A new school of piping and drumming will take place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, next March. The press release reads:
Instructors
Principal of the Academy is Mr Robert Wallace a world-renowned bagpipe educator, a double Gold Medallist, Vice President of the Pibroch Society, editor of RSPBA’s Pipe Band magazine and editor of pipingpress.com. Senior instructor is P/M Barry Donaldson, ten times winner of the World Championship crown with Strathclyde Police and now a full-time piping instructor. P/M Donaldson is also P/M of the City of Edinburgh Pipe Band. The third piping instructor is Donald McBride, formerly of Scotland but now resident in San Antonio, Texas. He was a top prizewinner in Scotland before he emigrated. Donald is now a much sought after pipe teacher here in the US. Drumming principal is Tommy Johnston. Tommy is hugely experienced and is currently the L/D of the Scots Guards Association pipe band. He started drumming in 1963 with the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band which at that time was a Grade 4 band. He has played with many of the top names in drumming: Alex Duthart, Bob Montgomery and Joe Noble among them, winning every major championship title except the Worlds.
Principal’s Notes
South Florida Pipe and Drum Academy is committed to offering the very best bagpiping and drumming tuition to pipers and drummers of whatever background and at whatever level of ability. Our aim, firstly, is to focus on each student and, through detailed guidance and practice, effect a significant improvement in their playing ability. Group learning and band work will also be our priority with a special emphasis on ceremonial pipe music. Only the very best teachers will be employed by the Academy and they will follow a curriculum approved by the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board (PDQB) in Scotland, UK. A PDQB examination program will be on offer for all students. Underpinning all of our activities will be the sense of enjoyment that comes from joint music making in an atmosphere of serious musical endeavor.
About the School
For years, pipers in South Florida have traveled to get top-notch bagpipe/pipe band instruction. Florida does not have the pipe band traditions that is often found in the north, but that does not mean we don’t desire top quality instruction. The aim of this academy is to bring the best instructors to South Florida. While there is still snow on the ground, this school gives northern pipers a chance to enjoy some nice weather, while honing their craft. It just so happens the academy takes place the week before one of the largest (in the USA) piping events of the year, St. Patrick’s Day. Many pipers travel to South Florida to participate in one of the many parades going on here. We aim to give local pipers and bands, as well as those that are traveling down for the parades or just want to get away from the snow, an opportunity to step up their piping/drumming/marching/tuning/etc.
Cost for the four-day course is $425 with an Early Sign up $75 discount if you register by February 10th
Dates: Tuesday March 10th, 2015 to Friday March 13th, 2015; Optional Parades: March 14th and 15th; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; for more info and to register go to: PipeandDrumAcademy@gmail.com