Bob Nicol, A Blunt But Inspirational Teacher

Posted on      by      1 Comment

Recent Piping Press posts on the judging of solo piping led to a response from Mr Neil Mulvie in which there was reference to an unnamed piper whose playing was criticised by Bob Nicol. The piper played the piobaireachd Beloved Scotland and apparently did not give enough value to the low A in the commencement to the tune and Nicol uttered the words, ‘he hasn’t got it’. By Duncan Watson This occasion was…

More Bob Nicol, A Blunt But Inspirational Teacher

Stirling Contest Update/ NPC Juniors Draw

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

A quick update on the Stirling Junior Solo Piping Contest scheduled for Saturday 7 March at the King Robert Hotel in Stirling, writes Craig Muirhead.  I’ve had a really strong entry from all across the country for the Under 18s and have a great line-up of judges including Ian Duncan, Gordon McCready, Callum Wynd and Jonathan Greenlees.  Still a few places left and plenty of space in the chanter event,…

More Stirling Contest Update/ NPC Juniors Draw

Johnstone Exams/ Florida School/ Piping Recitals

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Congratulations to successful candidates at the latest Johnstone Pipe Band PDQB/SCQF exam course, writes Keith Bowes Snr. The course started in mid-September, with exams mid-December (see picture above). This can be a quiet time in the pipe band calendar and a lot of youngsters take it as a bit of a rest period; the course ensures their enthusiasm from the previous season is carried forward. Courses and exams were held…

More Johnstone Exams/ Florida School/ Piping Recitals

Pipe Band Judges Ensemble Seminar

Posted on      by      1 Comment

Thanks to an invite from Robert Mathieson and John Reville, I was able to spend a couple of hours sitting in on last Saturday’s RSPBA judges’ online seminar. There were 62 participants, a mix of adjudicators and leading pipers and drummers. The subject was ensemble, something that has featured over that past while in these pages. Much of what I heard and saw was new to me, eye-opening even. By…

More Pipe Band Judges Ensemble Seminar

Editor’s Notebook: Solo Judging/ PS Books/ RSPBA Website/ Kintyre Travellers/ Drumming Masters

Posted on      by      2 Comments

Reader ‘JW’ writes again re solo judging: ‘I must tip my hat to Neil Mulvie on his very truthful comments regarding SPJA judges and all the problems he was brave enough to mention. Neil has been right there for years and seen it all, or was he telling us something we all knew anyway? ‘Is it not time this was sorted out once and for all as it doesn’t seem…

More Editor’s Notebook: Solo Judging/ PS Books/ RSPBA Website/ Kintyre Travellers/ Drumming Masters