Pipe Band Judging and Some Personal Experiences

The factors outlined  in my last article regularly affect adjudicators but there are others which are totally unexpected.  Some examples of both types of these situations I encountered during my adjudication career are as follows. All of them are true. Perception or fact? The first time I judged the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championships I was on the MSR drumming competition.  The potential winners being talked about beforehand were…

The Barriers to Good Pipe Band Adjudication

Former RSPBA Adjudicator Alistair Aitken OBE continues with his detailed look at the judging of pipe bands and how it can be improved. Read his first instalment here. What are the common barriers to effective pipe band adjudication?  Firstly, there is no doubt that the location and layout of a pipe band competition can be factors.  Contests can of course be held indoors or outdoors.  Indoor competitions can be easier…

Pipe Band Adjudication – Potential Barriers and Dealing with the Unexpected

As the COVID-19 lockdown unfortunately has resulted in the complete loss of the 2020 pipe band outdoor competition season, I am sure the usual ‘reviewers’ of pipe band results must be quite frustrated that they are this year having to look for other pastimes to vent their frustrations and sometimes unfair accusations.  While the competition scene is dormant, apart from virtual versions, this may be an opportune time to take…

RSPBA News: Tony Harris, Life Member/ Composing Competition

I was very sad to learn that Tony Harris, former RSPBA National Councillor, passed away on Friday 10 April 2020 at the age of 89, writes Alistair Aitken.  Tony had been in a care residence for some time near his home in Toddington in Bedfordshire. Tony was born in Wootton Green, a small village in Bedfordshire.  He lived in nearby Stewartby, where his father, uncles and grandfather worked for the…

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P/M Bob Shepherd MBE: A Tribute to one of the Great Pipe Band Figures of the 20th Century

With the passing of Bob Shepherd MBE piping and the pipe band community have lost one of its legendary personalities.  Bob will be remembered as a successful pipe band teacher and leader, an innovative manufacturer of piping products as well as someone who played an immense role in the progressive development of pipe band music.  Among his greatest attributes were his depth of understanding of bagpipes and pipe bands, his…

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