Do Good Players Make Good Teachers or Judges?

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…

Editor’s Notebook: Pitlochry Piobaireachd/ JB Robertson/ Eden Court/ Manilla Piper/ Glasgow Transport PB

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…

Sun Belt Contest Results

This fairly new invitational competition for both amateur and professional pipers was held yesterday in Orlando, Florida. Linda McBride Memorial Amateur MSR1 Tom Cangelosi 2 Liam Horne 3 Charles David Mitchell 4 Steven MacDonald5 Wyatt Brown  David Bailiff Memorial Amateur Piobaireachd1 Tom Cangelosi, King’s Taxes2 Flora Stone3 Mic Trenor4 Steven MacDonald5 Gillian Blaney Overall winner Tom Cangelosi  Professional Medley for the Sayre/Stein Cup 1 Callum Beaumont 2 Bruce Gandy3 Ian K. MacDonald4 William McCallum5 Angus MacColl Professional…

RSPBA Graeme Johnston Memorial Results

This solo juvenile competition its organised by the RSPBA’s Glasgow & West of Scotland Branch. It was held at the Association’s Washington Street HQ. Sponsors were McCallum Bagpipes and Wallace Bagpipes. The adjudicator was Ian Plunkett former P/M of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band. Trophies were presented by Rachel from the RSPBA Office. Juvenile 11 Ran Birch-George, George Heriot’s2 Lachlan Rennie, MacKenzie Caledonian3 Arran Brown, Kintyre Schools4 Charles Mack, Preston Lodge…

Editor’s Notebook: Army School and The Queen/ SLOT Headgear/ Terry’s Address/ Drum Request/ Wellington’s Piper

It should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone that her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II stepped in to stave off any threat to the Army School of Piping in Edinburgh. Her initiative came to light this week in a podcast interview with former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne. He revealed that during an audience, Her Majesty challenged him on rumours of financial cuts at the school. Osborne feigned…