South West Scotland Boost for Piping & Drumming

Piping and Drumming in south-west Scotland has received a major boost with the formation of the new South West Scotland Piping & Drumming Academy. The Academy will take the form of a Summer School, a series of teaching workshops and piobaireachd weekends. Andrew McCartney (left), Chairman of the SWSPDA, reports: Our website address is www.swspda.co.uk, and details of our Summer School and programme of events are as follows : SWSPDA Summer School:  13th…

New Drumming Column/ Piob Soc. Bk 16/ Stormont Details/ etc

Today we launch our new Drummer’s Call column for pipe band drummers of all persuasions: tenor, bass and side. The first article is a review of new drumsticks by Steven Creighton of the St Laurence O’Toole band.  The Piobaireachd Society has announced that their latest book in their celebrated series – Book 16 – will be officially launched at Piping Live! in August.  It is scheduled for 12.00 noon on Wednesday…

Responses to 2/4 March Articles & Some Tune Suggestions

Among the responses to the articles about 2/4 marches are a well thought out letter from US piper Nick Hudson and a snappy riposte from a member of the Scottish Power band, Rory Grossart. Rory first. It is good to see pipers in a band showing loyalty and support for their pipe major’s choice of music. (Incidentally, Rory chose not to tell us that he was a piper in Scottish Power). Loyalty…

PP Academy: Meddling With Competition Pipe Marches

Readers could be forgiven for thinking I had a downer on Roderick Campbell’s fine tune ‘The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society’. I don’t. I think it a wonderful composition and I am sure the eponymous Society is delighted with a tune that has guaranteed their immortality. However, as I said in my crit on the British Pipe Band Championships, I do not think it is of sufficient difficulty for Grade 1…

Jimmy Turns 90/ East Lothian School/Govan Piping

Firstly today, congratulations to Jimmy McIntosh on his 90th birthday. Jimmy is on his way to Scotland to celebrate with his family this side of the water. Before he left his home in North Carolina he recorded one of our great piobaireachd, the Lament for the Children. The playing is remarkable for one so young. It has been added to our audio archive launched yesterday. The above picture, from the…