Category: Pipe Bands

Editor’s Notebook: Alasdair Takes a Break/ School’s Piping Lessons/ Donald Main/ 1976 Results

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The late, great Alasdair Gillies takes a seat on the competition platform while warming up at a games in the US. I was always impressed with his finger positioning. Perfect. Look at the bottom hand. Thumb exactly where it should be, between fore and middle fingers. Top hand digits beautifully aligned. And no, the pinkie is not touching the chanter, though the camera angle makes it seem so. Posture relaxed,…

More Editor’s Notebook: Alasdair Takes a Break/ School’s Piping Lessons/ Donald Main/ 1976 Results

The Historic Colinton & Currie Pipe Band Has Gone – How Many More Will Follow?

Posted on      by      10 Comments

It is with great regret and sadness that I have to report that the decision has been taken to wind up forthwith Colinton and Currie Pipe Band.  The decision is all the more unfortunate as the band, based on the outskirts of Edinburgh, was one of the first civilian pipe bands in Scotland, formed as far back as the 19th century.  Its winding up is disappointing for me personally as…

More The Historic Colinton & Currie Pipe Band Has Gone – How Many More Will Follow?

George Watson’s Teacher/ SW Scotland Academy Programme/ ‘Flux’ Blowstick

Posted on      by      2 Comments

Award-winning school band, George Watson’s College, Edinburgh, are looking for a new piping instructor. Some details: ‘This post has up to 15 hours of individual teaching, and two hours of group tuition per week. ‘The successful candidate will be committed, enthusiastic and will possess the ability to teach the full range of abilities from beginner to Juvenile band level and be familiar with SQA/PDQB exams. ‘They will be expected to…

More George Watson’s Teacher/ SW Scotland Academy Programme/ ‘Flux’ Blowstick

Editor’s Notebook: RSPBA Latest/ D McD Cuach/ NZ Piping Centre/ Seumas’s Citadel/ John Cruickshank VC/ Brisbane Contest

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Well done to Walter MacGregor and Nigel Greeves, RSPBA directors, for jildying up their colleagues about the inaction over any sort of pipe band summer programme. They let loose at last month’s Association Board Meeting. According to the minutes just published: ‘W MacGregor informed the Board that the London and South England Branch had held its third online solo competition with over 100 performances, reporting it had been a great…

More Editor’s Notebook: RSPBA Latest/ D McD Cuach/ NZ Piping Centre/ Seumas’s Citadel/ John Cruickshank VC/ Brisbane Contest

Review: ‘The Roke’, A New Music Collection by Ross Miller

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

‘The Roke’ is a recent publication of pipe music by the well-known and successful piper, Ross Miller. Ross now hails from Linlithgow and The Roke is the official town tune. Ross, appropriately enough, is the town piper. He has compiled an interesting collection of bagpipe music. He has included compositions both traditional and contemporary, as well as some imaginative new music by himself. By Barry Donaldson The publication coincides with…

More Review: ‘The Roke’, A New Music Collection by Ross Miller