PP Editor’s Blog: Weekend Contests/ Lorient/ Breton CD/ Piobaireachd Letter

Shotts band contest today and Markinch tomorrow. Weather forecast good for both. Results for the first on the RSPBA website and the second here as soon as we get them. Tom Johnstone, Scottish Organiser for the Lorient Festival, has sent these details about this year piping events: Pipers representing Scotland: Callum Moffat, David Shedden and Fred Morrison. Scottish Judges: Andrew Frater and Bruce Hitchings The MacCrimmon Trophy, for which contestants play music from…

PP Academy: Bands, Your Dress & Deportment is Important

The following article appeared in Pipe Band Magazine in 2000. It is by Highland Dress expert Bill Blacklaw formerly of the Gordon Highlanders. Much of Mr Blacklaw’s advice is still relevant today. The picture above shows P/M Alan Bevan and the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from Canada with a front line from a few years ago. Notice the correct length of kilt, polished brogues (properly tied) and the glengarries…

Adjudicators for the 2016 Argyllshire Gathering Announced

Judges for the first day of this year’s Argyllshire Gathering, to be held at Oban on August 24th and 25th, are as follows (in alphabetical order): SENIOR PIOBAIREACHD Colin MacLellan, William Morrison, Jack Taylor GOLD MEDAL Patricia Henderson, Bill Livingstone, Stuart Shedden, SILVER MEDAL Ian Duncan, Malcolm McRae, Robert Wallace MacGREGOR MEDAL Michael Grey (Ontario), Bruce Hitchings, Ronald MacShannon, Stuart Samson – two judges to each heat. FORMER WINNERS’ M,S, & R Iain…

PP Editor’s Blog: Bob Worrall Recital/ Tutor 3/ Albert Duncan/ Pipe Bags/ Highland Games League

Videos and audio files to accompany Bagpipe Tutor 3 – Piobaireachd are now live and can be accessed here. If you would like to learn piobaireachd (pronounced ‘pee-broch’ with the ‘och’ as in loch) then you can buy the book here: I was sorry to hear of the passing of Albert Duncan a friend and teaching colleague on many occasions out in Western Canada. Always smiling and willing to help,…

Greenville SC Games and Jimmy McIntosh Contest

Greenville Highland Games Professional Piping, May 29, 2016 By Robert Wallace The  most impressive aspect of the Jimmy McIntosh MBE piobaireachd competition (held as part of the Greenville SC Highland Games) was the level of musicianship of the participants. They demonstrated an understanding of time signatures and phrasing not always heard on the professional stage. Much of that can be credited to Jimmy himself. Now 90 and living in Anderson, South…