Dumbarton & District

Novice Juvenile Pipeband

     Dumbarton and District Pipe Band was formed in 1969 and has had to date three previous Novice bands who became the "Champion of Champions," the highest award in their grade. In 2000 our Novice Band was the overall Novice Grade World Champions and also that year won the World Drumming and Marching and Discipline titles.

     In 2005, an entirely new young band, with an average age of 13 years old, won the World Marching and Discipline title. In 2006 they retained the World Championship in M/D, and they also placed 5th at the Cowal Championships.

     The Drum Majors were successful at every major championship. This was the result of hard teamwork from our great group of dedicated, skilled tutors and our enthusiastic young people.

     Our aim is to preserve, maintain and further the musical talents of our traditional Scottish culture. It is also to give equal opportunities to all children, aged 7 to 17 years, to learn bagpipes, drums or drum majoring.

     We presently have over forty beginners at various stages, with ten pipers moving up to join our current Novice band of approximately nineteen players this session.The band provides all uniforms to our  growing number of children. (Members provide only shirt, socks and shoes.) This enables and equates all children to participate, no matter their home circumstances.

     Each year our Band runs a Juvenile (under 18 s) Piping Competition, a Snare and Tenor Drumming Competition and an Adult and Juvenile Drum Majors Seminar. These events have attracted hundreds of young people to our area from as far as America, Ireland and many parts of Scotland.

     Our Novice Band members come from many parts of West Dunbartonshire and surrounding areas. We are happy to be involved in the community, participating in local Festivals, Bonfire night parades, Armistice Services etc.

     We meet twice a week on a Monday and Thursday at 7.30pm in our Band Hall, Station Street, Renton. This was previously a disused Education building which we took over five years ago and have renovated it with the help of volunteers from within our group. It has now been transformed into a warm suite of rooms and hall, suitable for small and large groups.

     We now are a registered charity and have come a long way in our strive to make a suitable venue to train and educate local young people in the traditional music of our country.

     Any young people who would like to join us need no musical experience, just some enthusiasm, should come along to one of our practise nights and speak to one of our tutors or contact us using the website.