Northwest Junior Pipe Band traveled to the Portland Highland Games in Gresham, OR on Saturday July 17, 2010. The youth of the Grade 4/advanced band and soloists faced cool temperatures in the morning which cleared mid-day and reached the low to mid 70′s by band competition time.
In the second to last competition of the season for the youth bagpipe band celebrating its 15th anniversary, the band set a new milestone by moving into the lead for the season aggregate standings for the first time in its history competing in Grade 4.
The competition is very close, with three youth bands taking the top three spots. Northwest Junior Pipe Band from Shoreline, WA; White Spot Pipe Band from Vancouver, BC, Canada in 2nd place, and Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band from Portland in 3rd place of the five pipe bands competing.
Soloists faced challenges in the morning with cool temperatures chilling fingers and instruments, but NWJPB members continued to display their growing talents for the judges, and learning from the feedback.
Full Results
Northwest Junior Pipe Band is a non-profit youth music program teaching bagpipes, drums, musicianship and valuable life skills to youth in the Puget Sound region. The band has won the title “Washington State Grade 4 Pipe Band Champion” at the Skagit Valley Highland Games in Mount Vernon, WA for the past two years. Last year, the band “challenged up” to a higher level competition grade 3, and placed 2nd. There were fewer competitors this year, but every Grade 4 pipe band challenged up, and the top 3 results were the same in each grade. Northwest Junior Pipe Band is the 2010 Washington State Grade 3 Pipe Band Champion, as well as the 2010 Washington State Grade 4 Pipe Band Champion, extending the streak to three years as Washington State Champions.
Full results: Continue Reading »
NWJPB Grade 4 travelled to Coquitlam, BC, Canada on Saturday June 26th for the British Columbia Highland Games. The morning started cool and overcast and solo pipers from many different bands were facing challenges with moisture causing tone challenges with their drones and reeds, but NWJPB members managed to pull off some successes on the solo platforms, regardless of the moisture in the air.
As afternoon approached, the sun came out and after 2 grade 5 bands performed, NWJPB was the last of 6 Grade 4 bands to compete. Results were announced at the end of the day, with Northwest Junior Pipe Band receiving 1st place marks from all four judges. NWJPB received the Robert Malcolm Memorial Trophy for the 3rd straight year at the BC Highland Games.
RESULTS: Continue Reading »
Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4 side, tenor and bass recieved their last piece of competition music 1 week before the competition, and all studied and practiced as hard and fast as possible to pull together a surprisingly strong performance for the first outing of the season; surprising even themselves. 5 bands competed, and three bands tied for 2nd place, with placings being decided based on the ensemble judges preference.
RESULTS:
The Highland Games in Victoria, BC highlighted great results again for NWJPB members. Two Aggregate winners and strong performances from everyone who competed. It takes great commitment from families and youth to travel to and prepare for these events, but the feedback from top judges at this first two outdoor events of the season is a very positive example of the dedication and drive to succeed NWJPB members demonstrate.
RESULTS
Winter Storm 2010 Silver Medalist Brian McKenzie assists today's Grade 4 Piping Aggregate Winner Marcus
A quick refresher on bagpipe and drumming amateur competition grading, beginners on pipes start at Grade 5, and work their way up to Grade 1 based on their ability, competition results and demonstrated performances. There are also chanter and drum pad classes at some events for first year beginners. Side Drummers begin at Grade 4, Tenor at Grade 2, and Bass drumming only offers Grade 1 competitions.
The Comox Valley Highland Games is the first outdoor event of the season in BC, Oregon, and Washington; where the band competes. Far to the north on Vancouver Island in the lush and beautiful surroundings of Courtenay, BC. Many Northwest Junior Pipe Band competitors made the trip north this year and demonstrated their talents in solo competitions. Three NWJPB members won aggregate for their grade levels, meaning the highest points across multiple events.
RESULTS:
NWJPB didn’t compete as a band at the Annual Gathering for the first time since 2005 due to an unfortunate lack of drumming music and some other challenges the band is working to address quickly, however several band members attended the event and saw great success in solo piping and drumming competitions.
Grade 4 Side Drumming 2/4 March: 1st Place: Morgan M.
Grade 4 Side Drumming 6/8 March: 2nd Place: Robbie G. 3rd Place: Morgan M
Grade 4 Side Drumming Aggregate Winner (most combined points): Morgan M, tie, winning the BC Pipers’ Association Shield.
Grade 3 Side Drumming 6/8 March: 2nd Place Bryce K
Grade 3 Side Drumming MSR: 3rd Place Bryce K
The Children’s Music Workshop provides some great information about the benefits of music education for youth. The full article is here>>, but there were some key points I wanted to point out as our youth music organization works hard to prepare for our upcoming fundraiser on May 8th. Click the flyer to the left to visit our homepage and purchase tickets.
The article lists four areas where music education provides benefits. It leads to Success in society, school, intelligence and life.
Success in Society: studies have shown that secondary school students who participated in band or orchestra report the lowest lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. It has a noticable impact on reducing teen violence. Music study is credited with broadining understanding and appreciation of the world around you and stimulate and contribute to intellectual development. The College Board in New York lists the arts as one of the six basic academic subject areas students should study in order to succeed in college. Most of the very best engineers and technical designers in the Silicon Valley industry area are, nearly without exception, also practicing musicians. Continue Reading »
We have seen many examples of the positive impact our program can make in kids lives. NWJPB has the biggest fundraiser in our history coming up on May 8th, and it’s important to know that with the number of students in the program now (more than 40) it costs nearly $100,000 per year to keep the organization successful and thriving. Our $55 dinner/concert/auction tickets and your support will provide an important part of the income that helps make our 15 year anniversary a successful year and helps provide stability for the future of a number of youth from the Puget Sound region.
The impacts of music are many and varied. A supportive, nurturing and challenging environment where youth can learn to be leaders, grow their talents as musicians and travel are all things we consider critically important, and this video reminded us of just some of the benefits of the work so many of us do on a daily basis to keep the organization growing and successful.
Please visit http://nwjpb.org to purchase tickets for our 15th Anniversary Mothers’ Day Eve celebration at Lynnwood Convention Center. The deadline to purchase dinner tickets is April 25th.
We found this video on IrishClub.org that has shots of almost every entry in the 2010 St. Patrick’s Day parade, including NWJPB. Thanks Irish Club of Seattle and Laura (Cosacchi) Adams Guy!
