XN000022-1983-01-20 — Page 12

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1983

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CHILDREN'S MARCHING BAND TO EXPAND

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THE HONG KONG CHILDREN'S MARCHING BAND OF THE MUSIC OFFICE IS LAUNCHING AN OPEN RECRUITMENT FOR MORE MEMBERS THIS MONTH, AFTER A SERIES OF WELL-RECEIVED PERFORMANCES.

THE BAND WAS FORMED IN THE MUSIC CAMP 1981, WHEN 60 CHILDREN WERE SELECTED FROM THE PRIMARY INSTRUMENTAL TRAINEES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE TO JOIN THE CAMP.

WITH MEMBERS NOW AGED BETWEEN 9 AND 14, IT HAS PERFORMED AT MAJOR MUSIC EVENTS AND IMPORTANT CIVIC FUNCTIONS IN HONG KONG. THESE EVENTS INCLUDED THE NINTH HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL, THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION CONCERT, THE FOURTH AND FIFTH BAND FESTIVALS AND THE THIRD HONG KONG YOUTH MUSIC CAMP WITH EXTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION.

+BECAUSE OF THIS INITIAL SUCCESS, WE HOPE TO RECRUIT MORE CHILDREN WITH MUSICAL TALENT TO JOIN THE CHILDREN'S MARCHING BAND, THE MANAGER OF THE BAND, MR SAMSON WONG, SAID.

CHILDREN OF THE BAND RECEIVE TRAINING IN INSTRUMENTAL AND DRILL DURING THEIR LEISURE HOURS. THREE MUSIC INSTRUCTORS AND A DRILL MASTER ARE ASSIGNED TO TRAIN THE BAND.

COMMENTING ON THE YOUNG AGE OF MANY MEMBERS, MR WONG SAID, +MUSIC TRAINING IS MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN THE TRAINÉE'S MIND IS SUPPLE AND HIS FINGERS ARE NIMBLE.+

*THE SPECTACLE OF CHILDREN PLAYING BAND INSTRUMENTS AND PERFORMING MARCHING DISPLAYS WITH COLOURFUL UNIFORMS ON OPEN GROUND HAVE PROVED TO BE HIGHLY ENTERTAINING TO THE PUBLIC,+ MR WONG SAID.

+ BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, GROUP PERFORMANCES HAVE TAUGHT THE CHILDREN TEAM SPIRIT AND CO-OPERATION AND GIVEN THEM MUCH FUN AND CONFIDENCE IN THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS, HE ADDED.

THOSE WHO CANNOT PAY OUTRIGHT FOR THEIR INSTRUMENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HIRE-PURCHASE SCHEME OFFERED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE. FOR $10 A MONTH, MEMBERS MAY TAKE INSTRUMENTS HOME FOR PRACTICE AND WILL OWN THEM ONCE THE COST IS PAID UP.

TO AVOID DISRUPTION TO THEIR TRAINING, MEMBERS REACHING THE AGE OF 14 ARE ENCOURAGED TO TRANSFER TO DISTRICT BANDS OR TO THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONIC BAND ADMINISTERED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE.

+BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A KEEN INTEREST IN MUSIC, MOST OF THE CHILDREN ARE ANXIOUS ANYWAY TO ADVANCE TO THESE BANDS AFTER THEY HAVE REACHED 14,+ MR WONG SAID.

/ARY CHILD