NQ Scots is currently working towards the NSW Championships in Sydney on the 7th of November.

The last weekend rehearsal was held in Ayr. This was a combination rehearsal with the members from the South East coming up. It was the first time many of us had played together, it was really a “proof of concept” weekend. Having never played with each other before, you really can learn the music and turn up every 4-6 weeks. Putting together a performance that many bands would struggle to do playing week in, week out. Freeing up much of your time for family and work commitments, two of the major driving factors into why people stop playing.

Owen and Wayne took their long trip from Rockhampton together, one a very devoted pibroch player and the other a very devoted non- pibroch player. Oh to be a fly on the wall with that drive. Wayne has a strict no pibroch policy in his car.

Gavin wins the most devoted player award this week with his bus trip from Rocky. Finishing work Friday afternoon he caught the bus and arrived in Ayr at 5:30 in the morning and playing a full day of pipes, well done Gavin.

We welcomed Mark Krahe from the South, arriving in Townsville he rang his pick up only to be told that the rehearsal was in fact in Cairns and what the hell was he doing in Townsville. Hee, hee, hee……. little joke, very funny, lucky he saw the funny side after using words in the phone I’m sure his mother wouldn’t approve of. As a wise sage said “ get’em first before they get you.”

They really are fantastic weekends and are looked forward to by us all. The next rehearsal is in Townsville on the 22nd of October at the Townsville Brass Hall.

Current workings are also being done for a development band. This will be an all ages band with the concept of developing musicians into the Big Step up. I would dearly have loved to have been involved in something like this when I was beginning to play all those years ago. So if your out there and your thinking I can’t do that, maybe it’s time to think again. Can I learn the music at home with all the tools to do so at my finger tips and can I take one weekend every 4-6 weeks with a big break over Christmas.

I’m sure that just like the rest of us you can.

*Bevan Donaldson
President*