When Gethin Thomas came across light and robust plastic instruments, he realised that at last he could give SEND pupils access to the delights of brass music.
Mr Thomas is head of music at Canolfan Addysg y Bont (CAYB), a special school in Anglesey, Wales. In his experience, music calms students down but can also excite them, helping them to feel emotion.
Having already started a successful samba band in the school, he decided
to create a brass band too. However, the obstacles were more daunting.
Brass instruments are large, heavy, expensive, and delicate, he had never played one himself and he knew that if a brass instrument is accidentally dropped, the damage can be irreparable. Nevertheless, he researched possibilities. ‘When I discovered the plastic pBone from Warwick Music Group (WMG),
I immediately decided to buy one,’ he recalls. ‘The kids just loved it.’
British-based WMG is a team of brass musicians. Their instruments are light, strong, and brightly coloured, making them appealing, cheaper, and easier to transport and play, especially for younger pupils and those with physical disabilities.
The original pBone is the world’s best-selling trombone. There are now two other instruments on offer: the pTrumpet and the new pBuzz – a light instrument designed for little hands, with a mouthpiece that makes the creation of brass sounds even easier.
For more information about how pupils in Anglesey were given opportunities to experience brass music with the accessible and adaptable pBone, read the article online [PDF].
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