But Telarah's Charlie Wilson is not only interested, he's passionate about it and it has paid off for him in a big way.

Charlie, who is the drum major for the City of Maitland Pipes and Drums Band, won the best junior drum major award at the 2019 Aberdeen Highland Games at the weekend.

"With a lot of these types of things, it's the parents pushing them," Charlie's dad Gareth said.

"But Charlie has done this all himself.

"I'm not even involved in it."

And despite being only 11, Charlie joined the band seven years ago, after his grandfather Ian Innes, the band's pipe major, invited him to go along.

"I just copied the other drum major," Charlie said.

"I really liked being the leader and bossing everyone around."

Charlie says he has "definitely evolved and adapted" since then.

He has also had plenty of experience leading the Maitland Pipes and Drums Band at events such as Hunter Valley Steamfest and ANZAC Day.

But Gareth said Charlie really stepped it up a notch when he heard there was going to be a drum major competition at the Aberdeen Highland Games for the first time.

"He worked his backside off," Gareth said.

"He put in hours of training.

"He was really pushing for it."

And that hard work paid off.

Charlie took on two other junior drum majors, one older than him and one younger, and won the inaugural trophy.

The event began with a mass band, then Charlie performed on his own before taking part another mass band performance.

"It was really nerve-wracking," Charlie said.

"I think I did really well and I think I deserved it.

"But I was really surprised, I was so excited."

Charlie took home a $50 prize for his win, which he said he planned to spend on video games, and his name will also be engraved on a trophy.

But Gareth said Charlie was definitely not planning to rest on his laurels.

"He said he's going back to defend his title next year," Gareth said.