Promising Piper Pattison

 

Welcome back to Glasgow Street Music! 

This week’s post is on something a little different…

Introducing 15 year old Andrew Pattison from Troon!



A keen bagpiper and South Ayrshire’s Young Musician of the Year 2018, Andrew’s been busking for around three years. From seeing the positive reception that busking bagpipers received from tourists and locals alike, Andrew decided to try his hand at piping on Buchanan Street after some encouragement from his grandpa. The sight of Andrew piping quickly gathered the crowds; a 12 year old boy playing a national symbol of Scotland itself was a depiction of our country’s rich culture and his own talents combined.


Here's a younger Andrew gathering the crowds


Bagpipes are no easy instrument to learn, and Andrew puts in every effort to master his performance through his involvement in the award-winning 1st Troon Boys Brigade pipe band and by studying Higher Music at school (a year early might I add!) On top of this, Andrew earned a spot at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland junior school, where he learns a combination of music theory, group performing, choir and piping lessons.

Before lockdown, Andrew would perform on Glasgow’s streets most weekends, sometimes travelling to Edinburgh to play (he was a fond favourite of foreign tourists visiting the capital). However, Andrew has only been to busk in Glasgow a handful of times following the ease of Covid-19 restrictions and has seen an alarming difference in the city. With significantly less people venturing out into the city and the slow emergence of a cashless society to reduce the spread of the virus, Andrew has found a huge reduction in tips. Another impact that Andrew has faced in light of the pandemic is that weddings he was booked to play have been postponed, creating an air of uncertainty as to when he can go back to piping in different weddings and venues.

You can watch Andrew piping at Troon town hall here

Covid-19 has also affected his music studies in school, where he is unable to play any blowing instruments. This is disheartening and makes it more difficult for Andrew and his peers to practice for their end of year music performance exam which determines their final grade.

Despite the setbacks that these testing times have presented for Andrew and many musicians like him, he remains positive and is taking this time to focus on his studies with the hope of enrolling in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Bagpiping degree programme. A young, motivated and insanely talented musician – I have no doubt that he’ll achieve his goal of making his passion for the pipes into a career.

You can check out Andrew’s Facebook Page here!

Thanks for reading,

C x

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