MINOT– Have you ever wanted to learn an instrument and be part of a band? If so, you are in luck. Minot State University’s Division of Performing Arts is hosting another season of the Minot Beginning Community Band (MBCB).
David Rolandson, associate professor of music, director of bands, and MBCD director, is an advocate for music education and community development.
“I am excited to continue bringing high-quality music instruction to the greater Minot region,” he said. “This unique opportunity allows beginning and novice musicians the opportunity to learn or reengage in music alongside their peers in a group setting. Music is very often a communal activity, and that piece can be lost when students are only taking private lessons and making music by themselves.”
MBCD provides beginning and novice instrumentalists with quality instruction and the opportunity to be a part of a concert band with other beginning performers from the community. The program provides learning opportunities for budding musicians ages 13 and up who want to learn or relearn the building blocks of music and performance.
“This program is really intended for two groups of people,” Rolandson said. “The first group of students includes anyone in the region, ages 13 plus, who are wanting to learn a traditional concert band instrument at the foundational level. This might include students — children and adults — learning for the first time who missed their opportunity to begin in schools or who quit band earlier in life. The second group of students served by the Minot Beginning Community Band is adults who are wanting to return to an instrument after many years away, and who believe they could benefit from some beginning, refresher instruction.”
Students can register for MBCB at MinotStateU.edu/MBCD. From there, the director will reach out with additional information. Rehearsals will be held Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. with the first hour spent in sectional and small groups with lessons from MBCD instructors. A final concert will be held in Ann Nicole Nelson Hall on April 23 at 3 p.m.
All participants are required to pay a $50 participation fee, although there is limited scholarship funding available, and there are multiple options for renting their instrument of choice. For questions, Rolandson can be reached at david.rolandson@MinotStateU.edu.
