Johnstone and ScottishPower reach out to school kids
Instead of waiting for interested kids to come to them, the Grade 2 Johnstone Pipe Band of Johnstone, Scotland, is doing things a little differently by taking welcoming message to local youth and teaming with the Grade 1 ScottishPower Pipe Band in a concert and workshop in the middle of the town.
The workshop on Sunday, March 1st, is geared at local primary school kids not currently involved with pipe bands. The Johnstone organization’s aim is to stir interest in learning and ultimately joining Johnstone’s Novice Juvenile program.
The following week, the full ScottishPower band will get together with both Johnstone bands for a 7 pm concert on Saturday, March 7th at Johnstone Town Hall. Tickets are £10 and available from the National Piping Centre.
“The event is both a band fund raiser and an opportunity to listen to one of the world’s best band close-up, and to allow the audience a real treat before the competitive season,” said Johnstone Pipe-Major Keith Bowes.
ScottishPower has no official affiliation with the Johnstone Pipe Band.
….and anyone joining the Johnstone Pipe Band will be doing a great thing. When I turned up to start the RSPBA Elementary Course a few years ago, I was surprised to find the class consisted of me and about ten or twelve young members of Johnstone Pipe Band. They were studious, curteous, interested, great players who had been well taught, and they really made the most of the course and were a pleasure to learn with. Any parent who’s child ended up there, could rest assured they had gone to the right place. And with Scottish Power for support, what better?