First To Gain Leadership Awards

Stacey Odell from Upton Youth Band and Matthew Kemshed from Liberty Drum and Bugle Corps are the first to complete the Federation’s ‘Leadership in Youth Marching Band’ course. Accredited by the Open College Network, this is the only UK course recognised by an external body specifically for Leadership in our activity and, we believe, the only such course in Europe.

Stacey completed units in Leadership and in Performance, and Matthew in Leadership and Administration. Each completed a folio which included certified evidence of children and young peoples’ development and how this influences their participation and progress in marching bands, plus leadership and teamwork skills. Stacey’s Performance unit included solo and ensemble playing, and Matthew’s Administration unit included strategic planning and budgetary control over a designated period.

The Federation launched this course with the Open College’s support, following agreement by member organisation representatives that this was a major activity requirement to support development and sustainability. Stacey and Matthew are two from a cohort of 23 leaders and supporters who began the course in 2009.

All participants have to attend an introductory day introductory seminar and then record what they do within their bands and corps in a folio of evidence. This folio is then externally verified by the Open College Network. The Federation is keen to stage additional introductory days for groups of leaders and supporters. This works best if 15-20 people from a number of different units can attend. A summary of the course appears on the Federation’s web site www.marchingbands.org.uk and further details can be obtained from Jim Vaughan on marchbands [at] aol [dot] com As initial funding for this course has come to an end, the current cost for each person is £20, which is the registration fee that has to be paid to the Open College Network.