Draw for the Scottish PB Champs./ John MacDougall Gillies MS (updated)

The RSPBA website is back up after a few hours down for essential maintenance. The new draw for the Scottish Championships to be held at Dumbarton on July 25 is announced as: Grade 1 – Final 01 14:15 Peoples Ford – Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia 02 14:25 Cullybackey 03 14:35 Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles 04 14:45 Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia 05 14:55 Inveraray and District 06 15:05 Scottish Power 07 15:15…

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…