Coalburn IOR Pipe Band: securing the future through new drums

Based in the village of Coalburn and operating from their own building, Victoria Hall, the band had grown to approximately 67 members comprising both pipers and drummers. The band practices and participates in both domestic and international competitions, as well as performing at local events including gala days and highland games.

The Band’s Challenge 
After 15 years of constant heavy usage, the band's drums had reached the end of their serviceable life.  The non-consumable component parts were breaking down, with many drums requiring temporary repairs and patches. Several drums had become almost unusable, and the cases and carriers were no longer fit for purpose. 

The band had experienced significant growth, expanding from around 50 members (two years previously) to 67 at the time of application, with more anticipated. A particularly successful autumn recruitment period had brought in a cohort of eager new learners, placing additional strain on the already deteriorating equipment and accelerating the need for replacement. As is typical for pipe bands, the organisation owned the drums rather than expecting members to purchase these expensive and difficult-to-store items, which could cost between £700 and £1,200 per drum including cases.

The Solution
The band identified during their annual equipment review that they needed to order new drums to ensure they had playable instruments for the Grade 2 band to continue performing and competing at the highest level. They developed a plan to purchase new drums for the main band whilst repurposing the best of the older drums for a newly formed development band, where usage would be minimal over the initial two years. The band applied for £24,523 to purchase 25 drums comprising 14 snare drums, six tenor drums of varying sizes, two bass drums of different sizes, and two small half-size snare drums, along with cases and harnesses for suitable usage and storage, and 15 drum practice pads to support tuition. 

The Impact
The new drums, cases and practice pads have transformed the teaching and performances of the band, making them more professional and proficient. The Leading Drummer found that morale within the drum corps has been bolstered and that lessons and practice sessions have become much more focused thanks to the new equipment. The acquisition of new instruments allowed more people from the area the opportunity to come along and learn, with the development band benefitting significantly from this increased capacity. The band attracted a number of new learners, and the additional instruments meant they could accommodate this growth effectively.

An unexpected but welcome outcome was the improvement in team dynamics. Many more of the band's experienced musicians became actively involved in assisting and encouraging the learners to progress, creating a more collaborative and supportive environment across the organisation.

The new equipment has provided the future-proofing the band needs, with the expectation that the drums would serve them well for the next 15 years. This has meant that approximately 25 to 30 individuals in the band's drummer cohort directly benefited from having high-quality instruments with such longevity, whilst thousands more enjoyed the improved drumming during performances at local events. As one band representative noted, "Without the help from the Fund, Coalburn IOR Pipe Band would not be able to perform and compete at their current levels and would certainly have found it impossible to raise sufficient funding elsewhere to achieve their goals."

Conclusion 
The grant has not only preserved an important cultural asset for the local community, but it has also helped safeguard the band's future by enabling them to develop the next generation of musicians.  Filling a player attainment gap within their geographical area and ensuring that this historic institution could continue to be a source of pride for both members and the wider community of Coalburn, Lesmahagow and surrounding villages.

Read more about the Orit Cumberhead Community Fund