GUELPH – New Horizons Band is an international movement that began in 1991.
Founder Dr. Roy Ernst of the Eastman School of Music at Rochester University in New York, “envisioned that many adults would be interested in making music in a group setting but might not have the skills or confidence to get started,” states the New Horizons International Music Association website.
If you’ve never played an instrument before, it doesn’t matter, said Kelly Janzen of New Horizons Band Guelph (NHBG).
Opportunities for all
There are opportunities for anyone to play in a concert band setting, with green band for beginner, red band for intermediate and blue band for advanced.
NHBG also has a jazz program with three different classes: big band, jazz improv and intro to improv, as well as a small ensembles
program offering opportunities to play woodwind or brass instruments.
Finding a home
The Guelph chapter was started by Brett Rowan, a graduate of Centre Wellington District High School.
Rowan, who studied jazz at Humber College and is part of a professional jazz ensemble, started the chapter at the Village at the Arboretum in Guelph, but it gained momentum with seniors outside of the village, and Rowan moved it to the Guelph Youth Music Centre.
Janzen said the group then moved to Three Willows Church in Guelph.
Now the group operates mainly out of Lakeside Church in Guelph/Eramosa, just outside Guelph, where there is room for several groups to practice at once and an auditorium.
Rowan and a group of professional musicians mentor, teach and lead members in the group.
Including the mentors, Janzen said “everyone helps each other who can.”
Janzen and friend and fellow NHBG member Tracy Bauman have been part of the group for 13 and nine years respectively.
Bauman started with the green band because she hadn’t “picked up an instrument since grade nine.
“I wanted to make sure I could get some sound out of the thing,” she joked.
Bauman quickly moved up to the red band, where she stayed for about a year.
“Kelly convinced me to try blue band,” Bauman said. She’s been in that band ever since. She also plays with the woodwind ensemble and has played with the jazz improv group.
Trying different styles
Bauman said jazz improvisation is “probably not my thing, but I learned a different style and to not be afraid of my instrument, of making different notes.”
One of the aspects Bauman appreciates about New Horizons is that “no one is on me to practice. I like the buddy system; I like playing with people. I don’t practice.”
Bauman recalled a player who has since passed away.
“He was my buddy. He would play away, trying to get some kind of sound out, as happy as could be. And there was no judgment. Nobody is judging. They’re all supportive.”
Bauman said if there is one negative thing about the group, it’s the tough loss of fellow members, as the group is made up of mainly seniors.
She recalled a gentleman who was gravely ill, “But he was there every week. I think playing probably prolonged his life.”
As well as classical band repertoire, blue band often tackles movie soundtracks and has enjoyed playing retrospectives of Stevie Wonder and The Rolling Stones, to name a couple.
Janzen and her husband Bill Zinck, who is also with New Horizons, are both retired high school music teachers. Multi-instrumentalists, they play in the blue and concert bands.
Benefits of music
Janzen said there are physical and mental benefits to playing, in addition to the joy of “sitting back and saying, ‘wow’, did we just play that?”
Janzen spoke about the satisfaction of taking a piece apart as a group and “putting it back together again.
“There are times when we have finished a piece and the sound just keeps rolling along, it’s awesome.”
The group has had members from Guelph, Fergus, Elora, Rockwood and as far away as Clifford.
While the program is open to all adults, members are usually seniors because the group holds practice and performances during the day, Janzen said.
Often illness, bad weather, or caring for a loved one can make being at practice difficult, so the group offers Zoom access.
Instrument petting zoo
The group has an information booth set up at the Guelph Farmer’s Market and is holding a special free event at The Evergreen Community Seniors Centre in Guelph.
“We’re having a petting zoo,” Janzen said.
The event, which takes place Aug. 27 from 11am to 1pm, is in partnership with Long and McQuade.
The “zoo” will be a large collection of musical instruments for people to try.
“There will be several of us there playing, too,” Janzen said. “People can pick up any instrument and see if it clicks. And if they are interested, they can talk to the Long and McQuade representatives about renting.”
Janzen said many people don’t realize what they are capable of and what possibilities exist for them.
“This way, they get to try things out and chat with us and get more information.”
All walks of life
For Bauman, being part of the group has been great for her mental health.
“It makes me think about nothing else. Just trying to get a nice sound out of this instrument,” she said.
“Especially in those winter months … you get to turn it all off and just focus on that.”
Janzen said one of the biggest challenges for retired people is isolation.
“This is a structured situation where you have a rehearsal to go to and people to see that you enjoy,” she explained.
“You’ve got every personality under the sun. People from every walk of life.”
Both Janzen and Bauman said one of their favourite things about being part of NHBG is the people.
“I’m a musician because I can’t help it. But it’s the people. We have a lot of laughs,” Janzen said.
New sessions begin every September, January and April. Registration is now open for sessions beginning Sept. 16.
For more information visit nhbguelph.com.
