Fife Constabulary to start Novice Juvenile band

If all goes to plan, the Grade 1 Fife Constabulary Pipe Band will have a Novice Juvenile band competing in either 2009 or 2010. The new band, like the parent organization, will be based in the Kirkaldy, Scotland, area and will be managed by members of the Grade 1 group.

 

“Our aim is to teach kids to the highest standards in both piping and drumming to enable them to play at the highest levels wherever they decide to play in future years,” said Fife Constabulary Pipe-Sergeant Andrew Mathieson. “There are players from Fife playing in bands all over the world and that is a testament to how they have been taught in the Fife area. We hope to keep up this standard of teaching and produce players for both Fife Constabulary and the local bands in the surrounding areas.”

 

The Grade 1 Fife Constabulary Pipe Band is not yet a year old, established just after the 2007 season by Pipe-Major James Murray and Mathieson, both of whom played previously with House of Edgar-Shotts & Dykehead. The Novice Juvenile band will also be run by Murray and Mathieson, as well as Lead-Drummer Lee Inness.

In its first year, the Grade 1 band finished twelfth in the Final at the 2008 World Pipe Band Championships.

 

“This initiative will not only help maintain and hopefully improve the standard of tuition in the Fife area, but will provide another activity for the local youngsters to get involved in,” said Band Manager Ken Chatham.

 

In July the former World Champion Dysart & Dundonald Pipe Band, which has not competed so far in 2008, announced a rebuilding program after several of its members joined Fife Constabulary.

 

The name of the Fife Constabulary Novice Juvenile has not yet been determined, and practice facilities will be announced soon, according to Chatham.