Pupils told to pipe up in the class

Bagpipe lessons are being introduced to the Capital's state schools for the first time under a 300,000 scheme.

Instead of the recorder, piano and flute, children at Edinburgh primaries and secondaries will be offered the chance of lessons with two bagpipe teachers.

The idea is part of a three-year plan to increase the opportunities open to children to learn instruments at school.

Piping has long been on the curriculum at some of the city's fee-paying schools, but it would be the first time a piping teacher had been hired to cater specifically for the Capital's state schools.

Amy Geddes, chairwoman of Alp Scots Music Group, a traditional music group in the city, said the move was great news.

She said: "I think it's brilliant for children to get educated about the bagpipes and how they are played. They are often seen as just part of the military tradition, but it is good for children to see that they have a place in the overall Scottish music tradition outwith the military and marching bands."

The council said it had considered introducing piping lessons as part of a broader music project in March 2004, but the plan was put on hold until enough money could be found to pay for the plan.

Money has been earmarked from the Scottish Arts Council Youth Music Initiative, which is supporting the plan, and two teachers will be employed to work between a number of city schools.

So far 300,000 has been found for the first two years of the Youth Music Initiative and the council has said it expects to hear back soon on a bid for year-three funding it has submitted to the Scottish Arts Council.

Last year, the council introduced Saturday morning music classes for primary pupils in recorder, violin and viola which it says have proved to be very popular.

A Voice Academy to teach singing has also been set up and operates in nine centres after school.

A council spokesperson said: "The report that went to the Executive in March 2004 highlighted a number of areas we were considering, including bagpipe tuition.

"Through the Youth Music Initiative, our aim is to make music more accessible to children.

"Over the next few months we will be expanding our musical opportunities and bagpipe tuition is just one of a number of new developments we will be launching."

Liberal Democrat education spokesman Councillor Jim Lowrie commended the council initiative and predicted the scheme would capture the imagination of many pupils.

He said: "It's a world renowned instrument.

"We have relied a lot until now on Scouts and voluntary organisations and it's good that the council are putting money into it."

The councillor said that there would be no shortage of skilled bagpipers eager to give instruction to school children and added that as the Scottish national instrument, the bagpipes should prove popular with pupils.

"This may resurrect pipe bands which have had problems recruiting in schools in the past," he said.