BBC Northern Ireland series, The Band: Pipe band gave Cookstown woman Margaret Hill immense confidence after struggling with dyslexia at school

"Whenever I was seven my dad told me that we were going to go and buy a few heffers for the farm and that if I came I would be able to pick one out for myself," she told the News Letter. "But instead he took me to a Tullylagan Pipe Band practice. He is always doing things like that!

"So I met one of my first tutors there and came home with a chanter."

A chanter is the mouthpiece for the bagpipes that can be played without the bag, in order to learn the basics.

Her canny father knew what he was doing.

"Whenever I was in P2 the teacher found me crying in the toilets because I didn't understand the work. And throughout my whole school career, I really struggled a lot because I couldn't read or write very well. My confidence was very low as a child. I wouldn't even be able to talk to people."

After joining the band, however, her confidence slowly began to grow.

"As I developed my skills in the pipe band scene I was able to go out and do parades and concerts and play with the adults.

"As a kid, my confidence just grew and I learnt how to deal with nerves and how to cope with everything going on. So my confidence has just gone through the roof.”

She has also been working full-time teaching children in schools.

"I can now stand in front of a class of kids and teach away for half an hour. Or I can go out and do a talk about Ulster Scots and bagpipes to adults for an hour."

Now Margaret competes, performs solos and is currently studying for her Grade 4 theory exam, as well as teaching other young pipers in the band.

"So I have really done well thanks to the band, from the age of seven to 21; We've ended up with two world championships under my belt, and my grade three exams as well."

• The Band starts Wednesday 17 January at 10.40pm on BBC One Northern Ireland, with three episodes: Click here for more details on iPlayer.