This story has a starting date. It seems that John Macdonald MBE (Inverness) was presented with a pipe chanter in 1942, some 81 years ago. He was about 76 years of age at the time and would have ceased playing in competition. I don’t know why he was presented with the chanter. Perhaps piping historians have the information. He was awarded the MBE in 1932 and died in 1953. Enter…
The judging parameters for solo piping have traditionally been less regulated than those for pipe bands. (There has never been any formal criteria for solo drumming either.) Nevertheless there are grounds for arguing that the skill requirements for adjudicating solo piping and drumming are much the same as for bands. With bands, these basic requirements and abilities should apply to every adjudicator, irrespective of discipline, piping, drumming or ensemble. Some…
The 2024 Florida Pipe and Drum Academy is now open for registration, reports Principal Chris McKeown. The popular school will be held from 18 – 23 February in Jacksonville. The week culminates in the North East Florida Highland Games on Feb 24. Sunday 18th at 6pm is the meet and greet with classes beginning formally on Feb 19 at 8am. Holiday Inn Express is the host hotel. Event Address: Christ’s…
The subjects of teaching and adjudication are never far from the surface in the piping and pipe band world. Both can attract widely differing views and can be contentious. There is no doubt that much has changed over the years in methods of teaching piping and drumming. What has certainly not changed is the need to learn properly the basic rudiments, embellishments and musical theory relevant to both musical disciplines. An article…
When we were trying to convince the committee at Pitlochry Games to hold a piobaireachd event I mentioned the fact that before WW2 there had been such an event at these games. I’d seen a poster somewhere but unfortunately could not produce the evidence. The Committee thankfully went ahead anyway but now after a bit of research I have that evidence. Results from Pitlochry Games September 5th 1931:Piobaireachd: 1 Malcolm…
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