Pipe Band Magazine/ New England Piping Academy/Northern Meeting

Robert Wallace

9 years ago

The latest edition of PIpe Band Magazine, the official publication of the RSPBA, is available from today.

The front cover features L/D Eric Ward of the Glasgow Police Pipe Band. His drum corps won both the British and UK titles earlier in the summer.

In other features the magazine continues with its ‘Know Your Judges’ profile of Jim Wark and looks at the service of long-time Shotts man Sandy Bell. The ‘All Our Yesterdays’ column has an article on Jean Carnie’s Ladies Pipe Band. There is news of the BBC and the Worlds. Fife Police’s P/M Douglas Murray features in the News from the Branches. There are photographs from the UK and British Championships. P/M Barry Donaldson reviews Glasgow Police’s ‘Ceolry’ CD. There is a full report on the retiral of Northern Ireland stalwart Fred Walker.

Pipe Band Magazine is a free service brought to the piping and pipe band worlds courtesy the RSPBA.

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Staff and students at the first New England Piping Academy summer school. Picture courtesy Liz Feitelberg

Robert Wallace: I trust everyone has arrived home safely from the New England Piping Academy. What an enjoyable week it was. The ladies at the Adelynrood Retreat made us very welcome and we hope to be back next year. Nestled in the Massachusetts woodland, Adelynrood proved the perfect setting for music learning, the accommodation spotless and comfortable; the food wholesome and welcoming. Considerable progress was made in sorting out the bad habits we always find with adult learners, pipers who are keen but are either returning to the instrument late in life, or who are starting out for the first time.

It can be hard work eliminating the crossing noises and getting them to slow down, but by the end of the week and instructor Matt Pantaleoni and I began to notice an improvement. Blowing and tuning was another major area of endeavour, but once we had adjusted reeds and got the students more comfortable the difference in tone and stamina was noticeable.

Buy Glasgow Collection (price includes p&p), from

Our two top students, Liam Geer and Nathan Kwan gave a good selection at the closing concert, and if these two young men continue to study and practice hard I have no doubt they could be playing in Grade 1 in the future.

Pleasing for both instructors was the interest in ceol mor, and our nightly ceilidhs invariably included a piobaireachd, though on the last evening this gave way to Strip the Willow and the Eightsome Reel.

All in all a satisfying first New England Piping Academy and with the local interest shown I am confident the school will grow in size next year when we plan to include drumming and to extend the camp from four days to five.

Piping Press is pleased to welcome the Northern Meeting and Lochaber Gathering into the fold as two of our new advertisers. With thousands of readers every week, more and more organisations and companies are realising the benefits of advertising with us. It is only through the support of our advertisers that we are able to make all of the articles and information on Piping Press free to enthusiasts worldwide.

We suspect not many bands intending to play at the Worlds will have yet to enter, but it may be worth noting that entries close at midnight tonight.

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