Traditional music sessions are enticing, and the interplay of the musicians and instruments may seem random to an onlooker. However, there is often an unseen session etiquette that needs to observed sensitively by a beginner. And many sessions will have a repertoire of tunes that are particular to a venue […]
John Dew and Calum Brown will compete in the first semi-final of the Scots Guards Club Knockout competition on Sunday, January 29, with a 4pm start. The second semi-final will be held on Sunday, February 19, 4pm, and will be contested by Brìghde Chaimbeul and Angus McColl Jnr. All competitor […]
A Beginner’s Guide • By John Slavin. As part of the interviews conducted for this feature in 2011, I focused on a few topics which are crucial, or closely related, to the whole subject. These discussions are not all about the theory but more about sharing the experience of the […]
In the build up to this year’s Celtic Connection Annual Pipe Band Concert, the promoters have released a series of videos. The video featured here looks at the history of the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band and the influence Ian Duncan had when he joined in 1974. More information on […]
The Caledonian Piping Club started in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, at the turn of the millennium with the aim of offering people of all ages in the local community a chance to learn to play the pipes. It was founded by the current leader, Gerard McClumpha, and his friend Colin McCallum. The […]
You may be planning a quiet start to daily life in 2023, but a busy January lies in store for those who want to start the year filled with bagpipes. If you are in Scotland, The National Piping Centre is offering weekend tuition for U17 pipers; adult amateur pipers have […]
The Waipu Highland Games in New Zealand held their 150th Anniversary Games on January 1, 2023. Organised by the Waipu Caledonian Society, the Games offers solo piping and drumming competitions for all levels, and is proceeded on Hogmanay by a freestyle open solo competition for the Helen McGregor Memorial Trophy. […]
A Beginner’s Guide • By John Slavin. If you have followed part one and part two of this series you should now understand the importance of playing a concert pitch B-flat chanter, and the following points summarise the other important aspects covered in the previous features. Your low A sounds […]
Happy New Year and all the best for 2023 to the piping community all over the World! Today we look back to photos from the World Pipe Band Championships at Glasgow Green on August 11, 2012. Field Marshal Montgomery won Grade 1, followed by ScottishPower, Simon Fraser University, Boghall and Bathgate […]
It’s Hogmanay 2022, and this evening we look back ten years to photos from the Scottish Pipe Band Championships at Dumbarton on May 19, 2012. Field Marshal Montgomery won Grade 1, followed by ScottishPower, Inveraray, Strathclyde Police, St Laurence O’Toole and Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia. Glasgow Skye won Grade 2, […]
