A Cultural Revival: The regeneration of Scotland's national instrument in East Ayrshire
EPIC is a community based music education and performance programme, designed to inspire and create champions in performance and life.

Key areas:
  • Group tuition and rehearsal workshops
  • SCQF accredited exams in music theory and performance
  • Performance and development opportunities with EPIC East Ayrshire Pipe Band Programme
  • The development of an EPIC pipe band
Every journey begins with a single step.

Here are the steps of our journey...



Advocacy and Access Programme
  • Interactive workshops in each of the local schools to introduce our young people to Scotland's National Instrument and sign up to join chanter and drum clubs


Chanter Club/Drum Club
  • Community clubs in school, after school, or out of school for fun group learning.
  • Sessions are 1 hour per week for 10 weeks (3 terms per year)
  • Books covered: Chanters for Children, The Drummer's Launch Pad, The First Flourish


Band Club
  • Book: Bagpipes for Beginners
  • Big Bagpipe Weekend - Transition to Bagpipes Intensive Course
  • Basic Band Skills Training Weekend (pre-entry to community band)
  • Drummers Repertoire Development


EPIC Community Band
  • Community pipe band - able to perform at community events
  • Weekly band clubs
  • September - December: SCQF Training and Certification (including intensive weekend courses)
  • January - April: Repertoire Development
  • May - August: Band Training and Events/Community Performances


EPIC Competition Pipe Band
(entry by successful audition and teacher recommendation)
  • RSPBA Registered Competing Pipe Band
  • Weekly band clubs
  • September - December: SCQF Training and Certification (including intensive weekend courses)
  • January - April: Competition Development and Rehearsal
  • May - August: Band Training and Competitions (schedule will be handed out in advance but competitions run from May through August and take place at weekends.  Band club will also keep running during this time.)


Kilmarnock Pipe Band
(entry by successful audition and teacher recommendation)
  • An adult pipe band currently in competition Grade 3A
  • Continued SCQF Training and Certification


The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland
  • Entry is by audition
  • Your teacher will encourage you to apply when they feel you are ready, but this can be very difficult to gain entry and often takes a few years of auditions before admission.
  • It is worth the hard work, and we encourage you to make this your dream goal and work hard to achieve it.
  • Pre-audition training course intensive weekend



Conflict of Interest Policy - Dual Registration
It is unfair on students, teachers and bands for a student to participate in more than one programme and thus it is considered a conflict of interest  for a student to do so.  
*This does not include the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, of which you should only apply if this does not jeopordise your commitment to EPIC.

We try to fund as much of our programme as possible through grant funding and fundraising, however it is necessary for us to charge a very small fee for participation in our programme.  For students who cannot afford this minimal fee we offer scholarships at the discretion of the trust - these are kept strictly confidential and you can re-apply each term if necessary.  
To apply simply download this form.