By Elizabeth Anne Muckle, Calgary The offering of a one hour weekly beginner bagpipe instruction course at our prestigious Conservatory of Music at Mount Royal University, Calgary, has raised a number of concerns about instructional approaches to assisting trusting enthusiasts as they begin mastering the essentials of a complex skill.  The group session, offered in the Fall 2019 from Sept. 10 to Oct. 29 will be continued in the winter…

A dry and fairly warm day in Perthshire. The picture shows Bobby Allan Thomas Young and Christopher Apps. 21 & Under MSR1 Bobby Allen2 Thomas Young3 Christopher Apps 21 & Under Jig1 Bobby Allen2 Thomas Young3 Christopher Apps4 Lexie McDiarmid 14 & Under 2 Part March1 Annabel Charlton2 Brodie Barrie3 Wallace Mackie4 Cameron Stewart 16 & Under 4 Part March1 Christopher Apps2 Bobby Allen3 Thomas Young4 Annabel Charlton

The weather was excellent with the last played note narrowly missing a thunderstorm. Jimmy Banks judged all events. Champion piper Ben Duncan is pictured above. Piob1 P/M Ben Duncan, Lament for MacSwan of Roaig2 Anna Smart, Blind Piper’s Obstinacy3 Christopher McLeish, Tulloch Ard4 Andrew Yu, Lament for Captain MacDougall March1 P/M Ben Duncan2 Callum Wynd3 Christopher McLeish4 Darach Urquhart Strathspey & Reel1 P/M Ben Duncan2 Darach Urquhart3 Callum Wynd4 Christopher…

Bught Park, Inverness, was the new home for this year’s European Pipe Band Championships, the third major of the season. A healthy 120 bands entered and an ultimately wet but warm day ensured a good crowd – with many staying on to see Inveraray crowned Grade 1 champions. Smartest band on parade were Glasgow Skye Association. The full result in Grade 1 was:1 Inveraray2 Boghall3 FMM4 Scottish Power5 SLOT6 ShottsDrumming:…

Only a few weeks ago the youngsters of North Lanarkshire Schools brought the concourse at New York’s Grand Central Station to a halt and yesterday they were in the big time again giving a command performance in front of HM The Queen. The occasion was the opening of a new facility at Greenfaulds High School in Cumbernauld, part of the North Lanarkshire catchment area. Her Majesty looked delighted as the…