Thanks. In addition to the talent and efforts of our Music Director, I believe the success and growth is partly due to the stated objectives of the group:
? Have fun.
? Play to, and include, all skill levels in song selections.
? Highlight skilled players.
? Coach beginners.
? Improve performance skills.
? Grow the band in size, subject to any cap imposed by the Board of Directors.
FWIW we've attempted to define a new max size of the band on several occasions, but raised it when we realized we were denying the enjoyment of music to a number of wannabees. As we've grown, we've had to find increasingly larger places to practice. When I started with the band, we were 9 players who practiced in a small area of a local church, then our house, the 'ping pong' room of a local community clubhouse, and currently a large common area in the community's Pavilion activities building.