The Importance of Schools Music Education

In Scotland we have become inured to idiotic statements from well paid public employees and politicians struggling to connect the family brain cell with their vocal cords. This produced another candidate for dunce of the decade last week. In a live-streamed statement the Head of Education at East Ayrshire Council declared her opposition to schools music teaching by stating that she was ‘no [not] really seeing the point of a…

Captain John MacLellan Draws/ Lewis& Harris Juniors/ Glengarry Cup

Sixty-three pipers have entered for the Captain John MacLellan Memorial competition to be held at the Army School HQ, Inchdrewer House, Edinburgh, tomorrow, October 4. The piping begins at 8.30am. There are graded events from P to C with an open hornpipe and jig. The draw in the P Piobaireachd is: S Leask, C Beaumont, G Brown, B Watson-Massey, I Smith, R MacLeod, W McCallum, F Johnston. In the P…

Insights into Pipe Band Ensemble

The study ‘Insights into Pipe Band Ensemble’ is dedicated to improving pipe drum ensemble outcomes in both set and medley competition. With a focus on 2/4 march, strathspey, and reel music, the study follows a basic premise that some MSR pipe tunes are so rhythmically compatible with the music of the competition side drum, that their accompanying drum scores almost write themselves, while other MSR tunes are almost impossible to integrate with…

Northern Ireland Pipe Band & Solo Round Up

Ballynahinch High School was the setting last Saturday (Sept.27) for the third annual Down Academy Juvenile Solos. The adjudication panel comprised Richard Parkes and David Chesney (piping), and Gordon Parkes (drumming). The Parkes brothers presented the prizes in their respective disciplines. They said a high standard of playing had been on display throughout the day and they were particularly encouraged by the quality of teaching which augured well for the…

Peter Bain’s Bagpipe – Part 2

I was contacted by the current owner, Peter Aumonier, and a previous student of my great-grandfather’s, Malcolm McRae, writes John Gillies. Malcolm purchased the pipes on behalf of Donald Bain who took them with him to New Zealand after my great-grandfather’s death. Peter and I were able to video call so I was able to see the pipes, a beautiful set of 1908 hallmarked silver and ivory Hendersons, with a unique…