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Taking brass to Africa

Philip Monk, principal cornet of Chatteris Band has just returned from Africa. Below is his own story of how he is introducing brass music to the children of Uganda.

"I've just returned from a visit to a charity in Uganda.  The charity is the Foundation for the Development of Needy Communities (www.fdncuganda.org) and hosts the only brass band in Uganda!  As you would expect, the band is not up to UK standards but I'm trying to help them in a number of ways.  The band was established a few years ago after the Camberley Youth Band were kind enough to donate an original set of instruments.  Since then the children have taught themselves how to play (mostly by ear!) and now perform regularly at weddings, etc.  These performances are a hugely important aspect of the band's activities as the money they make from these engagements is ploughed back into the charity to provide funds for their vocational school and their health workers.

Now I know it's hard to imagine but the band practices standing up in a field or sitting on a wall!  The reason is simple; they can't afford to buy chairs.  The picture below shows some of the players; they have about 25 in all but many more who are desperate to learn to play. 

I did my best to give them some tuition while I was there but it's just not possible for me to spend the time with the band that would be needed to improve their standard of play.  So I've offered instead to become the sponsor of the band.  I've provided them with the funds to hire a full-time teacher, some music, and I've bought them some chairs.  But now I need other peoples' help.

For my journey to Uganda I managed to take 7 instruments in my hand luggage for them to add to the band's resources.  But they desperately need more instruments.  The ones they have are held together with tape, old bits of solder, and wire.  Most of them are bashed about and half of them have no cases.  The baritone player plays an instrument with no valve caps(!) and most of the cornet tuning slides are stuck because they've never had any vaseline.  They only have 2 basses and no bass trombone.  I took some valve oil and other accessories but the children are really struggling with what they have.

So I'm appealing for help from people or bands that have second-hand instruments to spare that they could donate to this worthy cause.  I'd take anything no matter what the condition.  I'm planning to send a container out to them in the autumn and I really would like to fill it with as many instruments as I can, especially the bigger ones that are difficult to take as hand luggage.  I live in Huntingdon but 'd be prepared to travel to collect instruments if necessary."

You can contact Philip by e-mail phil@heathfield.biz or call him on 07801 930404 for more details how you can help. 

As most of you know, it's a fantastic thing to offer a child a chance to learn to play a musical instrument.  I had the opportunity and have had some great experiences as a result.  These kids deserve the same chance.