Pipe Band to offer tuition scheme to school children

A LOCAL pipe band is banging the drum for traditional Scottish music by rolling out a tuition scheme to a number of schools around Forres.

From September, Forres and District Pipe Band, supported by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT), will be offering piping and drumming lessons to pupils from P6, in the nine local primary schools, to S6 at Forres Academy. Those interested are being encouraged to sign up at two taster sessions taking place next week.

The new schools’ pipes and drums tuition programme will replace the successful Moray Youth Pipes and Drums Tuition Scheme (MYTS), a charity set up in 2016 which offered free tuition to children aged between eight and 11.

John Channon, chairman of the Forres and District Pipe Band, explained why the charity is changing its focus to provide the tuition at schools. He said: "Now in its third year, 13 youngsters have graduated from the MYTS into the junior band and there are still more than 30 in the scheme who will hopefully graduate within the next 12 months.

"However, the MYTS was conceived as a stepping-stone for the introduction of tuition on the pipes and drums in the Moray schools and this is what we are now able to roll out from next month."

"There is no tuition on the pipes and drums in schools in Moray, unlike in the surrounding regions. We wanted to change this and be able to go directly to the young people."

Kick-start sessions will take place at Forres Academy on Friday, August 23, between 1:30-4:30pm and at Forres Town Hall on Sunday, August 25, between 6-8pm.

Pupils signing up to the tuition will receive half an hour a week with a tutor at a cost of £6.50 per session. Once they have reached a certain standard, they will be offered the opportunity to join the Forres & District Junior Pipe Band.

Mr Channon said: "The sessions will allow those interested to have a go on the pipes and drums, speak to the band members and the band will also demonstrate how to play the instruments. It will give people a real feel for the instruments and the opportunity to sign up for tuition which will then commence in the schools during the week beginning September 2.

"The Junior Band is a well-established and fully resourced entity which has the support of the community and of charitable status. As they progress, the youngsters would have access to all the resources of the band including uniforms and instruments."

For more information visit https://forrespipeband.co.uk/, find the band on Facebook or call John Channon on 01309 641608.