NOW's music is now available to buy on CD. Click here for details.
Welcome to the official web site of Northamptonshire Orchestral Winds -
The world’s first COMMUNITY WIND ORCHESTRA MUSIC COLLEGE......
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ORCHESTRAL WINDS was established in October 2005 by it’s Musical Director Andrew Bassey. Andrew is a highly trained and dedicated professional musician who has had a varied career in playing, teaching and conducting at it is his vision to give all people in the community an opportunity to reach their potential on their chosen instrument whatever their standard or ability. Even professional players and teachers have an opportunity to play very difficult and challenging music in the Advanced Wind Orchestra and the selected Wind Ensemble.
We have opportunities for anyone who wants to learn a wind orchestra instrument including those who already play up to professional level. Instruments include Orchestral Brass i.e. Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium and Tuba. Woodwind include Flutes, Oboes, Clarinets, Saxophones and Bassoons. Percussion includes, Tom-toms, snare drum, cymbals, xylophone, timpani and many, many more!
The flow chart below gives you an overview of the whole system. Group tuition, like all ways of learning, if it is delivered well, works very well, enjoyable and is cost effective.
Please click on the headings on the diagram below to visit the relevant pages.
- The ADVANCED WIND ORCHESTRA plays very difficult repertoire and is given the full title NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ORCHESTRAL WINDS. Players need to be grade 8 standard to play in this orchestra (although good grade 7 players can apply if there is space on your instrument!) We meet on Tuesday evenings and encourage professional players and teachers to apply to join this wonderful ensemble. You do not need to have been a member of NOW to apply.
- The NOW WIND ENSEMBLE is a selected ensemble which rehearses usually once a fortnight on a Sunday afternoon. We play anything from classical wind Octets and Sextets to Strauss Wind Symphonies. Players will be selected from the Advanced Wind Orchestra but where there are not enough people who are about Diploma standard players from outside NOW can be recruited. If you are interested and don’t play with us please ask if there is a place. Apply.
- NOW COMMUNITY WIND ORCHESTRAS. At present we have only one which is growing fast. We aim to split them in September 2010 to make Community Wind Orchestra A at grade 4—6 Standard and Orchestra B at grade 2—4 standard. Anyone from grade 2 standard can join the current Community Wind Orchestra so contact us NOW for this opportunity. Anyone can enter NOW just ask! Please apply here.
- BEGINNERS. This course is for absolute beginners, cost is only £2 an hour and classes are for 2 hours a week for one academic year. You can even rent to buy an instrument for as low as £9.10 a month—and guess what after 12 months the instrument belongs to you. Students make rapid progress and can read music and lay very well up to grade 2 level in one year. After the year you are perfectly placed for joining Community Wind Orchestra B. You can also go directly on to the IMPROVERS course. Please apply here.
- IMPROVERS......... This course is another one year course (like the Beginners) and brings you up to about grade 4 standard. You could finish this 2 years after you began! This also costs £2 an hour and classes are 2 hours long. You do not have to have gone through the NOW system to apply! Anyone can apply.... If you are not sure of your standard please speak to us. After this course you can either go back to Community Wind Orchestra B or up to Orchestra A. Apply.
- INTERMEDIATE....... This is the course that takes you up to grade 6 standard and you may well have reach this in 3 years! Anyone can apply for this course (even if you have not gone through the NOW training system). After completing this one year course you may either go into Jazz, the Training Band or back to Community Wind Orchestra A. Apply.
- TRAINING WIND ORCHESTRA...... This ensemble is of a very high standard preparing players for NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ORCHESTRAL WINDS (Advanced Wind Orchestra). Players of Grade 6 standard and above can apply for this amazing ensemble. Anyone can apply for this ensemble, even if you have not played in NOW before. You can also join the Jazz bands. Apply.
- JAZZ BANDS..... Jazz is a very popular style for instrumentalists and NOW can run several Jazz bands once students have reached grade 6 or emerged from the INTERMEDIATES. Apply.
- Our meeting places for the various bands can be found here.