New Member FAQs

When and where are rehearsals?

Rehearsals are held in Glenbrook on Tuesday evenings during school terms.

Youth Band: Arrive at 5:00pm for a 5:15pm - 7:00pm rehearsal.

Adult Band: Arrive at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm - 9:15pm rehearsal.

St Andrews Uniting Church, Corner of Green St and Lucasville Rd, Glenbrook.

New members are always welcome.  Contact us for more information or if you would like to join one of our bands.

Are there performance opportunities?

Both of the bands have the opportunity to play a variety of performances throughout the year.

One of the charters of Blue Mountains Concert Band Inc is to perform at civic events and our presence is greatly appreciated by the community.  The combined bands regularly perform at the Glenbrook/Blaxland RSL Sub-branch Anzac Day ceremonies, Glenbrook Carols in the Park as well as a variety of community events.

The bands perform a concert each year where we can perform the full range of our repertoire.  Recent concerts include 'Celebrate' in 2023, and 'Journey Through Time' in 2019. 

In some years, the bands may compete in the state and national competitions run by the Band Associations, which may involve some travel commitments for those participating.  In the past, Mountains Youth Band and Blue Mountains Concert Band have been very successful in winning their grade competition or gaining top marks for some sections. 

What instruments are in the band?

A concert band is made up of:

How big is the band?

The number of players in each of the bands is constantly changing.  As long as there is a good balance of instruments, we could perform with as few as a dozen players or as many as 50 or 60. We can easily accommodate new members joining either concert band in any section.

Who can join?

What experience do I need?

We encourage players of any level of experience as long as you are beyond the beginner stage.  This means that you will need to be able to read music and know how to play your instrument.

How old do I need to be?

The adult band members have a broad range of ages and abilities.  They are over the age of 19 years although some members of Mountains Youth Band also perform with the adult band.  The adult band includes amateurs taking up a new instrument  through to professional musicians. Take a look at Our Stories to read some of the stories of our adult band members.

The youth band is made up of primary students, high school students, and young adults who may be working or studying. We greatly value the contribution of these older youth band members who also mentor our younger players.

How do I join?

We welcome new members to join the band at any of our weekly rehearsals.  There is no need to wait for the start of year or term.  You might like to rehearse with us for a few weeks before officially joining as a fee-paying member.

Please contact the relevant band administrator so that they can prepare music for you when you first arrive and introduce you.

Do I need to audition to get into the band?

No. As long as you can read music and play an instrument beyond the beginner level, you're very welcome to join our band.

As a guideline, we suggest new players with limited experience focus on the first note in each bar as well as the last bar of each piece.  You will quickly grow in ability from there. We also recommend that band members continue with their usual lessons with external music teachers. This is particularly important for band members who are less experienced. 

How much does band membership cost?

Band fees are currently $88 per term.  Additional family members pay $50 per term. Fees are due at the start of each term and paid via bank transfer or cash. 

For Mountains Youth Band members, there is a one-off fee to hire the band performance shirt. Currently the hire fee is $25. Shirts are exchanged for a larger size if required. There is no charge to change the shirt size. Shirts are returned when the player leaves the band or becomes a member of the adult band.

Adult band members purchase their band performance shirt. The cost of a shirt is $50. We have limited sizes available but will endeavour to provide a suitable size. In some cases we may be able to offer a second-hand good quality shirt at a reduced price, dependent on stock.

Blue Mountains Concert Band Inc is a not-for-profit community group. Fees are charged to cover our costs. Costs include insurances, storage costs, conductor fees, new music, PO box etc. 

The BMCB Inc committee members are all unpaid volunteers - passionate about bringing music opportunities to the community.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact your band administrator to discuss options.

Can I have a trial membership?

Absolutely.  Use the 'contact us' page to contact a band administrator and come along to a rehearsal or two before officially joining.

What music does the band play?

