The Scottish Brass Band Association has reported that funding for its Youth Development Project has been renewed for 2008.

Provided by the Scottish Arts Council under the Youth Music Initiative, the grant enables SBBA to employ a full-time Development Officer and to fund promotional work by bands in schools, as well as workshops and masterclasses for young players.

The 2007 programme saw the number of youth bands (most of them junior bands of SBBA members) almost doubling. This was achieved by the work of Alan Edmond, the Youth Development Officer, coupled with 40 events in schools involving some 3,500 young people.

"The response has been fantastic. It's been due to the superb cooperation we have received from the Heads of Instrumental Teaching Scotland, who are almost unanimously supportive of young players joining their local brass bandAlan Edmond

Fantastic response

"The response has been fantastic” said Alan. "It's been due to the superb cooperation we have received from the Heads of Instrumental Teaching Scotland, who are almost unanimously supportive of young players joining their local brass band."

Growing activities

This year’s programme will see the youth development activities grow, with more localised activities being delivered via SBBA’s five Area Associations, an increasing emphasis on retaining young players in bands, and on creating new brass bands in areas where there are currently none.