Councillors Alex Rowley and Willie Clarke put a motion to the Cowdenbeath Area Committee two years ago to agree to put money into a pilot project that would see tuition for Piping being put into local primary schools served by Beath High School . The committee have now been told that the project has proved to be a massive success with many young people learning to play the pipes and go on to play in Pipe Bands with a large number of young people playing in Kelty and Blairadam Pipe Band. The Area Committee has now agreed a further £20,954 towards the project.
Many youngsters who began to learn the pipes have now gone on to Beath High School and the plan is to establish a school Pipe Band. The committee heard that currently there are 31 pupils at Cowdenbeath Primary, 47 Pupils at Crossagates, 32 at Foulford, 10 at Hill of Beath, 20 at Lumphinnans and 30 at Kelty Primary school all learning to play the Pipes and receiving tuition.
Fife Council leader Alex Rowley said; “Receiving such tuition supports pupils develop their skills in reading and interpretation of music as part of a broad curriculum, improves their confidence and helps them develop their general confidence in learning. This project is a big success and we are now working to secure a long term funding package for the continuation of this provision within Beath and its feeder primary schools”.
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Picture shows Cllrs Rowley and Clarke, Piping Tutor Andrew Keetings with children at Kelty Primary School
