This document outlines the proposal to form the North Queensland Scottish Pipe Band (NQ Scots) to address issues with small numbers, low membership, and lack of structured learning and competition for pipe bands in North Queensland. It proposes that NQ Scots would be a competition band to provide opportunities for musical development, competition experience, and pride in representing the region. The band would be open to pipers and drummers from North Queensland and elsewhere who face similar challenges. It outlines goals, membership structure, proposed activities and calendar, funding, and next steps to get the band started.

1. The NQ Predicament
small number of bands
low band membership
general competency level low
age group profile has gaping holes in it
no competition circuit
little or no structured learning
low exposure to higher standards
local bands have mixed purposes - and rightly so
the “Tyranny of Distance”

2. Distance - it’s been
solved before
National & State Representation
sports teams
orchestras
School of the Air
Flying Doctors
Internet

3. Let’s do some workshops -
maybe not
Tutors wrongly motivated or unqualified
Poor attendance
50% attendees unmotivated or bored
Other 50% inspired for a day
No reinforcement by repetition
Use it or lose it

4. A problem:
lack of
motivation
lack of
opportunity
tyranny of
distance

5. A solution: NQ Competition Band
motivation
competition + like-minded people
= breeds improvement
opportunity
a repetitive calendar of events
distance
structured learning, technology
and local workgroups
fun
people want to keep doing things
when they’re having a good time

6. NQ Scots
North Queensland Scottish Pipe Band
commonly known as “NQ Scots Pipe Band”
to be incorporated as North Queensland
Scottish Pipe Band Inc.
currently has 1 member

7. What it is
(goals and aims?)
a competition band - to compete and win
a structured learning platform - for the
development of piping and drumming in NQ
an opportunity - to play and learn to play great
music with others
something to be proud of

8. What it is not
an administrative or governing association
a replacement for local bands
for the faint hearted
for time wasters
a free ride

9. local bands - spin off
puts a “competitive safety net” around the
band
supports the notion of community bands
training tips filter through for “free”
standards raised slowly and conservatively
the habit of teaching others spreads
more new members - growth

10. Who can join?
3 distinct groups
People living in
NQ catchment
Anyone else in
similar predicament
Anyone else.

11. How many players do
we need to kick off?
12 pipers
1 bass + 2 tenors
4 sides
What if too many numbers?

12. Membership
To support administration costs - the same
nominal fee applies to:
Supporter membership
Volunteer membership
Player membership

13. Who do we need?
Pipers A camera-ready president
Drummers Publicity Guru
Volunteers Artist
Tutors Web Developer
Administrators Dogmatic Grants Officer

14. Funding Principles
(the flawed World War Two pipe band model)
Pay as you go - pay for what you use
BYO (uniform) - another Australian invention
kilts - at reduced cost
minimal uniform (readily available items)
Basic membership
administration & insurance
Local, State & Corporate Grants
travel & accomodation
reeds, chanters & drums* consumables
Annual concert*

15. Grants &
Sponsorship
Remote organisation
Education and development of young people
Ethnic culture
Music & Arts
Country / Regional Area - Distance
Regional Representation - North Queensland

16. Don’t forget the
music Part A.
Always the shortest repertoire necessary to
fulfill the bands goals
At the outset:
Grade 4 Competition Set (main event)
3 short Marches (getting from A to B)
Performance Set (showing off)

17. Don’t forget the
music Part B.
Two Competition Sets
2 x competition medleys, 2 x MSR
Concert Repertoire
CD Repertoire
And a *ell of a lot of fun doing all of above

18. Possible Calendar
4 - 6 annual weekend workshops/meetings/camps
(in future - piggy backed onto public events?)
2 - 3 comps per year (examples)
state, national, NZ or
Maclean, Melbourne, Worlds (?)
local level workgroups
A. tutored B. self-tutored
internet practice portal & online community
learning & practice resources

19. A kind of roadmap
for first 12 months
Start a band (done)
Form “Kickstart” group (underway)
Membership drive (underway)
Set up Learning Support System (underway)
Uniforms, Chanters, Reeds & Drums
1 Competition in Grade 4.

20. Registration issues?
Most NQ bands not registered for competition,
and few if any compete. Most that do, compete
in unregulated competitions such as Ayr
Re-register with NQ band for competition only
Change registration to competition band but
play with local and NQ band
Ask relevant association to amend rules to ease
our special circumstances

21. What’s next
Go online find out more: www.nqscots.com
Tell other people
Join in any capacity and/or encourage
someone else to join
Did I say “tell other people”?

22. A story worth telling
a cafe owner from Port Douglas
a stockman from outback Queensland
a diving instructor from Airlie Beach
a nurse from Townsville
a sugar mill worker from Sarina
all driving a combined 5000km through the
red dust of the outback wearing ladies skirts
(kilts) and making one hell of a racket!

23. Birth Notices
On Saturday, 23 May 2009 in Ayr, North Queensland,
Australia, a group of enthusiastic musicians decided they’d
had enough of watching their beloved hobby fade slowly
away due to lack of numbers and the tyranny of distance.
They decided there and then to get off their butts and do
something about it: to pool their resources; form a
competition band committed to the highest musical
standards; and draw their members from an area just under
one million square kilometres in size. And in so doing they
inadvertently wrote the first chapter in a little piece of
Australian pipe band history: the birth of the NQ Scots Pipe
Band.