History: The Late John MacDougall and his Family's 150 Years of Piping

We are grateful to the Aberdeen Evening Express newspaper for publishing the family history of one of the most gifted pipers of the post-WW2 era, the late John MacDougall. The paper reveals interesting details about John’s past and how the family tradition is being carried on. It is headlined ‘Piping Through the Ages’. The above picture shows John MacDougall as a boy piping with his father in the Bucksburn Pipe Band….

'Winter Storm' Competitions Underway in a Chilly Kansas City

The aptly named Winter Storm kicked off in Kansas City, Missouri, with a real winter storm biting at the heels of those flying and driving in from far-flung places, writes our Special Correspondent,  perhaps none further than eight-time World Solo Drumming Champion Steven McWhirter. Steven arrived the ‘long way round’ from Australia. Aside from the big names and celebrated champions, a record number of competitors (including a good number of Scots…

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band to Receive Special 'Irish Oscars' Music Award

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band are to receive the 2018 Special Award at the Irish language television channel TG4’s traditional Irish music awards, ‘Gradam Ceoil’, the Ulster Star newspaper has reported. The Lisburn-based band will be presented with the award at the Gradam Ceoil concert and awards ceremony at Belfast Waterfront on Sunday, February 4, which will be broadcast live. The paper reports: ‘Widely regarded as the Oscars of Irish…

PP Academy: Three Experts Offer Advice on How to Play Reels

Piping Press is a free resource for all pipers and pipe bands. Our aim is to educate, inform and entertain. Our learning pages, under the banner of PP Academy, have lots of advice and knowledge on how to be a better piper or band and cover all aspects of performance and tuning. Click on the highlighted PP Academy link above or the Tuition tab at the top of this page…

PP Ed's Blog: Reflections on NZ/ Silver Medal Tunes/ SPA AGM/ Schools Trust Job

Reflecting on my recent visit to New Zealand I really must doff the bonnet to all those pipers who, over many years, have made the long trek to the Northern Hemisphere to compete at Oban and Inverness (and bands who get the cash and time together to do the same to compete at the Worlds). Only when you’ve done it do you really appreciate the commitment required – and it…