I know that some of you have discovered the wealth of piping and drumming info on the internet – but I thought I would pass along some of the more useful bits I’ve found in my browsing (there are loads of non-useful bits out there and it can be hard to distinguish between them)

FREE Resources!!
Dunsire Piping Forums – The Bob Dunsire Forums if you haven’t already, please browse through the Dunsire forums. They are a great place to keep up on what’s new in piping, drumming and bands. Plus they have a ‘trading post’ where you can buy and sell used bagpipe and drumming items.
Pipers – do not hesitate – download and print this PDF document!!!!
The Ultimate Pipe Guides – soooo much good info in this Ebook. And now they have a new addition to the series! Get it.

For those of you competing in solos this summer, here are some great tips that will make the process easier. Most of these are specific to pipers, but drummers should read them anyway. Piper or drummer, the competing experience is the same.
Tips for a Novice Competing Piper of Any Age - From Michael Grey (gold medalist canadian piper and composer)

So you want to compete? - From the EUSPBA (eastern US Pipe Band Association) – PDF document with LOTS of good info

Magazines:

There are several piping/drumming magazines online that are not only a great way to keep up on the latest piping gossip, but can also be a fabulous collection of resources for the knowledge-hungry piper or drummer.

Pipes|Drums (formerly known as piperanddrummer.com) is always good. They used to produce a print magazine, but recently stopped due to costs. So pipesdrums is exclusively online now. For all the goodies you have to buy a subscription for $10 a year. Well worth the money! They have the latest news and info on the piping world, as well as some great articles and tune downloads. I usually check this site every few days for the latest news.

Eastern US Pipe Band Association the Voice is a magazine produced by the EUSPBA. It has been a fantastic magazine for many years, with intelligent articles and loads of info. Well worth the subscription for their high quality print magazine.

Ok, that’s it for now. Every week or so I’ll be sending out more info, so please read it and be prepared to discuss it at band practice.

Thanks! See you Thursday,

Kevin

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
Contact information:
Todd Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band President
206-508-1261
president@nwjpb.org
www.nwjpb.org
=====April 5, 2007 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE======

NORTHWEST JUNIOR PIPE BAND ANNOUNCES NEW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO SERVE YOUTH WHO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

Northwest Junior Pipe Band announced a significant new scholarship program to help members of the band as it prepares its members to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland 2008.

Northwest Junior Pipe Band (a 501(c)3 organization) is a competition and performance pipe band of youth through age 18 committed to excellence in traditional Scottish and Irish music education, and the values of dedication, practice, teamwork, respect, responsibility, community service and tradition.

The music scholarship program is important to improve services to the youth in communities NWJPB serves throughout Western Washington, from Anacortes to Snohomish to Auburn and beyond. Youth interested in joining NWJPB as well as existing members of NWJPB who receive public assistance (from reduced lunches to unemployment insurance or food stamps) are encouraged to apply for as many as five scholarships available to support youth 18 and under interested in learning the bagpipes or drums (including snare, bass, or tenor) from a qualified private instructor. Recipients must be members of Northwest Junior Pipe Band or participate in one of the group lesson programs NWJPB instructors provide.

A second scholarship program was also announced to benefit all members of the band, which will provide workshops to band members, as well as provide opportunities to attend summer camps and workshops for pipers and drummers on a random drawing/rotation basis.

Northwest Junior Pipe Band is the only youth pipe band serving Western Washington. An award winning band of more than 30 musicians, they are enthusiastically preparing for the band’s 2008 trip to Glasgow, Scotland to compete in one of the largest of all Scottish cultural events, the World Pipe Band Championships. Catch these talented musicians at their upcoming concerts April 14^that Shorecrest High School Performing Arts Center. NWJPB competes against both youth and adult bands and often places in the top 3. The drum corps tied for Best Drum Corps in Grade 4 at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games in 2006.

NWJPB is holding a 1 – 1½ hour family matinee at 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm Silent Auction, and 7:00 pm full concert on Saturday April 14^th to raise funds for the Scotland trip next year. A selection of silent auction items will be available for preview and premium bidding from 2pm to 3pm, full auction 6:00 pm.

The full concert includes these additional talented acts:

• Pipers’ Creek Celtic Ensemble
• Karen Shelton Highland Dancers
• Keith Paton, World Class Piper
• Irish Dancers!! Scoil Rince Slieveloughane Irish Dance members

Northwest Junior Pipe Band has a remarkable core of talented and dedicated volunteer instructors building life skills, self confidence, dedication, and a sense of accomplishment in Puget Sound area youth. These widely respected musicians have been donating hundreds of hours per year to Northwest Junior Pipe Band members during the average two practices per week year round. Along with these instructors, Alumni teach beginners during band practices and current youth leaders learn valuable teaching skills and also are given opportunities to teach beginners. Additional world class instruction is brought in for workshops and band practices throughout the year.

Kevin Auld is the Band Director and has been teaching Highland Bagpiping for 18 years in the Seattle area. Kevin served as the Pipe Major for the Washington Scottish for three years, leading them to many successes in Northwest competitions before resigning to fully focus his attention on the Northwest Junior Pipe Band.

Steve Roy is a multi-talented percussionist who began his pipe band career with the Grade 1 Seattle Pipe band as a teenager. Last year he travelled to the World Pipe Band Championships with the Keith Highlanders Pipe Band and also participates in a wide variety of Latin, Rock, and other bands bringing his unique percussion talents to thousands throughout the Northwest.

Marcie MacRae is the band’s talented Tenor and Bass Drum instructor. She has been playing the tenor drum since she was 7, having been raised in one of the most active and influential piping families in the Northwest. Marcie has played both tenor and bass drum with the Washington Scottish Pipe Band and has been teaching private lessons and instructing local pipe bands for more than 10 years.

Release references:

Northwest Junior Pipe Band: www.nwjpb.org
Northwest Junior Pipe Band Scholarship information:  www.nwjpb.org/members
Band Director Kevin Auld: www.seattlepiper.com
Lead Snare Drum Instructor Steve Roy: www.steveroydrumming.com
Lead Tenor/Bass Instructor Marcie MacRae: www.macraedrumming.com

Shorecrest High School Performing Arts Center: www.shorecrestpac.com
World Pipe Band Championships: www.gotoglasgow.com
Pacific Northwest Highland Games: www.sshga.org
BC Pipers, Northwest Regional Piping organization: www.bcpipers.org
Keith Highlanders Pipe Band: www.khpb.org
Washington Scottish Pipe Band www.wascots.com

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I’ve heard people suggest that kids shouldn’t start with a pipe band until they’re 10 or 12.  We’ve removed the 8 year old minimum requirement from our recruiting statement because we’ve seen some very talented kids joining the band, or starting starting lessons younger and younger.  Techniques for teaching kids at younger ages are definitely different with a 5 year old than a 12 year olds, but there’s no question in my mind that the earlier you start on an instrument, the better it can be for the youth in the long run.  Obviously, attention spans vary and some very young kids may not want to continue, but I believe you should give every youth an opportunity to start, whenever they’re ready.

See this amazing video of 2 and 4 year old drummers:

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