Province leads the way on Teaching

I

n 1979 Ed McVeigh OBE as President, oversaw the tentative steps of the RSPBANI to establish a meaningful education programme, through

the formation of an Education Committee. In subsequent years the committee was to draw on Ed’s support many times as it strove to lay a good foundation for what eventually would become T e Branch School. He was always quick to remind any branch member who doubted the vision, saying ‘if you do not help the weak, there will be no strong’.

‘...project will have a growing impact on

juveniles playing pipes and drums...’

T at vision is alive and well today thanks to Ed and all who have contributed to the development of the school down through the years. An extract from a recent external assessor’s report for the Arts Council Northern Ireland recognises the vision and execution of the school’s work: ‘As a teaching /learning event, it is impressive and valuable that tuition is being done by high status players with

considerable band/ensemble experience and a consequent measure of confi dence. T is creates a calmness and uncontested learning environment combining artistic direction and targeting with

instructive rigour.’

T e School in 2014: T e Day School Project, considered by most observers to be a very signifi cant development, began in Cookstown Primary School in October 2012, quickly spreading to ten other schools by March 2013 and 18 in total by last September. Currently RSPBANI operates in both primary and secondary schools. T e uptake and the very positive response in these schools provides evidence of the demand for piping and drumming among school age children in the province.

T e success of the Day School Project in raising the profi le of piping, drumming and related activities within the formal education structure brings with it a new challenge: securing adequate funding to guarantee the future. A case regarding essential funding for the Day School Project, is being prepared for presentation to the Department of Education and the Department of Culture and Leisure. Furthermore, to succeed in achieving a prime objective of developing a youth programme worthy of its name the RSPBANI School will need the active support of the membership and

By Winston Pollock

32 APRIL 2014 Pipe Band Magazine