Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Experienced tutor needs to pipe up to help West Fife band

Post Thumbnail

A Fife pipe band which had performed for the Queen could fold by the end of the year if tutors can’t be found.

West Fife Schools Pipe Band secretary Alister Rae said the group was sending out an SOS to the entire piping community as it struggles to find experienced teachers.

Failure to do so would be a huge blow to the band set up in 1994 specifically to provide school-aged children with the chance to learn to play traditional pipes and drums at an affordable price.

The band, which performed at the naming ceremony for aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, has seven intermediate pipers, three chanter learners and five drummers aged between 10 and 14 from schools in the west Fife area.

Mr Rae said the youngsters had produced strong performances in competitions and local galas over the last season and it would be a shame if they had to give up, due to a lack of adult support.

“Our senior piping tutor has retired, leaving the band without a leader,” he said.

“Without an experienced piping tutor in place, there no likelihood of competing next year and the band is at risk of folding altogether.

“We do have a couple of good pipers helping us out for now, but sadly this arrangement is not sustainable for next season,” he added.

Mr Rae said the group was appealing for help from experienced pipers who are able to commit to a few hours a week.

Far from folding, the group’s aim is to expand numbers if it can find more tutors.

“We competed at novice juvenile grade this year at all the major competitions by teaming up with another band,” said Mr Rae.

“Our ultimate goal would be to do the same again next year under our own steam.

“The guys are very enthusiastic and always keen to do their best.

“All we need is a leader to take us there by leading the tutoring of our pipe corps and developing our skills,” he said.

The band practises on Tuesdays in Rosyth and on Thursdays in Dunfermline.

“We have a great bunch of kids in the band and a supportive committee, we simply need more hands on deck for the band to survive,” said Mr Rae.

“Unfortunately, if we cannot secure tutors we may have to close the doors on this great little band which has been performing in Fife for 23 years and has produced world class pipers and drummers, many of whom went all the way to grade one bands.”

To help email WFSPB@GMX.COM, call 07508 621148 or visit https://www.facebook.com/WestFifeSchoolsPipeBand/.