If you feel (musically) inclined, the Maple Ridge Concert Band has an available seat waiting for you to fill.

There are openings with the adult beginner, intermediate concert, and performance bands.

No experience is necessary to join the adult beginner band. Rehearsals are Thursdays at 7: 30 p.m.

For those who have played in the past and want to brush up on their skills, the intermediate concert band could be a good fit. Rehearsals are also Thursdays at 7: 30 p.m.

The performance band is for experienced musicians with accomplished skills. Rehearsals are Tuesdays at 7: 30 p.m.

Ed Dumas, conductor with the intermediate concert and performance bands, brings more than four decades of musical experience to the mix.

He's been teaching music for 28 years.

Part of Maple Ridge Secondary's class of '78, Dumas is in his second year teaching music at the school. He guides MRSS's band and jazz ensembles.

"None of the [MRSS] building is the same," Dumas said. "It's a completely different building than when I went there."

Dumas played trumpet in the school band.

"That's what I've played for 42 years," the 52-year-old Dumas said.

He said the appeal of playing in jazz and concert bands comes from the sense of enjoyment and self satisfaction from making music as a group.

"It's really only something you understand, once you do it, and then you get it," he said. "I love piano, it's a great instrument, but playing piano solo is completely different than playing in a concert band with 50, 60 other people."

Asked if Maple Ridge is a musical community, Dumas pondered the query for a few seconds before answering, "In some ways, [but] there is so much more than what we could do here."

There are a fair number of baby boomers in the community, Dumas said, and the middle-age set are perfect candidates for taking up music as a hobby.

"Those folks getting near retirement, they're looking for something to do, and I think we have a good number of folks in that age range living in Maple Ridge," Dumas said. "They're wanting other recreational activities."

If you are interested in joining any of the three bands, or want more information, contact Dumas at 778-887-7115 or email eldumas@telus.net. The band's website is www.mrcb.ca.

tlandreville@mrtimes.com