15th July 1976 – my final Glasgow Schools’ course had its concert in Ardrossan Academy. This was my fifth year as horn tutor at the military band camp – and I had just about got the hang of itπ. This was also Derick Kane’s last time as Trombone tutor.
I didn’t keep a record of what was played at each of the courses so this choice may not be from that year – and this is certainly not the version we played – but I couldn’t find the concert band version online.
At the time this was a very famous pop song – one of the earliest which was almost entirely synthesizer music – that has come a long way since 1976!! The reason I remember this in particular from the military band course is that it was (I think) the first time I ever played the glockenspiel.
The arrangement used had a lot of notes for glock, including the melody throughout most of the piece, and none of the students on percussion were willing to risk their career on it π – so I volunteered. Like much of my glock playing since I suspect that I got about 80% of the right notes in the right order πππ – but nobody usually notices the difference.
Anyway this is a bit of a fun choice….
Gershon Kingsley : Popcorn
CommentsΒ :
George R McConnell
Here is a pic of some of the members of the Glasgow School’s Military Band to go along with today’s music post – again not quite sure what year this was (perhaps you can help Jon?) It is taken outside of my old school – well remember lining up there in our classes for my first day – several years before this pic was taken π

George R McConnell
If one version wasn’t enough – here is another one just for laughs ππ