A new drive is being launched to help schools achieve better results for their pupils through traditional music.
The Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust already teach over 2000 youngsters each week in school programmes across Scotland.
The new drive is to target musical help for youngsters at schools facing some of the toughest economic challenges in the country.
Charity Chief Executive Lindsay Mackenzie said their work so far shows how school pipe bands help players do better in the classroom and head on to positive destinations after school: She said: “Over the past ten years we have seen great evidence of how pipe bands in schools really make a difference.
“Being part of a band teaches young people so much in terms of commitment, discipline, teamwork and there is the cultural side of it too.”
The SSPDT is now targeting schools facing challenges of remoteness or deprivation to help give pupils a boost.
The charity has over 500 sets of pipes out on free loan as well, realising that many of the pupils they are trying to help would struggle to afford instruments costing up to £900.
Lindsay Mackenzie said they are open to approaches from schools or parent groups wanting to start a band and are able to offer funding and more importantly expertise to get the project up and running effectively.
“We have had some great successes working with school groups the length of Scotland and many have gone on to form competiting school bands with more on the same pathway coming along behind.
“Our flagship project at Preston Lodge High School in East Lothian held on to their title as the best state school pipe band in the world at the World Championships in Glasgow last month.
“Entries will be opening soon for the competition we run, the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, and many of the over 100 bands performing there come from projects started working with the SSPDT.”
