Forres and District Pipe Band awarded £4000 by Berry Burn Community Fund for high grade tutors
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A MUSIC tuition scheme has been awarded nearly £4000 of money generated by natural energy.
Forres and District Pipe Band (FDPB) will use £3840 from the Berry Burn wind farm Community Fund to meet the costs of fees for tuition.
FDPB chairman John Channon confirmed new tutors will help to improve new and current members' skills.
He said: "The band has reached a plateau of musical ability which limits the aspirations of its members and affects the retention of ambitious musicians. It has not yet developed to a sufficient standard to take many of our talented young players any further so they look to join bands of higher ability to hone their skills. This has the potential to become a downward spiral where the fruits of our tuition scheme become an asset for other bands.
"We need to raise our game so we approached Berry Burn for financial support to enrol high grade tutors to mentor our band."
Mr Channon hopes that, this time next year, FDPB will be able to play at a more advanced level, have developed a more professional sound and retain young talent.
FDPB have stopped practising together during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic but members are being encouraged to complete home tuition modules instead.
"A group within the band is looking at ways of holding a virtual practice session," added Mr Channon. "All our engagements have been cancelled through to the end of August, maybe later depending on the duration of the crisis.
"However, many of our pipers played in their back gardens last Thursday at 8pm in support of the NHS so we are retaining our skills and keeping our spirits up!
"We intend to play at the Mercat Cross at the earliest opportunity once it is all over."
