By Wilson Brown, NPC Instructor
This year’s Italian Spring School returned to Calambrone on May 1-3, just outside Pisa, with the school enjoying a fantastic location on the coast. I travelled a day earlier this year in order to carry out PDQB examinations, 12 candidates from Level 4 to Level 8, theory and performance. Once again I was joined by Alberto Massi to teach the 25 students. It was also pleasing to see four Italian pipers who had previously achieved their PDQB Tutor qualification assisting with the four groups of students. Many thanks to Chiara, Roberto, Umberto and Mose for their assistance and contribution.
At the beginning of the week the students were tasked with learning and memorising two tunes from the school’s music pack, the 3/4 Far o’er Struy and the slow air Alison’s Song. 13-year-old Emily Aaronson ‘volunteered’ to write the harmonies and also selected suitable volunteers to play the harmonies. On the final morning, the group then played the tunes on the pipes and they should be congratulated on the progress made over a such a short period. As you walked through the corridors of our accommodation the halls echoed with Alison’s Song being hummed or whistled!
The groups had eight sessions each day with a mixture of group lessons, workshops and group playing. The course was organised by the Italian Pipers’ Association, in partnership with the NPC, and managed to find the right balance of learning and socialising. It’s always very enjoyable being immersed in the Italian culture for a few days and I always return a bit more knowledgeable on food, wine, coffee and aperitifs, this year’s favourite was a very enjoyable coffee punch, a speciality of the Tuscan region.
On the last night, the students gathered in the main hall. Alberto Massi gave a fine rendition of MacLeod’s Salute and I borrowed a set of pipes and played a few tunes. The pipes could be heard late into the night as students played individually and as a band. The students come from all over Italy and this school gives them an opportunity to meet and enjoy catching up with a few tunes and a few stories, old and new!
After lunch on the final day presentations and group photographs were taken. This year’s Most Dedicated student was awarded to William Galetti and the Most Improved to Daniele Spadon. They will receive invitations to attend one of the NPC’s adult gatherings in the forthcoming year.
A big thank you to Raffaele, the association’s president and the committee for all the hard work they put in to make the school such a success. Here’s to many more years of partnership and friendship between the NPC and the Italian Pipers’ Association.
