PP Academy: Dealing With Cane Drone Reeds

This article, by reed expert and professional maker Chris Apps, first appeared in the Pipe Band Magazine 15 years ago but is as relevant today as it was then, especially as more bands are turning to cane to add depth to their overall sound… Are You Able to Handle Cane? by CHRIS APPS I LIKE the sound of cane  drone reeds but don’t use them because plastic is so much easier to  set and maintain….

Field Marshal Concert/ CLASP/ CPA Poll/ Guide to the Games/ Letter

Former World Champions, Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band have announced that the audience can help pick the tunes for next August’s sure-to-be-a sell-out concert in Glasgow. The band have posted a form on their website asking for suggestions: ‘Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band is delighted to be returning to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to perform at the prestigious pre-Worlds concert on Wednesday 10th August, 2016. Hosted by the Glasgow Skye Association…

PP Editor’s Blog: CPA Gradings/ Guide to the Games/ Gordon Recital/ Winter Storm/

Gradings for 2016 have been issued by the Competing Pipers’ Association to all their members. These are important for those wishing to gain places to play at Oban and Inverness. The promoters at both need to squeeze a lot of events into two days and as a result have to restrict numbers in the Gold & Silver Medals. Last year thirty got to play at Oban and 25 at Inverness….

Famous Pipers: Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Part 6

We conclude our feature on the late Pipe Major with the final excerpt of the interview given in 1999 where he talked of his many successes in the Former Winners’ March, Strathspey & Reel at the Northern Meeting at Inverness. The picture above shows Alasdair when he won the title of ‘Piper to the Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow’. Presenting him with the official banner displaying the city’s coat…

Paterson’s Publications/ Wallace Bagpipes Promo/ South Florida Academy

Today we publish the second of the late Geoff Hore’s features on two famous bagpipe music publishing companies. Last year we read of Logan’s of Inverness and in this second feature Geoff turns his forensic attention to Paterson’s Publications. This company is well-known to all pipers through their Scots Guards collections (and those of other regiments) and the Willie Ross books. Read more here. One of our advertisers Wallace Bagpipes…