The NQ Predicamentsmall 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”

Distance - it’s been solved before

National & State Representation

sports teams

orchestras

School of the Air

Flying Doctors

Internet

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

A problem:

lack of motivation

lack of opportunity

tyranny of distance

A solution: NQ Competition Bandmotivation

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

NQ ScotsNorth 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

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

What it is notan administrative or governing association

a replacement for local bands

for the faint hearted

for time wasters

a free ride

local bands - spin offputs 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

Who can join?3 distinct groups

People living in

NQ catchment

Anyone else in

similar predicament

Anyone else.

How many players do we need to kick off?

12 pipers

1 bass + 2 tenors

4 sides

What if too many numbers?

MembershipTo support administration costs - the same nominal fee applies to:

Supporter membership

Volunteer membership

Player membership

Who do we need?

Pipers

Drummers

Volunteers

Tutors

Administrators

A camera-ready president

Publicity Guru

Artist

Web Developer

Dogmatic Grants Officer

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*

Grants & Sponsorship

Remote organisation

Education and development of young people

Ethnic culture

Music & Arts

Country / Regional Area - Distance

Regional Representation - North Queensland

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)

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

Possible Calendar4 - 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

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.

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

What’s nextGo 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”?

A story worth tellinga 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!

Birth NoticesOn 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.