Fife Musical Instrument Library

Wed, Nov 30th 2022 at 12:50 pm - 2:00 pm

On 30th November, Renowned trumpeter, John Wallace CBE, told us of Music Education and the importance of the Fife Instrument Library.

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The speaker was the renowned musician, John Wallace, whose contribution to music has been immeasurable over many years - a principal trumpeter with many of the world’s leading orchestras, Principal of The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, composer, and an irrepressible and determined promoter of music throughout Scotland. Born in Fife and educated at Buckhaven High School and Kings College, Cambridge, he was awarded the CBE for services to dance,drama and music in 2011 and the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2021. He began by highlighting a new initiative, the St Andrews Music Participation (StAMP), a partnership involving the University of St Andrews Laidlaw Music Centre, Fife Music Service, Fife Brass Bands and The Wallace Collection.This partnership draws on the rich heritage of brass band playing in the former industrial heartlands of Fife and aims to stimulate music in these communities and to reinvigorate brass bands there.The instruments that have been given to children throughout Fife have created a huge demand to learn to play brass band music with classes of 7&8year olds full to overflowing with young pupils of all abilities joining in. John Wallace, self evidently a workaholic, has been determined to promote music, especially among the young and less privileged, for most of his life. It was clear from his talk just how frustrating the bureaucracy in modern Scottish life can be to those seeking to bring about even quite uncontroversial change. John highlighted the extensive bureaucracy that continues to pervade all aspects of decision-making in Scottish education, be it the Scottish Education Department, the local authorities or the many other regulatory bodies. He urged that teachers should be ’set free’ to get on with their teaching and that bureaucrats should allow people with ideas to ’just do it’. That said, he was keen that the bad things should not obscure the good things that were happening, including the recent creation of the new Musical Instrument Library based in Lochgelly. This new facility will provide a wide selection of instruments on loan to children who otherwise would not have been able to learn a musical instrument. John Wallace is clearly a remarkable man with limitless energy and enthusiasm, a bright beacon in what can be a very dull world. His talk was very much appreciated by the Club members and Ann Baird, herself a considerable musician, gave a very apposite vote of thanks.

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