Ulster Scots Fife & Lambeg Drum Class

The Ulster Scots Agency asked me to assist in a pilot Fife & Lambeg Drum Class at the Boys' Model School in Belfast back in January 2008. The pilot lasted 16 weeks and proved a great success.

During the early few weeks of the project I was assisted by Denis Morrow and George Holmes. There is no history of either the fife or lambeg drum in the school, so it was a new and challenging project. With the support of Mrs Sharon Baird - Head of Music, I firstly gave a workshop to 52 pupils on the history of the fife & lambeg drum tradition in Ulster and from those who attended, I set up the classes 3 x classes in drumming and 1 x class fife - 38 students participated.

Over the next weeks the pupils really enjoyed the new classes and many showed great promise - some were time wasters who were sent back to class as expected but the majority stayed and embraced the tradition.

The class was so successful that by the 'New Term' in September 2008, the school wanted the classes to continue the Agency also incorporated into the project along with the tuition 3 x educational trips - visit to Lambeg Drum maker, drum painter and fife maker. The school with the help from the Agency also purchased their own lambeg drum that was later painted.

The picture above shows the Minister for DECAL Gregory Campbell, Mr David Cargo, Belfast Education & Library Board, Belfast Councillor Jim Rodgers with myself and some of the students from the classes. As you can see the drum finished well and was very well played at its unveiling by the Boys'.

The classes are still going well with in the school - it has brought many benefits for the school, attendance is up on a Monday - increased interest in the Music Dept. over demand in the lambeg & fife classes and of course a keen interest in the Ulster Scots Tradition with in the school.

This class has been a great success - a new initiative taken with apprehension but those who took the initial decision had great vision & trust - and very much with a 'leap of faith' by the Ulster Scots Agency and of course the Boys' Model School. It has worked out well and I still hold classes on Monday's at the school.

Other schools have shown a great interest in this project - Glengormley High School, Rathfriland High School and now Castlederg High & Movilla High Schools have taken the plunge and are keep to take traditional Fife & Drum classes during school hours.

As their tutor it has been a very challenging but rewarding experience being involved in the Ulster Scots Tutor Programme - I never saw myself as a musician or even a music tutor, nevertheless we all have some hidden talent somewhere - even me!

HMA.