By Since 2012, retired music teacher Paulette Gulakowski has been leading the New Horizons Band of Greater Pittsburgh, a community band for adult beginners and refreshers at the Turtle Creek Municipal Building.
The group, about 15 members strong, meets every Tuesday afternoon (except for holidays and election days) to practice old songs and learn new ones while working on their playing technique for performances at various venues from nursing homes, senior centers and parties for church groups and are always looking for new venues to perform.
“The band is for people who never played an instrument before … or people who maybe did play but haven’t played since high school and say ‘gee, I wish I never would have quit playing,’” said Ms. Gulakowski. “So this group is open to people who want to do that.”
Always looking for new members, Ms. Gulakowski explains the group currently consists of people with a range of experience. “We have folks in our band who never played before; folks who have played for a long time; folks who have played other instruments, and had never stopped playing but decided to switch to something different.”
If you would like to join, there is no cost for the lessons, just bring an instrument and get a lesson book, and the New Horizons Band of Greater Pittsburgh will welcome you.