Band

Welcome! 2014 has been a busy year for us which was highlighted by a visit to New York in April, taking 30 playing band members plus 9 “helpers/family members” to take part in the Tartan Week Parade and the very first New York Tattoo in fifty years – and one of only three pipe bands invited to take part and play along side the Grade 2 (and former Grade 3b world champions) New York Metro Pipe Band! Our very own PM opened the Tattoo by piping the Opening Remarks Speaker through the auditorium plus on and off the stage We also played on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade at the end of April where the Edinburgh Tattoo is held every August with 9 other RBLS bands. The Royal British Legion Scotland organised the annual Beating Retreat by the Massed Pipe and Drums event to celebrate the year of Homecoming Scotland and help commemorate the centenary of World War One. The changes we made to our tuition and practice nights have had a very positive impact on our playing ability and our bands sound. We will continue to develop the quality of the bands playing by investing in further specialized tuition and standardizing the training methods employed to achieve high quality performances that are enjoyable for our audiences and for our performers. In only four years, the band membership has grown from just a few to over sixty, with an age range of nine to almost eighty! There is also an army of unsung heroes, the parents, friends and helpers all working behind the scenes providing much needed assistance and encouragement as well as organizing fund raising and sponsorship. Last year we formed a Juvenile Band within the main band to showcase our most talented youngsters. We are looking to further develop and expand this to incorporate novice and beginner members of all ages to give them valuable performing experience to help them progress to the main band. Our 2014 events are almost all done, but a very exciting prospect being discussed is to form a small competing band for the 2015 season.  It looks like we will have enough members interested in doing a few competitive events to make it worthwhile to try and raise the extra funds needed for tuition and transport, plus commit to the effort that will be required to make it happen. Competing should provide good experience for our players and give us a focus point to help us improve the overall quality and structure of our playing. It will also broaden our appeal, helping to attract new members wishing to learn and play with us, as well as giving existing members something new to aim at by becoming a part of “the band within the band”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.candpsrblpipesanddrums.com

 

Contact  Lynne 07727276219