SScOT’s Play Away Days are aimed at children aged 8 and above, who play orchestral or band instruments at a level of grade 2 and above. There are no auditions for Play Away Days or for SScOT’s residential courses, the aim being to build on each child’s motivation and enthusiasm. For many children, a Play Away Day will be their first experience of playing in an orchestra or wind band; for others it will be a chance to develop their prior experience in school and elsewhere, make new friends and perhaps meet up with friends made on previous occasions. Hopefully, it will be an inspiring and enjoyable experience for all.  

SScOT's next Play Away Day will take place on Sunday February 26th 2012, between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. at St. George's School in Edinburgh.  Children will spend most of the day rehearsing, either in the string orchestra (conductor: Robin Wedderburn) or in the wind band (conductor: Susan Dingle), or in the mandolin and guitar orchestra (conductor: Adele Neilson) and will finish by giving a short informal concert for their parents, siblings and friends.  The lunch-break will incorporate a musical quiz.  

The cost for the day is £39.50 for applications received by February 18th, £44.50 for those received later.  It is anticipated that quite a number of children from Glasgow will wish to attend, and therefore SScOT will charter a bus to bring children from Glasgow for the beginning of the day, at a cost of £10 per child.  Parents will probably want to attend the concert at the end of the day and take their children home, but lifts back to Glasgow will be arranged as required.