About

The Richmond West Primary School Brass Band programme was started by RWPS parent Adam Arnold in 2019.

The idea of co-curricular instrument music programme was suggested in a parent forum late in 2018, and Adam, an instrumental music teacher at Carey Grammar School, was happy to oblige.

Why a brass band?

Brass Bands first came about in the early 19th Century, following advances in technology around brass instruments. Adolphe Sax (inventor of the saxophone) invented the saxhorn family of instruments – a series of different size brass instruments that when played together would match in sound to create a unified sound – a sort of human driven pipe organ. This gained popularity in the north of England around industrial areas and towns, allowing communities to have music for town events, and a cultural activity for working class people (a wholesome activity to keep them out of trouble).

Educationally, the merits of a brass band are many. Brass instruments are relatively simple to play and have a strong sound from early on. Maintenance costs are low (no reeds/strings). A single teacher can teach all instruments, and kids can change instruments if necessary. The instruments can play a wide variety of genres of music. Lastly, the homogeneous nature of the sounds require students to actively listen and be considerate of others’ sound in order to work effectively together – an important educational goal that teaches life skills of teamwork and empathy.

Adam Arnold

Beginning his music career with a cornet for his 6^th birthday, Adam was born into a musical family. He moved quickly on to bigger and better instruments, playing the trombone and euphonium before finally settling on the tuba.

While at school he toured to Japan and America with youth bands, the highlight of which was a performance at New York’s famous Carnegie Hall. In 2000 Adam also performed in the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games to a TV audience of over 2 billion people.

After a brief stint studying at the Victorian College of the Arts, Adam moved to Melbourne University, where he graduated with Honours in Music Performance in 2004.

Adam has performed in numerous orchestras, wind bands, big bands, brass bands, jazz combos, roving groups, cover bands and pit orchestras. He has won state and national solo competitions. As well as playing, he is an accomplished composer/arranger and conductor.

Adam spent eight years performing with the Royal Australian Navy Band. As a member of the RAN Band he toured extensively in every state in Australia, and internationally, including the ANZAC dawn service in Gallipoli.

During this time he completed a Graduate Diploma in Education at the University of New England, and was awarded a Licentiate in Music Performance from Trinity College London.

Adam now lives in Melbourne, Australia, and teaches low brass at Carey Grammar School, and runs the brass band programme at Richmond West Primary School. He performs as a freelance musician, and runs “Funk Buddies”, a New Orleans style street funk band. He is also a member of Sydney City Brass, the current Australian National Brass Band champions.