The iconic sight and sound of bagpipes playing Auld Lang Syne at Hogmanay could be under threat, a chief Scottish piper has claimed.
Championships convener for the Scottish Schools Pipe Band, David Johnston, fears a lack of teaching of piping and drumming in classrooms could lead to the demise of our national instrument.
There is concern in piping circles that the skills will become regionalised and elitist, taught only in rural communities or private schools, unless steps are taken to widen the appeal across Scotland.
Mr Johnston said not enough state schools offer the bagpipes in music lessons, with Edinburgh and Glasgow viewed as the real problem areas.
“The future of our national instrument is under threat because if the inability of most of Scotland’s councils to offer lessons in their schools,” he said.
“Some say there is no money for it, some say there is no demand. Yet where we have helped schools get tuition the demand is huge and if a council can afford a glockenspiel teacher, surely they can afford to teach pipes and drums.”
Mr Johnston said several schools have opted to set up after school clubs and bring in teachers at their own expense.
He added: “I find it disappointing that in so many Scottish state schools piping and drumming is not on the curriculum, yet many private schools have flourishing bands and dedicated pipe tutors which bring huge prestige and self-esteem to band members and to the school.
“If this worrying trend continues we won’t have any future pipers and drummers and hearing the roar of pipes and drums on Hogmanay could become a thing of the past.”
The Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships the world’s biggest schools piping competition is planning to stage a contest to celebrate the pipes and drums and encourage their growth in schools throughout Scotland.
Craig Munro of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers said: “It is clear that several schools are trying to get school pipe bands up and running but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get the piping and drumming onto the curriculum.
“If schools can offer students the likes of the recorder to learn music, then why not the bagpipes? It seems as though there is a lack of choice as to whether or not kids can learn the pipes and drums whilst in school.”
The schools championships event will be held at Broughton High School in Edinburgh on Sunday March 8.
‘GIE THEM A BLAW’
There is something primal about the bagpipes to a proud Scot, writes Ross MacCallum. The blood is definitely stirred particularly when they’re playing in your living-room.
Our son James has been playing the pipes since he was eight (he is now 15). Some time ago we ceased being parents and morphed into bagpiper chauffeur/euse. This very morn I stood frozen as he piped off the horses at the New Year ride at the Rowanlea stables at Barry. To be fair, he was frozen too but he got £20.
James is bagpipe obsessed. He plays in the Arbroath British Legion Pipe Band and is also a member of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland Development Band.
There is a teacher at Carnoustie High School and James is piping as part of his Standard Grade music, but he has been taught the pipes outwith school by Craig Weir (of the band Gleadhraich).
Doors have been opened that would otherwise have been shut. James has piped at many events such as awards evenings in Glasgow and Scottish women’s international football matches in Edinburgh (he’s also available for weddings and bar mitzvahs).
The future of the pipes depends on our young people “gieing them a blaw”. We must ensure that this is encouraged across the country.