Kingdom Launch Percussion Academy
Kingdom Brass is celebrating a substantial grant award from the Scottish Arts Council to launch the “Kingdom Brass Percussion Academy”.
The band already runs the very successful Kingdom Brass Youth Band, which was started in 2007 and currently has nearly thirty young musicians, aged from 8 to 13.
The Chairman of the Youth Band, Lee Bathgate, spoke of the recent award: “Percussion is such an integral part of the modern brass band, and Kingdom Brass recognises the need to teach percussion alongside brass. We’re launching our percussion academy to give young people the chance to learn how to play drum kit, as well as tuned percussion such as xylophone, vibraphone and glockenspiel.”
“Lessons will be given in our band hall on Monday evenings by our percussion tutor, and we’re currently looking for 10 young people in the local area to take up the initial places. Once the percussionists reach a certain standard, they will get a chance to perform with the brass players in the Youth Band, which is growing all the time.”
The Kingdom Brass Youth Band recently performed at the ‘Brass in the Park’ event in Newtongrange, gaining a silver award in the Novice competition. The next event for the youth band is at the Scottish Youth Championships, in Perth Concert Hall later this month.
SBBA Development Officer, Alan Edmond said: “This is yet another exciting development in the continuing growth of brass banding in Scotland. Percussion education within brass bands is an aspect that has suffered from a lack of attention in years gone by, but it is very encouraging that Kingdom Brass has recognised this and set up its Percussion Academy, both for its own benefit and to assist other bands in the wider Fife region. The Scottish Brass Band Association applauds this initiative and encourages other organisations throughout Scotland to follow the fine example being set by Kingdom Brass.”
