The youngest and oldest competitors at the New Zealand Brass Band Championships swapped notes yesterday before the traditional street march parade, through Dunedin, today.
Drummer Oliver Scherf (10), of Blenheim, is the youngest of nearly 1000 musicians at the championships.
"I like the big noise that drums make and it annoys my parents," he confided.
"But I'd probably rather be playing on my PlayStation."
While Oliver has his sights set on becoming a professional football player, rather than a musician, for Dunedin brass band veteran Fred Knopp music has been a life-time passion.
The 82-year-old is a member of St Kilda Brass and has also played cornet with the Kaikorai and Woolston bands over the past 70 years.
He was also a member of the 1974 New Zealand Brass Band.
"I was just a wee bit older than Oliver when I started playing," Mr Knopp said.
"The kids today are brilliant. Some of them are pretty slick.
"Music, to me, is a great hobby. You meet a lot of good people, but it's the music that really keeps you going. It keeps you fit and it stops you going nuts."
This week, the 130th brass band championships are being hosted in Dunedin.
"But I haven't been to all of them," Mr Knopp quickly added.
"My first championships were in 1946, in Christchurch, just after the war. They haven't really changed that much over the years.
"There have always been a lot of people involved from around the country.
"The main difference is in the marches. Marching used to be done on a diagonal set course on a paddock over 100 yards. That was quite a spectacle."
While Oliver will be marching with the Marlborough District Brass Band in the combined bands street march through Dunedin today, Mr Knopp said he would be watching from the sidelines.
"They won't let me march any more," he joked.
"They reckon I'm too old."
The championships street march starts at 12.30pm today and travels north from Moray Pl, along Princes St, through the Octagon to George St.
