NWJPB arrived at Seatac airport at 4:30 AM Tuesday morning, to learn that Houston was having flight delays as well as Chicago the night before. The Continental staff really had their hands full, but ended up getting us checked in on time after a few hours of hurrying up to wait for them to “just get through it”.
The band arrived in Newark, New Jersey expecting a 3.5 hour layover and ended up with approximately 5 hours and one gate change.
The flight crew into Glasgow commented to several of the parents and other travelers that our kids were one of the best groups of kids they’ve ever had on the airplane. They were respectful and friendly and generally great on the flight to Scotland. One of the flight crew told several different adults in our party how great the kids were.
But we arrived in Scotland at approximately 9:00 am Wednesday morning, got checked into our rooms and met for our first practice to make sure the instruments still work correctly after all that time on an airplane. We practiced under the “M-8″ expressway to stay out of the rain, about 4 blocks down hill from our lodging. While we were practicing under the M-8 Wednesday, a reporter drove by, who then contacted the National Piping Centre thinking it might be an interesting story for a Glasgow News magazine he works for. The Piping Centre emailed us and we’re hoping their reporter shows up to our practice Friday morning. Here’s a camera-phone picture of us at practice under the bridge, right next to the offramp from the M-8 to the Great Western Road (A82):
NWJPB practicing out of the rain, under the M-8 freeway in Glasgow
The rain is coming down here occasionally, a lot like spring in Seattle was this year; gray overcast, mist, light showers and occasional heavy rains all day long Wednesday. We’re all exhausted after the travels, but got up for 10:00 AM practice Thursday morning (9:00 for Snare Drummers). The rain held off for the most part Thursday. We’ve found a place only three blocks away that will let us do morning practices indoors while we’re here, it acts as a bar only on Fridays and Saturdays and hosts performances with the Glasgow School of Art students. It’s a nice change from the Freeway overpass when we get to use it for our morning practices. Picture below. Thanks to the very kind people at the Glasgow School of Art, Margaret MacDonald House for helping us get in at this unique space and to Colin and his co-workers at “The Vic” for scheduling it for us and letting us in when we arrive and ring the bell.
NWJPB in our morning practice space at "The Vic"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEÂ Â Â Â
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 JUNIORÂ 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.
John Scullion is one of the premier Scottish Drumming instructors, performers and leaders anywhere in the world. He’s coming to town in February for Masters of Scottish Arts Concert and Winter School (a highly recommended event), and we’ve managed to snag him for some of his time in the area. NWJPB is funding a portion of the cost of a three hour drumming workshop.
John’s time is in great demand from other pipe bands, the MSA organization and other programs, so the only time we’ve been able to confirm so far with John is Thursday night, February 8th, we’ll cancel drumming practice (only drumming practice though) and hold the workshop from 6 to 9 PM. All NWJPB Drummers, beginners and students are encouraged to attend. Participants will receive a preview edition of John Scullion’s upcoming book, “a Fairly Together Programme”, and the fee will go directly to John, to offset the publishing costs of this exciting new book for drummers of all skill levels.
Details:
- John Scullion Drumming Workshop
- February 8th, 2007
- Shorecrest High School (exact location still being worked out, could change)
- 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- $25.00 for Northwest Junior Pipe Band Members
- $50.00 for non-members
More info: ellen@steveroydrumming.com
credit card & paypal (5% surcharge, checks and cash accepted on the day of the event, made out to Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
The first in a series of workshops taught by Colin Gemmel from Olympia was a great success Sunday (even though we had some issues with Seahawks traffic!), with 10 attendees. Photos have been posted.
