to play trombone.
As a child I would sit next to my Granddad H, who played G Bass Trombone in the Oamaru Salvation Army Band. His G Trombone is now a proud part of my instrument collection. At that time I wasn’t old enough to join the senior band as a player, but instead played in the Junior band.
When I did join the senior band at the Oamaru Salvation Army Citadel my Granddad moved from G bass trombone to tenor trombone to assist me as I did my best to play the 2nd trombone part. At that time I was playing on a unknown age Blessing Artist/Scholastic straight Bb tenor trombone.
I’ve had a number of tutors throughout the years; Gordon B taught me for a period of time, Paul C took me through a couple of Royal School’s of Music exams when I was around 10-12 years old, and later Tim S taught me for a year.
I have played a number of different instruments in different groups:
- Oamaru Citadel Salvation Army Band:
- 2nd Trombone
- 1st Trombone
- Oamaru Garrison Band
- Tenor Trombone
- Bass Trombone
- Repiano Cornet
- Flugelhorn
- Waitaki Boys’ High School Jazz Band
- Lead Trumpet
- Combined High School’s Concert Band
- Trombone
- Bass Trombone
- Oamaru Youth Orchestra
- Trombone
- Briefly played percussion for one concert (woo)
- Aspire Big Band
- Bass Trombone
- Wellington City Concert Band
- Tuba (Briefly)
- National Secondary School’s Brass Band
- 2nd Euphonium
- Bass Trombone
- Salvation Army National Youth Development Band
- 1st Trombone
- Bass Trombone
- Salvation Army National Youth Band
- 2nd Euphonium
- Principal Euphonium
- Principal Trombone
- Bass Trombone
- Soprano Cornet
- Salvation Army Wellington South Band
- Principal Trombone
- Principal Euphonium
- Principal Cornet
- Deputy Bandmaster (whilst playing Principal Cornet)
- Bandmaster
- Hutt City Brass
- Floating trombone (1st, 2nd, or bass as needs required)
- Bb Tuba
- 2nd Baritone
- 2nd Euphonium
- Principal Euphonium (current)
In addition to being a member of the above bands, I have also played in the orchestra pit at a number of musicals, playing cornet, trumpet, trombone, and bass trombone.
I am proud to have been a 5th generation musician in a Salvation Army band.