The East Lothian Pipes and Drums Trust (ELPDT) was founded in 2007 to advance education, arts, musical heritage and community by re‑establishing East Lothian as a centre of excellence for piping and drumming through offering free tuition to as many young people as possible. The Trust emerged in response to the decline of the county’s once‑strong piping tradition, historically rooted in its mining communities, where many towns supported well‑known pipe bands.

The Trust expanded its impact in 2012 by appointing a full‑time Pipe Major and Drum Major to develop a competing school pipe band, and successfully lobbied East Lothian Council to introduce piping tuition within the instrumental instruction service.

A landmark moment for youth piping and drumming in Scotland. The first Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships took place in March 2014 at Broughton High School in Edinburgh. 

This inaugural event was designed specifically to encourage participation, celebrate young musicians, and strengthen Scotland’s traditional music heritage for state schools.

Founded to address the shortage of young instructors and to create sustainable pathways into the traditional music sector.

The Apprenticeship Programme is designed to support young pipers and drummers as they take their first steps into teaching, youth work, and community music leadership.

East Lothian Pipes and Drums Trust (ELPDT) expanded its remit from a local charity to a national organisation.

As demand for similar support grew across Scotland, the Trustees recognised that the educational, cultural, and community benefits of piping and drumming extended far beyond East Lothian. This led to the decision to broaden the charity’s scope and establish SSPDT as a national body dedicated to advancing piping and drumming tuition in Scotland’s state schools. SSPDT now works across the country to widen access, strengthen school programmes, and support Scotland’s traditional music heritage.

A milestone in building a national community of piping and drumming educators. SSPDT held its first Tutor Development Forum in 2016, marking an important step in supporting and professionalising the growing network of piping and drumming tutors working in Scotland’s schools. As SSPDT expanded nationally, more tutors were delivering school‑based programmes, often in isolation across different local authorities. The Forum was created to bring these tutors together for the first time, offering a shared space for training, collaboration, and sector development.

The inaugural event focused on strengthening the quality and consistency of tuition across Scotland. Tutors took part in sessions on teaching approaches, classroom management, working with beginners, programme structure, and supporting school bands, alongside discussions about the challenges and opportunities of delivering piping and drumming in state schools. The Forum also provided a platform for tutors to share experiences, build connections, and contribute to shaping SSPDT’s developing national support model.

The SSPDT Bagpipe Loan Scheme exists to remove one of the biggest barriers young people face when learning the pipes: the cost of a full set of bagpipes. By providing instruments free of charge, SSPDT ensures that pupils in Scotland’s state schools can progress from practice chanter to pipes without financial pressure on families or schools.

The scheme was introduced to support SSPDT’s mission to widen access, strengthen school programmes, and sustain Scotland’s living heritage by making sure that cost is never the reason a young person cannot continue learning.

As more schools begin to deliver piping & drumming, demand for performance opportunities grows, particularly for non competitive experiences. 

SSPDT’s MusicFest is a celebratory schools event created to showcase the breadth of musical talent emerging from piping and drumming programmes across Scotland. Designed as an inclusive, low‑pressure performance platform, MusicFest brings together pupils from different schools to share music, build confidence, and experience the joy of performing as part of a wider community. Unlike competitive events, MusicFest focuses on participation, creativity, and collaboration, giving young people the chance to perform in mixed‑school ensembles, try new musical styles, and connect with peers from across the country.

SSPDT developed a new long‑term strategy and refreshed its brand to ensure the charity is equipped to meet the needs of Scotland’s young people, schools, and communities over the next decade.

After more than ten years of national growth, the organisation has reached a natural inflection point: programmes have expanded, partnerships have deepened, and the landscape of music education has changed significantly. The new strategy provides a clear, future‑focused framework that strengthens SSPDT’s identity, clarifies its purpose, and sets out a coherent direction for sustainable national impact.