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The friendly souls at my band have thoughtfully provided me with the use of Podemski's Standard Snare Drum Method, one of the classics of percussion teaching. Perhaps this is a hint somewhat like your friends banding together to buy you a bar of soap, but I choose to interpret it more favourably than that. In any case, I freely admit that I'm not that hot on a (drum) kit, so I've resolved now to do something about it and actually practice the exercises in there for at least a straight hour per week, until I can do them all perfectly without thinking about it. Wednesday seems as good a night as any, so let's say that Wednesday night is drum night until I have to reschedule it. Let's also say that any practice of twirling my sticks round my fingers, like the pros do, is not counted as part of the hour. I have done my practice tonight, so you can start nagging at me next week.

I'm telling all of you this because it's often said that making your resolutions public gives you more motivation to stick to them. Also, as an introduction to a blatant advert: Sunday week, the 7th September, we will be playing with Royston Town Band, Ware Brass, and Fulham Brass Band at the Royston Picnic in the Park. It's free (bring your own picnic), and the music starts at 1400 in the Priory Gardens, Royston, about 13mi from Cambridge. Even if, like me, you don't like brass band music, it will make a good afternoon out, and of course the more people there cheering for CSD Brass the better it will be. If you're really lucky you may even get to see me drop my sticks.

I will, of course, report how it went here afterwards, but it won't be as good as being there in person to see it, so please do come along, bring your family and friends, and lend your support.