Contest Results and Review

MEMBERSHIP

 
Like all bands Black Skull requires members to function, without them we wouldn’t exist. The band is always keen to take in new members both young and old to preserve, augment and promote our British culture and traditions for the present and the future.
To be a member you don’t have to be able to play a flute,drum or instrument, just have the desire and the commitment to learn how to do so.

Teaching
We will teach new members to play an instrument and understand written music, even if they are an absolute beginner.
All that we ask in return is a 100% commitment to the bands targets and aims.

Trial Period
When a new member joins the band they are given a six week grace period before becoming a full member of the band. This is to see if they like the band's set- up etc, and is a safeguard for the new member and band, as it gives the new member the opportunity after six weeks to say if they want to stay or move on without having committed themself to a band association contract. The band provides all instruments, tuition and members will be tutored in the bands own practice hall on designated practice nights.

Finances & Fundraising
On the financial front, the band is self supporting we don’t receive any grants or monies from anyone, we have to work for it. There is no joining or subscription fee to get in the band, all members however are required to pay dues on a weekly basis or a monthly basis. The band provides all musical instruments, music, tuition, uniforms, etc, to all its members at no cost to the individual. To be able to do this the band has to raise funds throughout the year, by holding dances, running prize draws, selling merchandise and so on. The band has to work hard to raise funds to pay for the travelling it does along with the hotels and meals, uniforms, etc. and also to pay for all the accoutrements the band needs for the year. So all members are required to fundraise to allow the band to function and progress.
The band subsidises all members up to the age of 16 in order to ease the financial burden on the family purse strings and after all, it’s the young ones who are our future.
So if you have the desire to play in a band and you think you have the commitment to do so, then send us an e-mail after all there are a lot worse things you or you kids could get involved in than playing in a band and help keep your culture and traditions alive.

Why do we want to keep these traditions alive?

Ce qui du Fifre? Ce qui du le tambour?
What of the fife? A short biographical synopsis of the rasion d`etre for the Black Skull corps of fife and drum Glasgow:
Corp of drum bands exist in many areas of the world, including places as diverse as England, France, Belgium, Sweden, Holland, Ireland (both north and south)and especially in Ulster. Many are in the style and manner of the United States and Canadian drum corps, which are large in number and widely spread across the North American continent.
The drum corps of the American and Canadian societies exists in a very similar manner to our own Fife/ Flute bands here in Scotland.
They both, through colourful parades and re-enactment musters, celebrate through music and drill, proud traditions and heritage of their respectful countries. These celebrations are at opposite ends of the historical spectrum. The American Corps celebrating their victory over the British and the Canadians their Loyalty to the British Crown during this period in history.

What do we celebrate?
The Black Skull corps of Fife and Drums was born in the south side of Glasgow in October 1980, for very similar reasons. To covet, celebrate and preserve our proud British historical traditions and heritage. Rather than an American victory over the British on the 4th July 1776, we celebrate and remember victories in years gone past, won so dearly by our forefathers of all persuasions, at places such as Londonderry, The Boyne and The Somme which still, to this day, bring us freedoms, opportunities and a lifestyle some blindly take for granted.

Why do we March?
The members in our band cannot see the difference between our American cousins celebrating their proud legacy and us celebrating ours.
We are perplexed as to why in one country, the patriotic youth can be held in such high regard and esteem in their homeland for their patriotism and yet we are derided and demonised in our own homeland by some of our compatriots as “Scotland’s shame!” We do not view American corps of drum bands as anti British bigots, or primal for celebrating their history with such panache! “Ah” we hear you say, “But you play sectarian tunes”!
Not so in our eyes, we play patriotic British tunes, and the repertoire in most cases is very similar. Also, we fail to see why tunes composed to honour brave lads like the 13 Apprentice Boys of Derry are demonised as being objectionable and irksome, but tunes such as the Flower of Scotland are saluted and sanctified. Are they not of the same jingo and style?

Our origins
Many years ago The Black Skull band, like many in Glasgow at the time, started in humble circumstances (just two instruments both in a poor state of repair), with just two competent musicians and not much in the way of money or facilities.
Due to lack of social inclusion, or out reach from our Local council/Arts groups & authorities this was going to be a long road ahead for these guys to take the dream and vision they had for the band forward.
The near insurmountable task was to take bored disillusioned youngsters off the streets of Glasgow’s toughest housing estates in the 80's, teach them to play and read music, foster discipline, develop musical ability and hopefully turn the boys and girls away from the usual temptations in the schemes of Glasgow which, at the time, was gang culture, violence, drugs and anti social drinking.

What you see on display today is the fruit of many years of hard work.
With strong support from our community/families and friends we have equipped the band to the highest of standards for any comparable band in the world.
 - Our drums are hand painted by military painters to MOD specification.
 - Our uniforms are tailored by top military tailors.
 - We have manufactured our own Instruments, Tapes, CDs and DVDs
 - We have been hired to perform at a wide ranging spectrum of events;
Including, Weddings, Birthday parties, ABOD functions, Funerals, Charity fundraising events, British Legion parades, Orange Order Events, Gala days. Fun days etc. this repertoire requires countless nights practice and dedication by our members in the pursuit of musical perfection.

Conclusions or perceptions!
The level of commitment needed to maintain and nurture a Corps of Fife and Drum band is very time consuming, costly and basically immense.
We do not aim to antagonize , coat trail or be triumphant over any one else’s beliefs or cultures! Our aim is to promote and celebrate our own proud British/Unionist/ Loyalist culture. if we wished to be antagonistic, dogmatic and be offensive to others (as some would misrepresent and falsify), we are sure there must be an easier, less expensive and time consuming way.

Just for the record..........BLACK SKULL ARE ANTI - DRUGS. DO NOT WASTE OUR TIME OR YOURS BY
  APPROACHING US WITH A VIEW TO JOINING IF DRUGS ARE "YOUR SCENE"

 As our band motto states:- IT'S MORE THAN JUST A BAND...IT'S A WAY OF LIFE .