More than 650 Edinburgh pupils follow the tradition as part of new initiative

When it comes to getting the kids to follow there’s nothing to beat the pipes – the bagpipes that is.

So in typical pied piper fashion, the boys AND girls of Edinburgh are following a great tradition in Scottish music.

These boys and girls are part of a new initiative to turn school kids into pipers. And it has been such a success that more than 650 pupils are now taking part.

The success of the new initiative to teach the bagpipes to pupils in Edinburgh’s schools has blown us away.

Bagpipe tutors David Barnes and Stuart Cassells joined the Children and Families Department and expected to work with around 300 primary pupils.

But demand has been so high they are now teaching 650 pupils chanter as the first step on the way to learning to play the bagpipes.

The bagpipe lessons have been funded through the Scottish Arts Council’s Youth Music Initiative and plans are also in progress to create an Edinburgh Schools Pipe Band to give young pipers in the city further opportunities to perform.

Lessons will also be developed in some neighbourhood centres to provide for pupils whose schools cannot accommodate classes.

With Stuart and David’s experience and the pupils’ enthusiasm we can look forward to a new generation of pipers coming through in years to come.