The Editor writes: Following yesterday’s Vale news I wonder if there will be sufficient Grade 1 bands at the Worlds to justify the Friday Qualifier? Possibly not.  We’ve recently had three bands downgraded from Grade 1: Denny & Dunipace Gleneagles, Buchan Peterson and Cap Caval. I understand that no New Zealand bands will be coming over next year nor will Toronto Police – and we have already had the sad news of…

My point on Monday about the quality of timing and phrasing in P/M Donald MacLeod’s 6/8 march can be illustrated by comparing this recording with Donald’s playing: This is from a leading prizewinning piper who shall remain nameless. Click here to brush up your 6/8s. Here’s an excerpt from the article: ‘The left and right beats are shown clearly. We give a little more to the left than we do to…

One event conspicuously absent from the November piping programme this year has been the ‘Echoes of Oban’ concert, writes the Editor. Started originally by Seumas MacNeill and Tommy Pearston at the College of Piping in the 50s, I revived it circa 2008 using their format – though in the early years they invited winners from Inverness too. Luckily we always had sufficient players to be able to keep it true…

The leading drummer of Grade 1 Lomond & Clyde Pipe Band, Gary Corkin, has resigned citing ‘personal reasons’. His place will be taken by Adrian Hoy, currently with Vale of Atholl Pipe Band. It is anticipated that Adrian will take his corps from the Vale to Lomond & Clyde. Alisdair Tennant, Band Secretary: ‘Lomond and Clyde confirm that Adrian Hoy has been appointed as our new Leading Drummer bringing top level…