More Light Music Recordings of Bob Nicol Courtesy Patrick Molard, Brittany

Following the article of a couple of weeks back, we asked Breton piper Patrick Molard how he came to have such excellent recordings of Bob Nicol, Balmoral, playing light music. Patrick responded promptly and, we are delighted to say, also supplied us with several other recordings from his archive. Thank you Patrick! He wrote: It is such a long time ago (51 years!) that it is difficult for me to…

CLASP May 6th ‘Live Online’ Competition Results

This was another well attended ‘live online’ CLASP competition. For Grade 1 CLASP competitors there was one final chance to win an invite to compete at the inaugural amateur invitational competition at the Sun Belt in Florida in November 2023. By Margaret Houlihan Eric Stein, who runs the Sun Belt Professional Invitational Competition in Florida, has expanded this event to include an amateur invitational and Eric is kindly sponsoring flights…

Editor’s Notebook: Practice Time/ Low G Taorluath/ Sgian Dubh/ Internship/ Coronation Tune/ Results 1996

How many of you come close to following the guidance in this practice table? I suspect not many will manage the five hours a day. The maximum I could ever do, in say the run up to to Oban and Inverness, would have been two hours. For my pupils I recommend a minimum of an hour a day. This can be split into three sections: 20 minutes on the practice…

Northern Ireland Report: FMM’s Outstanding Tribute to P/M Frank Andrews

On Friday April 28th the eagerly awaited Frank Andrews Tribute Concert took place at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena. There was an attendance of 600 and it was an outstanding success. I have attended the majority of the big pipe band concerts over the years, at the County Hall or the Waterfront Hall, and I would venture to say that this was amongst the absolute best. The star act was…

Highland Games Season Details/ John’s New Recording

Entries are now open for Aberdeen Games on June 18. Prizemoney has been increased. There are three senior events and three junior and a new open grade chanter contest. Entries close June 8. Enter here. Aberdeen’s Highland Games attracts between 8,000 and 15,000 people annually. Outdoor catering will be available with a public bar with a beer garden. Before Aberdeen there is solo piping at Gordon Castle (May 21) and Atholl…