The bands' repertoire changes from term to term and is comprised of a balance of works covering a variety of musical styles and difficulty levels.  We play original wind compositions, concert marches, transcriptions of orchestral arrangements, and a lot of popular music - especially from TV and movie soundtracks.

Each term, pieces are selected to fit our upcoming performance schedule as well as the abilities of our players.   Rehearsal copies of music is handed out at the start of the term. Band members need to bring this music to weekly rehearsals.

What do I need to bring to band rehearsal?

The most important thing to bring is your instrument!  We also recommend you bring a pencil to mark your music and a water bottle to stay hydrated.  You will be given music at your first rehearsal, but we ask that you purchase a black display book with plastic sleeves or an A4 lever arch file with plastic sleeves to organise your music in alphabetical order .

Is there a break for food?

Blue Mountains Concert Band (adult band) have a "supper break" at around 8:40pm for tea, coffee, and maybe a Tim-Tam or homemade snack.  A supper roster runs for volunteers to provide the snacks, and it is a great time to meet and chat with other band members.

Mountains Youth Band members do not have a food break; however, there are occasional pizza nights (often fundraisers) where the band finishes early to munch and mingle.

What does it mean to be a community band?

Blue Mountains Concert Band Inc. is run by a committee of volunteers, usually made up from members of the band.  The committee president oversees the organisation as a whole, the committee secretary performs the general administration, the treasurer manages the organisation's finances, each band has an administrator who oversees the running of that band, and there are a variety of other roles to assist with fundraising and concert planning.  The only paid role is the conductor.

If you are interested in joining the committee, please speak to your band administrator, or any other committee member. The Annual General Meeting is held in Term 3 each year.

Does BMCB Inc. need to hold fundraisers?

Yes.  Our membership fees are kept as low as possible to cover our running costs.  We need to fundraise to enable the bands to engage in more activities and purchase new music.

In the past we have sold chocolate boxes, held pizza parties, run BBQs at Bunnings and sought sponsorship from local businesses.

The band also applies for funding grants from bodies including the NSW Government through the Band Association of New South Wales, Blue Mountains City Council, ClubsNSW, and other organisations. This funding is non-recurrent so applications need to be made each year. These grants are critical to help fund our concerts, masterclasses, equipment purchases and tours.

If you are interested in supporting the band, either through donations, sponsorship or fundraising, please contact a band administrator.

How can I donate to the band?

The Blue Mountains Concert Band Public Fund is a tax-deductible fund listed on the Australian Government’s Register of Cultural Organisations maintained under subdivision 30-8 of the Income Tax Assessment Act of 1997.  More information about making a tax-deductible donation can be found on the Donate page of this site.

Is the band available for hire?

Yes.  Please contact us if you are interested in hiring one of our bands to perform at your function.  As we are a community band with many players, please ensure you leave plenty of time for planning to avoid disappointment.  A concert band is most suitable for functions such as community fetes and festivals.

Can you recommend local music teachers?

Contact us with your specific needs and we can lead you in the direction of popular local tutors. Tutors are available for both youth and adult band members.

Mountains Youth Band FAQs

The above FAQs relate to both bands, but there are some questions specific to Mountains Youth Band. These are:

Does a parent/guardian need to stay during rehearsal?

No, but you are most welcome!  There are seats available in the rehearsal hall and parents of our younger members often choose to stay.  As a community organisation, we rely on volunteers and strongly encourage parents to get involved with the band.  There is no obligation to volunteer, but the MYB community is very friendly and welcoming.

Is my child safe?

All adults facilitating MYB rehearsals are required to hold a Working With Children Check.  Young people are never left alone with an adult and adults will never contact young people privately.  Blue Mountains Concert Band Inc has developed a 'Member Protection Policy' and a 'Working with Vulnerable Persons' policy which is strongly adhered to, and reviewed regularly.

What do I do if I have a concern?

If you are having a problem with something relating to one of the bands, the committee, or the incorporation, please contact your band administrator to request the email address for either the BMCB Inc. Secretary or President.