Happy Minot Monday, everyone! Today’s Minot Monday post is a tribute to one of my favorite free community offerings. I’m going to tell you all about the Brass Band of Minot and why you should skidaddle over to their next concert (Sunday Nov 10, 4pm).
I grew up in northern Indiana, near South Bend (and Notre Dame.) It’s a great area with TONS going on all the time. While growing up, my parents regularly bought tickets (sometimes season tickets) for our family to attend the orchestra or symphony. I remember getting dressed up and going to the shows. Listening to music in historic and elegant halls was such a treat. I’m not sure if my parents really know how much I enjoyed it. (To be honest, my favorite part was always taking in the historic architecture–I’ve always been an old-place junkie.)
As an adult, I realize how special and important attending those concerts really was. I learned proper concert etiquette (ie the end of a movement isn’t time to clap). I learned to appreciate talent, live performance and the teamwork involved in making cohesive sounds. The music exposed me to new sounds and a type of music we didn’t listen to on the radio in the car.
As a mom, I realize how much intentionality must have gone in to getting our family to these events. First of all, there’s the parental challenge of taking two young girls out in public to a classy affair. I can imagine now my parents wondering if it would be worth the hassle–if the evening would be fun or just a giant strain. Second, there’s the cost. With my adult eyes I can see that taking the family to the symphony was a pricy endeavor.
I am so glad my parents were intentional about exposing us to the arts and budgeting wisely to make it happen for our middle class family. Now I see that spending the money on tickets was incredibly brave. What if we didn’t behave? What if the show was too long? How would they handle potty breaks? What if my sister and I bickered the whole time and it was no fun at all?
See, what I mean? Very. Brave.
As a parent, I’m already starting to think about how we will expose Gideon to art and music. Derek and I love attending live performances, and it’s something we are eager to share as a family.
Right now Gideon is just a toddler. But we would like him to grow up in an environment where music, performance and community events is a norm. Not to mention we like the proven benefits of exposing children to live music (increased attention span, the ability to sit and listen, focus, etc).
All this leads me (finally) back to the Brass Band of Minot.
The Brass Band of Minot is one of several community music organization which performs regularly through the fall, winter and spring. They are so good, so talented and (best part) their concerts are FREE!! (Donations are welcome.)
I didn’t discover the Brass Band of Minot until just before we moved out of Minot in 2016. I got to attend one concert before packing up and moving out of state. That was a huge bummer! I couldn’t believe I’d lived in Minot for years and become a (self titled) Minot-guru and didn’t even know this existed.
Now that I’m back in Minot for round 2 of Practically Canadian living, the Brass Band of Minot was on my radar and I’ve already hit up one of their concerts.
So don’t be like me last time I lived in Minot. Start taking advantage of the Brass Band now. The next concert is coming up in less than a week! They’ll perform Sunday November 10 at 4pm, at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall on the MSU campus.
Annnnnddddd–this is their HOLIDAY CONCERT! I’m usually a fan of waiting until after Thanksgiving to bust out seasonal music, but I simply cannot resist holiday classics on brass instruments!
Just in case you need a few more reasons why I love the Brass Band of Minot, here are a couple more.
It’s FREE
The Band performs at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall at MSU. Concerts are free (with donations welcome). If you hate it, you aren’t out anything–you can even sneak out early. (But I don’t think that will be the case.)
Family Friendly
In my opinion, this is the perfect way to introduce littles to concerts. Since there is no monetary cost involved it’s very low risk. Concert length is fairly short (45 minutes-1 hour), so it’s just the right amount of exposure.
The hall is large, so grab a seat in back or up in the balcony (where there is space to pace behind the back row.) If your littles get restless or noisy just sneak out. When I took Gideon to his first concert last month I was shocked at how engaged he was. He got antsy after about 30 minutes, so we went out to the lobby to walk around (I could still hear the music) and returned after a bit to watch the rest of the performance.
Concert Times
Concerts take place in the afternoon. No need to find an evening babysitter or stay out past bedtime. Concerts don’t interfere with evening plans. It’s the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
The Music is Really Good
Who cares how convenient the concerts are if the sound is crummy, right? The Brass Band of Minot is made up of local musicians that range from students and parents to business owners, farmers and doctors. The music selections are interesting and well executed. It’s a good show and a good listening experience.
Don’t forget, their next concert is Sunday Nov 10, 4pm at Ann Nicole. Follow them on Facebook to see upcoming shows, or check in at the Visit Minot events page.
Here are some of my other favorite classical performing groups in town.
- Minot Chamber Chorale (regular season concerts are free, they are also SO good!)
- Minot Symphony (tickets aren’t free, but worth every penny–this is a perfect date night)
- Rinat Mouzafarov Institute of Dance & Ballet Theater (offer several performances through the year and they are a joy to watch, again, a perfect date night or girls’ night out.)
