– Of course, there are friends who tease me that I can’t go out with them because I’m going to the corps instead. But then – what am I actually missing? I would much rather be with the corps. Nikolas Joø Lervåg says so. He is 17 years old and still in the school band. And that is something he is proud of. – As it says on my back, it’s fun to play and friendship. On the back of the jackets of the young people in the Lerstad school corps is written “Joy of playing and friendship through musical mastery”. Photo: Remi Sagen / news Young people get fired up But some also have bad experiences with marching in time with uniform and instruments in the May 17 train. Recently, the newspaper Romsdals Budstikke wrote about the conductor in the Langmyra school music corps, Lena Haugen. She published a post on Facebook where she asked people not to throw crap at the musicians marching past on National Day. Lena Haugen’s post has received a lot of likes, and has been shared dozens of times. Photo: Screenshot Lena Haugen’s post has received a lot of likes, and has been shared dozens of times. Photo: Screenshot Haugen has himself heard corps youth tell how they experience playing in a corps. – First of all, I get a lump in my stomach. I think it’s terribly sad, says director of the Lerstad school corps Ingolf Dragset about the harassment. Photo: Remi Sagen / news – They don’t want to say that they play in a band. They do not want to bring instruments to school. Corps is “stupid”. This is also not unknown to the conductor of the Lerstad School Corps in Ålesund, Ingolf Dragset. – We have experienced it ourselves. Classmates and best friends who stand along the route on 17 May smiling and filming, and post it on the class group and such. More people want to play in bands – We know stories of people giving up. They can’t take it anymore. It’s very sad, says Jan Erik Helleren, head of music at Korpsnett Norge. Jan Erik Helleren, head of music at Korpsnett Norge, says they know that teasing of corps youth happens. Photo: Remi Sagen / news He has a clear message for everyone who is going to see the band play on National Day. – Hello. First of all, hello to them. There is a lot of effort and many hours behind what they perform in the streets on 17 May. But there is also good news in the corps environment. For the second year in a row, the number of members of the Norwegian Music Corps Association has increased. And in 2022 they had the greatest growth since the year 2000. Kjersti Tubaas is general secretary of the Norwegian Music Corps Association. Photo: Marcus Castro – Right now we are in a good time to play in a band and learn to play an instrument. We see a good trend after the pandemic, so it promises well, says Kjersti Tubaas in the association. She says that they are now prioritizing a youth promotion, which will ensure that the corps’ activities develop together with the young people. They talk to corps around the country to find out what kind of corps young people want. The Lerstad school choir is well on track with rehearsals until 17 May. The conductor praises the musicians, and says they are a really good band that people notice. Photo: Remi Sagen / news – Nothing to be ashamed of for 16-year-old Runa Thomassen in the Lerstad school corps in Ålesund. Those who harass others think they can get another hobby, and leave her alone. – Corps is my football. I like going to the corps. If you don’t like it, that’s fine, but you don’t have to blame me for that. Now the school band will soon finish the last rehearsal before 17 May. Nikolas Joø Lervåg is happy to walk with his uniform on and his head held high. – Pointing and teasing is just nonsense. There is nothing to be ashamed of here. Runa Thomassen in the Lerstad school band says she will be playing in the band for many years to come. – I don’t want to quit. Photo: Remi Sagen / news
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Corps youth experience excitement: – Let me have my hobby, then you can have yours
