Workshops at Winter Storm 2025

The Winter Storm Weekend will feature world-class concerts, competitions, and master classes from January 16 – 19, 2025, all held at the Winter Storm Hotel Complex, Marriott Hotel – Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, Missouri.

There will be five workshop master class sessions held over two days, January 18 & 19, presented by world-class musicians and tutors — all listed below. Participation in the workshops gives free admission to the Saturday night Pipes & Drums Concert on January 18, and to Winter Steam, the after-concert party.

Early registration for workshops is $220 if paid by December 31. Online or onsite Registration paid after December 31 is $240. Registration for the workshops is made through your choice of workshop here.

See Event Schedule for Maps, Floor Plans, Times, Locations, Class Schedule, Downloadable Class Materials, etc.

The Winter Storm Competitions to be held on Thursday and Friday have tremendous appeal to enthusiasts who enjoy the excitement of world-class piping and drumming contests, and are an excellent learning opportunity for students. The acclaimed Winter Storm Amateur and Professional piping and drumming contests attract many of the finest players in North America and the World. The contests will be held at the Winter Storm Hotel Complex. Spectator Tickets may be purchased on-line or at the door. Upon arrival you’ll receive a packet containing a free Winter Storm Workshop T-shirt and name badge.

Certain competitions will be able to be viewed on the live stream sponsored by Dojo University and viewed on its Facebook page.

PIPING SATURDAY SESSIONS

Session 1 – 8:30am to 10:00am • Session 2 – 10:15am to 11:45am
Session 3 – 1:00pm to 2:30pm • Session 4 – 2:45pm to 4:15pm

Donald MacPhee

1. Picking, Manipulation And Working With Reeds
2. Effective 2/4 March Playing
3. Making Reeds
4. Picking, Manipulation And Working With Reeds

Michael Grey

1. Learn My Favorite Tune
2. Canntaireachd: Sing and Learn Bagpipe Tunes Before Playing
3. 7/8 Time: A beloved time signature of the Balkans
4. 101 Facts, Stories & Antecdotes For Piping Enthusiasts

Bob Worrall

1. Understanding How Your Learning Style Impacts Performance
2. Using Rhythm To Address Our Technical And Musical Problems
3. Let’s Compose A New Tune
4. The Music And Compositions Of The Late John Wilson

Richard Parkes, MBE

1. Band Practice Strategies
2. Reed Selection And Manipulation
3. Achieving Good Intonation
4. Pipe Major Essentials

Jack Lee

1. Strategies For Effective Bagpipe Tuning
2. 6/8 Marches For Grades 3 & 4 Pipers
3. Strategies For Effective Bagpipe Tuning
4. Hornpipes And Jigs For The Amateur Player

Roddy MacLeod, MBE

1. Decoding The Campbell Canntairechd
2. Finding The Music In Your Strathspeys
3. Explaining Piobaireachd Classification And How It Helps Memorization
4. The Compositions Of Duncan Johnstone

Callum Beaumont

1. Teaching Young People
2. How To Achieve A Steady Sound
3. Beginner Piobaireachd Fundamentals
4. Selecting The Correct Tunes For Your Grade Level

Terry Lee

1. What The Judge Is Looking For
2. A Leadership Forum (With Andrew Douglas)
3. PuttingThe “Fun” Back Into Bagpipe Maintenance
4. “Reel In” Your Repetoire – Getting More 2-Part Reels in Your Repetoire

Andrew Douglas

1. Learning This Year’s “Stack” Of Tunes
2. A Leadership Forum (With Terry Lee)
3. You Be The Judge – Solo Piping
4. Bagpipe Tune Cheat Code Using The Tuning Algorithm

Gary West

1. Smallpipes – Back To The Basics
2. Adapting Highland Technique For Smallpipes
3. Exploring Lowland And Border Repetoire For Smallpipes Part 1
4. Exploring Lowland And Border Repetoire For Smallpipes Part 2

PIPING SUNDAY SESSIONS

Session 5 – 9:00am to 10:45am

Donald MacPhee

• 5. Piping For Dancing

Michael Grey

• 5. Strategies For Effective Medley Construction

Richard Parkes, MBE

• 5. Learning Tunes In A Band Practice Situation

Jack Lee

• 5. Discovering And Refining Musical Expression

Roddy MacLeod, MBE with Bob Worrall

• 5. Motivational Strategies You Can Use During The Off-Season
• 5. Expanding Your Repertoire To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Callum Beaumont

• Intermediate And Advanced Piobaireachd

Terry Lee with Andrew Douglas

• 5. You Be The Judge
• 5. Ensemble Addition

Murray Blair with Roddy S. MacDonald

• 5. Eveything About the Blair Digital Chanter
• 5. Setup, Recording and Performing Live

Gary West

• 5. Accompanying Song On Smallpipes

DRUMMING SATURDAY SESSIONS

Session 1 – 8:30am to 10:00am • Session 2 – 10:15am to 11:45am
Session 3 – 1:00pm to 2:30pm • Session 4 – 2:45pm to 4:15pm

Jake Joergensen

1. Music Theory For Drummers
2. Teaching Beginners–Basic Rudiments & Techniques
3. Strathspeys (Grades 3-4)
4. MSRs (Grades 1-2)

Kerr McQuillan

1. Building Hand Dexterity
2. Solo Drumming Preparation
3. Achieving Effective Technique
4. Learning Drum Scores (Grades 3-4)

Stephen Creighton

1. Highlighting Light & Shade in Scores (Grades 2-3)
2. Simple Scores Played Well (Grades 4-5)
3. Basic Rudiment Foundations (Grades 4-5)
4. Drum Corps Management & Set Up

Kahlil Cappucino

1. Review Of Fundamentals – March Playing
2. Strathspey & Reel Playing
3. Combining All For Complete MSR Playing
4. Play Along With Piper & Snare Drummer

Owen Russell

1. Bass & Tenor – Past to Present Day
2. Back To Basics – Fundamentals
3. Solo v. Band Playing – Exploring the Differences
4. Tenorletics – Visual & Rhythmic Workout

Andrew Elliott

1. Basic Flourishing Technique
2. Voicing & Reading Music
3. Advanced Flourishing
4. Developing Rudiments & Rhythms

DRUMMING SUNDAY SESSIONS

Session 5 – 9:00am to 10:45am

All Drumming Faculty

• 5. Discussion With The Greats & Questions Answered