FAQs

You can apply if you:

Are aged 10–25 on 1 January 2025

Live in Scotland, or were born or study here

Play bagpipes, snare drum, tenor drum, or bass drum

We welcome musicians from all backgrounds and playing levels—from beginners in local school bands to experienced competitors.

Fill in an online application form

Submit a short audition video

You then might be invited to Attend an audition workshop

It’s free to apply and we’ll guide you through every step.

No. We look at potential, attitude, and enthusiasm, not just grades or band affiliations. Our ensembles are designed to suit different levels, and we’ll place you where you can grow.

Our rehearsals take place at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow, but we encourage talented musicians from all across Scotland to join us. We understand that travel expenses and logistics can be obstacles, which is why we are happy to explore ways to assist you. Additionally, we can connect you with resources such as the Agar Trust, which specialises in helping young people from rural areas travel for activities like ours.

Around 2 weeks after the auditions, the panel will have confirmed the final results of the application process. The panel will write to offer successful applicants their places for this year’s programme. Applicants will have 2 weeks to accept their places.

Your video should show you playing a short programme of varied repertoire or something that reflects your current level. We are particularly keen on hearing you play Strathspeys and Jigs.

It doesn’t need to be perfect, just clear, confident, and honest. We want to get to know you as a player.

If you’re invited to a workshop, you’ll:

Join a short workshop with other players, meeting new people and take part in making music in a group setting.

Talk with tutors and panel members about your playing and musical interests. You will probably be asked to play a few tunes for the panel on your instrument too.

It’s friendly, collaborative, and designed to help us understand your strengths, not to catch you out.

his is the first year NYPBS is introducing participation fees, to help keep the programme financially sustainable, as we move from free-to-all to Fair-for-all.
But thanks to funding from Creative Scotland, every place is subsidised, and our tiered fees system ensures cost is never a barrier.

We offer:

Free places for those on low incomes or in care.

Bursaries based on household income (up to 80%).

Travel support and instrument loans where needed.

See full details on our access page.

This is a national programme and in order to perform at the highest possible standard, we need to recruit the best players available each year. To keep your place in the band, you need to work at maintaining and improving your musicianship and band craft skills. We also feel it’s beneficial to everyone involved to have the annual check-in and reflection that an audition can provide, and make sure they’re still in the correct place within our programme. Finally, we want to make sure that everyone has equal access to this national programme, and have a fair shot every year.

Please find current programme dates here.

Commitment for NYPBS is focused mainly through the Autumn (late Sep) through to performances in February. We hold around 8 rehearsal days for each band (on weekends) spread across the months leading to a performance/tour in early February.

We also have additional outreach opportunities which NYPBS members are involved in delivering. These typically last around 3-6 days throughout the country.

We run a minimal and varying amount of activity in the summer to allow our members to fully contribute to their local pipe band commitments during the season.

We expect band members to be available for all the course dates, however if you do have any problems with the dates then please get in touch with us straight away: nypb@thepipingcentre.co.uk to discuss this.

The usual commitment for NYPBS will involve a minimal amount of activity in the summer, perhaps around 6 days from each person, to allow them to compete in local bands. During autumn and winter, we hold around 8 rehearsal days (on weekends) spread across the months leading to a performance/tour in early February. We also have additional outreach opportunities which NYPBS members are involved in delivering, these typically last around 3-6 days throughout the country.

If you are having trouble uploading your video at the end of the application process you can to upload it to WeTransfer or as an unlisted YouTube video and send to nypb@thepipingcentre.co.uk.

There is no requirement for Highland wear / kilts. Just wear something comfortable which you would normally wear to a workshop or rehearsal.

We want NYPBS to be welcoming and accessible to everyone. If you have specific access needs, financial concerns, or anything else you want to talk through, just get in touch. We’ll work with you to make it happen.

Email us any time at nypbs@thepipingcentre.co.uk