Youngsters in Kinross are grateful for a donation of pipe band drums from Borders based Hawick Pipe Band. Following an online appeal from the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT) for donations of second hand drums for newly formed school pipe bands, Hawick Pipe Band answered the call and offered six snare drums and a tenor drum to the Kinross Youth Pipes and Drums band.
Jim Beattie of Hawick Pipe Band said: “We are delighted that the drums are going to be used by a new, young band and that they will encourage other young learners. It is so important to keep the drummers going, as well as the pipers, to preserve our musical traditions and to pass on the skills to the next generation. We hope the drums will see the band rise to success.”
The Kinross schools tuition programme, co-funded by the SSPDT and Perth and Kinross Council, was launched last year with the aim of teaching young people in the Kinross schools community to play the pipes and drums. Weekly lessons are provided at Kinross High School and Milnathort, Cleish, Arngask, Kinross, Fossoway, and Portmoak Primaries, and have proven to be extremely popular with pupils across all seven schools.
The programme is managed by the Kinross Youth Pipes and Drums voluntary committee. Stephen Kennedy, Chairperson, commented: “The programme has really taken off and we now have over 75 pupils taking part in lessons each week. Pupils who are learning the drums have been using practice drum-pads, but many are now ready to progress further so we needed to source drums as a matter of urgency. We are so grateful to Hawick Pipe Band for their generous donation, and on behalf of all the pupils involved we thank them most sincerely.”
Mr Kennedy adds: “The first public performance by pupils took the form of a quartet at the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships in March, and we are looking forward to representing Kinross Schools in more competitive and social functions going forward. It is hoped that once pupils leave school they will continue to play and apply to join the local Kinross and District Pipe Band.”
Alexandra Duncan, Chief Executive of SSPDT said “We were delighted to be able to link Hawick Pipe Band with Kinross Youth Pipes and Drums (KYPD) for the transfer of drums. New pipe band drums can cost up to £800 each so this is a tremendous boost to the programme. The Trust is pleased to be working with KYPD to provide the free loan of pipes, practice chanters and practice drum-pads, and to co-fund the programme with Perth and Kinross Council. The Trust would welcome partnerships with other Councils and/or directly with schools to boost tuition to meet demand.”
Funding and instrument loan enquiries can be made at: www.sspdt.org.uk or find us on social media @Piping4Pupils
