New Sponsor for New England Pipe & Drum Academy

The New England Pipe and Drum Academy (NEPADA) has received new sponsorship from one of North America’s leading reedmakers, Chris Apps Reeds. The Academy runs from June 14 -19 at the beautiful Adelynrood Retreat in Byfield, MA, about an hour from Boston. Registrations are now open, and for 2016 the Academy will feature a full programme for side, bass and tenor drummers. Thanks to the sponsorship from Mr Apps all pipers…

PP Academy – How to Improve Your 6/8 Playing

There aren’t many contests for 6/8 marches these days but the recent posting of the Skye Gathering entry form reminded me of one. And I remember last year at the Donald MacLeod contest they held one which I think featured some of the great composers’ works. Skye’s dedication to the art stems from the enthusiasm of their former Chairman Col. Jock MacDonald, a particular devotee of the 6/8. In the bands…

PP Editor’s Blog: Band Majors/ Herald Story/ Letter/ SPA

Calling all band secretaries: a substantial number of pipe band contest entry forms are now available. These include those for all the major championships. You can access the forms via the events calendar on the RSPBA website. Please don’t forget the minor contests. They need your support. Hard to believe that it is only seven weeks or so to the first major, British, at the new venue at Paisley. If…

Skye Gathering and the Silver Chanter 2016

Details have been announced for the 2016 Skye Gathering and Silver Chanter competitions. Convenor Cailean MacLean has intimated the following: ‘Silver Chanter 3rd August 2016: The invitees to this year are: Callum Beaumont , Angus MacColl, Iain Speirs, Stuart Liddell, Roderick MacLeod and Cameron Drummond. It is the 50th SC competition and Iain MacFadyen, who has attended all of them, will adjudicate. ‘Skye Gathering 2nd/3rd August 2016: We have made…

Piobaireachd Society Conference 2016

Anyone who had the idea that the Piobaireachd Society was run by a bunch of old fogeys locked in a time warp of dusty decrepitude would have been quickly disabused of that notion had they attended this year’s conference held last weekend mid the glories of Highland Perthshire. Dr J David Hester had flown in from America to give us an update on his revisionist ideas, Simon Chadwick suggested links…