What’s a band rehearsal like?

Updated: 20 August 2022

Every Thursday evening around 60 band members meet at a school hall in Bournemouth to play music together. Here’s a peek into what it’s like at a band rehearsal…

Band rehearsal on a Thursday evening

Here we are practising at one of our Thursday evening band rehearsals in Queen’s Park Infant Academy’s school hall

Who plays in the BDCB?

At the Bournemouth and District Concert Band (BDCB) we have musicians of all ages, from as young as 14 through to 80s. Some of our members are students; some are retired; and others work across many different professions – from vets and doctors to teachers, marketers and project managers.

And we come from all across Dorset including Bournemouth, Christchurch, Ferndown, Wimborne and Poole.

What does BDCB sound like?

Watch us practising for one of our concerts in the video below. We’re playing a lively piece called I’m Shipping up to Boston by Dropkick Murphys. You might recognise the music from the films Pirates of the Caribbean and The Departed…

What does a band rehearsal look like?

We have some structure to our rehearsals; here’s what a typical rehearsal looks like:

  • 7:20pm: People start arriving. We help set up, say hello to each other after another week of work (where does the week go?!) and get our instruments out ready.
  • 7:30pm: Simon our conductor starts band rehearsal with a short exercise to get us warmed up. We explore dynamics and he gets us listening out for each of the parts so we can really gel together. Simon chooses the exercise carefully because it includes musical elements that we’ll need to think about in the pieces that evening.
  • 7:40-8:30pm: We’re ready to play! We practise a few pieces in the first half of rehearsal.
  • 8:30-8:40pm: We stop for a break about 8:30pm. It’s time for a good cuppa and catching up with friends.
  • 8:40-8:45pm: Sue and Nick our chair and band master update us all on band news including information about concerts and socials.
  • 8:45-9:30pm: We play a few more pieces.
  • 9:30pm: Rehearsal finishes. We all help pack up before we go home. On the first Thursday of every month we go down the local pub after rehearsal for a drink or two.

We have some Covid-19 measures in place to help us stay as safe as possible.

What pieces do you play?

We play a variety of music depending on the time of year and the concert we’re practising for. We play marches, dances, popular music, Disney songs, film music, classical pieces – and not forgetting Christmas carols in December! There’s really something for everyone.

See what concerts we play in a typical year

Join us

Intrigued by our rehearsals? We practise every Thursday evening (except in the school summer holidays) from 7:30 – 9:30pm at Queen’s Park Infant Academy in Bournemouth.

Here’s how to join us

By Emma on flute