Why Join Dobcross Youth Band

The benefits of learning to play a musical instrument

There’s plenty of evidence to show the benefits of learning to play a musical instrument – including

  • Increasing memory capacity
  • Boosting team skills
  • Teaching perseverance
  • Enhancing coordination
  • Sharpening concentration
  • Improving listening skills
  • Teaching discipline

Highly qualified professional teachers

Dobcross Youth Band is all about developing children’s talent and we always love to see our former players taking on new musical challenges as they grow up.

So we’re especially thrilled to introduce our new Musical Director for the Youth Band – Dobcross born and bred Seth Livingstone!

Seth joined the band while still at primary school, became one of our leading players as he headed into his teens and finished his playing days with us as principal euphonium and tutor to the beginners.

After a first class honours degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, during which he travelled internationally as part of acclaimed brass quartet Brass Compass, he became our Associate Musical Director, looking after the beginners and training band while completing his postgraduate teaching qualification.

Over the past 18 months he’s done a brilliant job with the younger players, developing their musical skills while making sure they have fun as they learn, and so attracting lots of new players.

Now he will take charge of the Youth Band, working with our wonderful senior players to enhance their playing and make them as good as they possibly can be.

As a top class player himself – he is currently principal euphonium with Rainford Band and has also guested with many of the biggest names in the brass band world – he has all the skills to inspire and enthuse the next generation.

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Concerts, competitions & events

As well as improving their playing at our twice-weekly rehearsals, our youngsters enjoy showing off what they have learnt at concerts, competitions and other events, particularly the Saddleworth Whit Friday Walks and Brass Band Contests. Being able to play alongside adult brass bands on Whit Friday and at competitions such as the North West Regional Championships gives our players a real sense of achievement and an appreciation of the tradition of banding. We play a variety of music, with pop and rock tunes featuring along with brass classics, marches, hymns and carols.

But we also have a lot of fun, with social events throughout the year and the chance to get involved in playing and fundraising at the Great Manchester Run, football matches and other towns’ Whit walks.

Join Dobcross Youth Band today

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