Features

How to lead an advanced wind ensemble

Although not so common these days, good wind ensembles can offer freshness and excitement to performers and listeners alike. Anne Templer shares advice on how to draw the best out of the players
Phillip Scott conducts the National Youth Wind Ensemble in concert at Bradford-on-Avon
Phillip Scott conducts the National Youth Wind Ensemble in concert at Bradford-on-Avon - © Courtesy Phillip Scott/NYWE

The lack of priority attributed to music education in recent years has meant that planning for advanced wind ensembles has been a sadly rare event in schools and counties. However, alongside amateur adult ensembles, high-level youth groups do still exist and continue to provide a powerful resource for creative music-making and community enrichment. Following on from my MT article on ‘concert bands’ (September 2023), here is an exploration of how to rehearse and maintain good wind ensembles, but this time with more advanced players. Roughly speaking, this refers to instrumentalists of Grade 6 standard or above.

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