Category: Reviews

New Free Bagpipe Tuner App/ New Appointments at Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

I have recently developed an app for tuning the bagpipes with ease, writes Ethan Wang. Because the price of many tuners are pretty expensive I have decided to make it free. It is available to everyone on iOS. Designed by myself, SparrowTone is a free tuner solely for the bagpipes. It has three displays (see picture above), each for letting you tune a certain part of the bagpipe: Pitch history…

More New Free Bagpipe Tuner App/ New Appointments at Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association

A Tribute to Ian Duncan, Winner of the 2024 Balvenie Medal for Services to Piping

Posted on      by      2 Comments

There are people who are born music teachers and this year’s recipient of the Balvenie Medal, Ian Duncan, is most certainly that. Countless children and young people have been introduced to our wonderful music by him. For Ian, everyone can gain something from piping. It might not always be medals or trophies, but they can take something from this art form and the amazing community which surrounds it. By Craig Muirhead…

More A Tribute to Ian Duncan, Winner of the 2024 Balvenie Medal for Services to Piping

Scots Guards Knock Out – Round One

Posted on      by      1 Comment

I think it must have been the Scottish Pipers’ Association who started the ‘knock-out’ competition, two pipers play, the audience picking a winner who progresses to the next round. The famous final of the ’60s when Duncan Johnston defeated Donald MacLeod is still talked about in these parts. And I remember being robbed in the SPA final myself when playing against P/M Angus. By Robert Wallace Well it’s another guardsman…

More Scots Guards Knock Out – Round One

Torquil Receives Thanks For Four Decades of Success at the Argyllshire Gathering

Posted on      by      2 Comments

Perhaps there are some pipers on the dark side of the moon who don’t know Torquil Telfer. Everyone else does. For the past 40 years he has been the welcoming face of the Argyllshire Gathering. Torquil’s dedication has been suitably recognised by his colleagues….. As the last of the Gaels headed home from a successful Mòd in Oban last weekend, family, friends and colleagues from the piping world gathered to…

More Torquil Receives Thanks For Four Decades of Success at the Argyllshire Gathering

Band News: RSPBA Regradings Announced/ World Solo Drumming

Posted on      by      1 Comment

The Association’s Music Board have confirmed the following changes to band grades. The following 35 bands have all been upgraded for the 2025 season: Novice B to Novice A: Burntisland, Dollar Academy, High School of Dundee, Strathallan School, Scotch College No.2 (Australia) Novice A to Juvenile: Dollar Acad., George Watson’s Coll., Renfrewshire Schools, West Lothian SchoolsGrade 4B to 4A: Altnaveigh, Govan Community, Kilmarnock, City of Discovery, Moneygore, Marlacoo Grade 4B…

More Band News: RSPBA Regradings Announced/ World Solo Drumming