THERE'S currently an opportunity to 'Make a Noise' with Stannary Brass Band — and enjoy free tuition and a free instrument. The sessions, run by the band, are for people with a passion to learn music — especially for those who have not been able to afford a musical instrument. With young members off to college or university, the band is keen to draw in younger people, although all ages are welcome. A leaflet concerning the training sessions is currently being distributed to local schools. A spokesperson for the band said: 'Our main aim this year is to increase our numbers — beginners and experienced players — of any age from 6 upwards. 'We are preparing leaflets to go to local schools and to be distributed in as many ways as possible because we want to make people award of the band's existence and the fact that we have free instruments and tuition for anyone who wants to learn to play.' Interested players of any ability can email [email protected]">[email protected] More information is available on the website http://www.stannarybrassbandtavistock.com">www.stannarybrassbandtavistock.com Patron of the band is TV personality Angela Rippon OBE, who hopes to attend the Christmas concert in Tavistock Town Hall on Saturday, December 6. Tickets will be on sale in November for the Christmas concert and in September for the band's Proms Concert on Saturday, October 4 at Tavistock Methodist Church. Miss Rippon attended the band's 10th anniversary Gala Concert on May 4 and introduced the young players, pointing out to the audience the importance of music, and encouraging young people. To celebrate the anniversary, past and present players joined together for the day — some of the players even came from all over the country to be there, from Scotland, Yorkshire and from service duty in Afghanistan. During the evening one of the past members, Ben Lund-Conlon, spoke about the founder and musical director of the band Peter Jones, describing him as an inspirational, passionate teacher and musical director, who believed in young people and the power of music. l Stannary Brass Band's musical director Peter Jones is celebrating 40 years of conducting this year. Peter started his musical career aged 12 in Hartlepool, on the North East coast of England. By the time he was 14, he was playing with the Town Youth Brass Band and Wind Band and he also played with the Northern Junior Wind Band. In 1974 he joined the Army as a junior musician and in 1975 joined the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards), with whom he performed on many Royal Parades including the Trooping of the Colour and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. During his army service he performed in all of the major concert halls in London and several times on 'Friday night is Music night', once as a featured performer. While he was attending the Royal Military School of Music, he was taught tuba by Patrick Harold, the then principal tuba. At the end of his course, Peter appeared at the Albert Hall in a televised duet supported by the Phillip Jones Brass ensemble — a highlight of Peter's career. Peter has conducted several groups over the years and formed the Devon County Youth Brass Band. He is a full time teacher and trainer of bands including the Stannary Brass Band in Tavistock, Ivybridge School Wind Band and also works as the brass coach for Devon Sinfonietta.