Youth Development News from SBBA
The Scottish Brass Band Association's support of youth brass and percussion programmes throughout the nation reached significant milestones earlier this month with the inaugural session of the Jedforest Drum Academy and a highly successful youth brass workshop in Perth.
Alan Currie drums up support for Jedforest Drum Academy
A new facility for young drummers was officially opened by Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP John Lamont recently and attended by over 70 people, including 20 young aspiring players. The project is the brainchild of Alan Currie, principal percussionist with Jedforest Instrumental Band. Having been asked to teach kit to a young player in the youth band (Abbey Brass Jedforest), he ended up instructing around 10 youngsters when word spread.
As Alan says: "I decided to start up the drum school, because if the interest shown in wanting to learn the drums. However, my time is limited and the lack of equipment meant I could only teach one pupil at a time. With the help of the band and funding from Youth Chex we have now been able to buy two electric drum kits which can be played without distracting other drummers, so it is now possible to teach more than one person at a time." Funding for the project came through in August and Alan has been hard at work making the necessary preparations. He also had support from Vic Firth, Roland,Yamaha, and Zildjian, whilst several local people have also sponsored other pieces of equipment.
At the opening event, an inspiring performance was given by Derek Love, principal percussionist with the Scottish Cooperative Funeralcare Band, followed by a workshop in which he advised the young players on various topics. Alan added: "We are based in the Jedforest Instrumental Band Hall, but we encourage the pupils to go down any musical route they wish, whether it be rock drumming, pipe banding, marching drums, brass or anything else which is why we say that the Jedforest Drum Academy is...Just Drums!"
Present at the opening ceremony of the Drum Academy was Alan Edmond, SBBA's Development Officer. "I'm delighted that support for young drummers is growing in the Scottish banding community. It's great that Jedforest with its innovative hi-tech project, the first of its kind for Scottish bands, is fostering the future of percussion sections in this way."
Les Neish inspires at Perth's Youth Brass Extravaganza
On Sunday 3 October, Perth Music Centre resounded to the sounds of 80 young brass players, who gathered to take part in Youth Brass Extravaganza. Organised by the Northern Counties Brass Band Association (NCBBA) and funded by SBBA, the day of workshops, rehearsals and performance was led by star of the tuba, Les Neish (below), ably assisted by local instrumental teachers from Perth and Kinross. Taking part were Perthshire Youth Brass (George Annan), Perth and Kinross Council Central Group Brassand many young people eager to try out a brass instrument for the first time.
Alan Edmond, SBBA Youth Development Officer, expressed himself well pleased with the day: "Les Neish is a great communicator and was so encouraging and with the youngsters. His enthusiasm is infectious. The success of the day just shows how much can be achieved when organisations work together for the benefit of all. Thanks are due to Ann Murray and her NCBBA team for putting the day one and for the fantastic support from Perth and Kinross Council."
