Tag: solo piping

Judging Debacle: Perceived Bias Must Be Justified With Reference to Facts

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South Africa-based professional piper and lawyer Nicholas Taitz responds to yesterday’s letter regarding the controversial decision by the Solo Piping Judges Association to ban their members from sitting on benches where pupils may be competing, this rule covering the Argyllshire Gathering, the Northern Meeting and the London Championship. Today we also carry another letter on this issue, this time from Iain Marshall, Oban. The actual issues surrounding this rule must…

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African blackwood: New Protection Rule Exemption Brings Relief for Bagpipemakers

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On January 2 the African blackwood tree will be added to the protected species list of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. This means that all trade in the wood, from the tree dalbergia melanoxylon, will be controlled and certified at a cost to the grower and the importer. CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-export of species of flora…

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The Solo Piping Judges Association and How They Do Business

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Anyone who thinks my opposition to the recent judges/pupils decision by the Solo Piping Judges Association was solely based on concerns over adjudication would be wrong. What is also at stake here is teaching; one generation passing on to the next its knowledge and experience. Anything which impedes this process, as I believe this retrograde decision does, has to be bad for our music. Senior figures in the piping world…

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PP Ed’s Blog: Craigmount Cancelled/ Wheel of Fortune Reduce Entry Fees for 2017 Showpiece

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Saturday’s Craigmount Junior competition has been cancelled. The announcement was made last night. Organisers say they will contact all entrants individually. In a statement they say: ‘Due to unforeseen circumstances causing the event to no longer be financially viable, it is with regret that we advise that the Solo Competition on 3rd December is cancelled. We will contact all entrants in due course.’ This will be a disappointment to many…

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PP Ed’s Blog: Northern Meeting Prices/ Judge’s Decision/ Letters

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Pipebagmaker James Begg has criticised the Northern Meeting solo piping competition for the prices they charge pipers for entry. In his regular newsletter Mr Begg writes: ‘I travelled up to Inverness for the annual Northern Meeting solo piping competition. It was a well run occasion yet again but I must say a £50 competitor entry payment is a bit Scrooge-like. An event of this quality should be able to finance itself without…

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