Back to Banding: It’s the park life for Bathgate Youth

The sheer joy and excitement of Scotland’s brass players as they get back to banding has been palpable!

Social media has been buzzing as the country’s instrumentalists describe their absolute pleasure and relief at being able to return to rehearsals and do what they do best – meet up with like-minded friends for the first time in 15 months for face-to-face music making.

Each day we shall be featuring a band whose members have publicly expressed delight at being together to play ‘live’ music once again, starting with Bathgate Youth Band under the baton of conductor Stewart Brynes.

The band was one of the first to meet up again following the easing of restrictions that allowed outdoor rehearsals to resume, choosing Kirkton Park, Bathgate, as its temporary home.

“The park provides an ideal platform to socially distance the band members on, whilst being a sheltered location set in trees to protect us from the worst of the weather,” explained band president Derek Brown.

“Our weekly Microsoft Teams virtual band meetings were great for social interaction, but there is nothing quite like getting together with your band family and making music.

“And if we have to do that outdoors, then we have found the perfect location to continue whilst the weather permits.”

• Members of Bathgate’s senior band are also thrilled at being back rehearsing, courtesy of Linlithgow Rugby Club where there is sufficient space to enable the players to maintain social distancing while gathered around musical director Craig Anderson.

If you would like your band to be featured in our Back to Banding series, please send a photo and a short write-up telling us about where you have chosen to play and how your members feel about being back together again to sbbapr@gmail.com