Future of Bagpipes Under Threat

[cessna152towser]

Shock horror headline on BBC Website:-

Future of bagpipes 'under threat without school lessons'
The future of Scotland's national instrument is under threat because many state schools are not offering piping and drumming lessons, according to piping enthusiasts.
Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships convener David Johnston said many private schools had dedicated pipe tutors and flourishing bands.
But piping and drumming was not on the curriculum in many state schools.
He said there were concerns the skills will become "regionalised and elitist".
Mr Johnston singled out Edinburgh and Glasgow as the "real problem areas" in terms of lesson provision.
'Huge demand'
Mr Johnston said: "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.
"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.
"In several schools across Scotland, parent councils have had to resort to taking their own action to set up after school clubs and bring in teachers at their own expense to offer tutoring to their children.
"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."
Curriculum plea
Craig Munro, a piper from the band The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, said he believed that if more state schools in Edinburgh and Glasgow were to introduce the pipes and drums into their curriculum, other schools across Scotland would follow.
He 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?"
Last year, the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships attracted more than 400 young pipers and drummers from schools across Scotland.
The 2015 championships are to be held at Broughton High School in Edinburgh on Sunday 8 March.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30643376

[tulloch]

That is too bad. There is no doubt in my mind it is a great tradition. Letting kids grow up without it will make it more likely they won't have an appreciation for it in later years, I think. Hmmm. Terrible pity.

[imrichmond]

I read this article in The Scotsman. It strikes me as a gross exaggeration, especially the "shock" headline. The bagpipe is certainly not threatened with extinction. In reality, piping has never been so popular as it is today. There are more highland bagpipers today than there have been at any other time in history. To my knowledge, bagpiping has never been a significant part of the Scottish school system, except in a few private schools like Dollar Academy and George Watson's, among others. Yet Scotland has an abundance of youth-oriented pipe bands. For a child who wants to learn piping or pipe band drumming there is certainly no lack of opportunity. Most pipe bands, for example, have teaching programmes at little or no cost to the learner. This is not to say that it wouldn't be nice to have programmes in all the schools, but I doubt that Scottish taxpayers would be keen on paying the considerable cost.

[WillowEstate]

It does seem unreasonable not to support the national instrument in schools. Teaching the glockenspiel? Somewhat irrational, one might think.

If cost is a consideration, as the report implies, how about replacing the recorder with the chanter? At least it would provide an introduction to young people who might then decide to take up the pipes. How many continue with the recorder beyond primary school?

[mookien]

Pity. As I recently read. "If you outlaw bagpipes, only outlaws will have bagpipes."

[Stitchwiz]

Learning to play the bagpipes is an awesome skill! And it is a fabulous way to build school spirit as well as national pride.

Perhaps the parents should be questioning the local school boards. It had been proven that children who are exposed to music lessons excel in math and reading. Music also gives us joy. It is wonderful and so much easier to help children learn when they are engaged and enjoying the process. With music, they can't help but be involved, it is part of their DNA. Any music program will benefit the children for the rest of their lives. Being able to play an instrument that is a part of their heritage will help build that national pride. We need to build a feeling of self-worth in each child in order for that child to grow into a strong, mature adult. It is all part of the whole development of a child.

Music will provide more gifts to the children than any money can buy. Music is an investment into each child which is priceless.

School boards will cut many things (like music and phys. ed.) out of the curriculum in effort to save money. In hindsight, this is flabbergasting. This has already happened, and now everyone wonders why so many young people have weight issues - those young people never had any physical education, so how can society expect anything different!

We, the adults, the TAXPAYERS, have to tell our elected officials what we want - THEY ARE OUR voice and our EMPLOYEES, and if they aren't being our spokesperson, then we need to do something positive about it. I won't get into all the political stuff - but I will just say that it is a SHAME that it is always those least likely to complain (the children) who will suffer the most in the end. And sadly, ULTIMATELY, ALL OF SOCIETY will suffer because each of those children will become an adult and will eventually take our place.

Have we done the best we can, providing our children with the tools needed to make this world a better place ?

Just thought I'd ask the question...

[NZ Marty]

What a load of bollocks, there are few schools in NZ which have pipe/drum tutors and still there is little shortage of youngsters wishing to learn in their own time, just as we did last century. As long as there are bagpipes there will be youngsters wishing to learn and put in the effort

[jock gray]

My wife is currently a student teacher, and she has expressed her disappointment in that the Scottish school curriculum at present is not teaching Scottish history, literature, music or traditional dance.
We received tuition on Scottish dancing and culture back in the late 60's and early 70's at primary school level.....possibly due to it being a small village school, but it had a major impact and fostered a cultural awareness which is lacking in today's children.
Scotland IS in danger of losing its culture and awareness of its past.

[piperchris]

Also, a greater effort needs to be made to get adults interested in the pipes as well! Let's just not always focus on the kiddies! I have much respect for adult that takes up music later in life and succeeds despite the crushing burden of bills, families, house payments, etc., and must pay for his own music lessons than a kiddie who gets his lessons free and has all the time in the world to practice!

[Jock Scot]

Whilst I cannot fail to agree with what has been said in the posts above, I do have some sympathy for those struggling with dwindling budgets and rising costs in these stringent times. "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" has never been a popular tactic------------unless you happen to be "Paul"!