Why is flute band culture so misunderstood? - reader asks

Flute band culture for one is misunderstood in my eyes, I am not a bigot, nor live every day with bitterness to my neighbour, yet these days when a uniform is donned it may seem to others that I am.

My band plays tunes from hymns, to Irish and Scots traditional, American civil war tunes, even the odd chart song thrown in. Are these offensive? We carry flags which to those not politically inclined have no offence either, no trappings deemed illegal by the state, yet still in this modern age bitterness, and hate are directed towards us. And for what?

Band culture, like it or not, is ‘ the biggest youth club’ in this country, and easily the largest voluntary social scene we have with all ages and genders taking part, yet it always is portrayed in a negative light.

When do we focus on the positive aspects? For instance, our band spent more than 20-000.00 on uniforms this year, not even taking in running costs, which has been spent in the local economy, buses, uniforms, instruments, never even mind bandsmen and supporters’ revenue spent at a parade.

I am no economist but I would hazard a guess that many small businesses would go bust if it were not for parades. Then there’s the social aspect. It’s not unusual for a bandsman to spend four nights a week in the summer at practice, or parade, and for some it’s their every thought, from tunes, organising and ideas on how to make their band better.

And don’t forget, we don’t get paid, in fact it costs us, a lot each year with bandmasters, committee members and members giving time and money because it is such big part of their lives. Bands raising money through events and schemes and being run with such organisation that would make any business proud.

In a word, bands are woven into the fabric of our society. It also instils a huge sense of discipline and pride into a member, imprinting on his mind he must work as a team, he must obey rules, commands, and again not for pay at the end of the week, only for the sense of pride in his local band, and his community.

I couldn’t think of anything more needed in this disjointed world of today. This is a unique musical tradition we have in this country,a a unique social scene, for once let’s not tar it with the bitter hatred that is trying to bring our province down.

My time in my band is maybe coming to a close.. for others it may only be beginning.

(name and address supplied).