Two competitions remain before the band leaves for Scotland.  NWJPB’s Grade 4 and 5 bands will perform at a free concert on Friday evening at 7:00 PM at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games in Enumclaw Washington, then both Grade 4 and Grade 5 bands will compete both Saturday and Sunday July 26th and 27th.  The band has signed up two bagpipe quartet competition groups, the Grade 5 drum corps drum salute and a bunch of solo competitors as well. 

Here’s a shot of the band leaving the competition circle in front of the packed grandstands at Portland:

Here’s a video:

Well, this one isn’t a joke.  Nintendo is coming out with “Wii music” where you can choose from up to 60 instruments.  Among those are the bagpipes.  Check out the GameSpot article.  You play the pipes by holding the remote upward and pressing the “1 and 2 buttons”.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any pictures of the game with a bagpiper, but it sounds like it could be fun.

Northwest Junior Pipe Band started off the week learning they are the only youth bagpipe band from the United States scheduled to compete at the ultimate competition for pipe bands, the World Pipe Band Championships on August 16th, 2008.  33 youth pipe bands from around the world will compete, with the young band from Washington as the only US entry.   The recent draw listing the order of play for the two qualifying competition heats puts NWJPB up first at 9:00 am.

Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4 then went on to wrap up a two day competition at the sunny Skagit Valley Highland Games in Mount Vernon, WA on July 13th, winning the title “Washington State Grade 4 Pipe Band Champions.”   The band placed 1st of 5 bands on Saturday and 1st of 3 bands on Sunday, winning best drum corps both days. 

The Grade 5 band performed very well Saturday, turning in one of their best ensemble performances of the season and finishing with a first place award.  The beginner drum corps wowed and surprised the crowd Sunday, winning the drum salute competition in a field of 3 drum corps entries from Grades 3, 4, and 5.

Solo competitions were a great success for band members as well, with many top placings in both piping and drumming. 

During the upcoming trip to Scotland, the band will begin their two weeks in Scotland competing at the North Berwick Highland Games August 9th, followed by the Perth Highland Games August 10th.   They will perform on the first day of the week long Piping Live! festival on August 11th.  Saturday the 16th is the World Championships, followed by the Crieff Highland Gathering on August 17th before they return to the US.

Northwest Junior Pipe Band’s cast of Washington State Champions is 22 musicians between the ages of 9 and 18, who travel to Shoreline 2 to 3 times a week to hone their surprising skills from all around the Puget Sound including Auburn, Enumclaw, Marysville, Snohomish and beyond as well as those from Seattle and Shoreline.  Experience on their instruments ranges from 18 months to one member with nine years playing bagpipes, but the average is about 2.5 years.  The beginning band has a lower average age, with most having around one year of experience, but one piper with only 3 months playing the Great Highland Bagpipe.

Posing with the Grade 4 Trophy at the BC Highland Games.

Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4 won best drum corps and first place of seven bands at the British Columbia Highland Games on Saturday June 28th, 2008.  2008 marks only the third season of competing at this level after receiving a promotion from Grade 5 in 2005, and this is the first first place victory in a BC Pipers’ Association sanctioned Highland Games.

The band Saturday consisted of 8 side drummers, 3 tenor drummers, a bass drummer, and 10 bagpipers.  The age range is from 9 to 18, and includes the adult band director Kevin Auld.

The Northwest Junior Pipe Band - Grade 4 members will be the first youth band from Washington State to ever compete in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in August, and only the second youth band from Washington to travel to Scotland for any competition since 1969.  The band is growing to a crescendo of membership and talented bagpipers and drummers 18 and younger.

Seven pipe bands competed, three focused on youth pipers and drummers, and four bands either focused on adults or largely or with a majority of adult members.  Two Canadian youth pipe bands; Robert Malcom Memorial, and White Spot Pipe Band Grade 4 joined the Keith Highlanders from Bellevue, the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada- a Canadian military pipe band founded in 1910, the Kamloops Pipe Band Society from British Columbia, and the Bellingham Pipe Band from Washington.  During bagpipe band competitions, four judges critique piping, drumming, and ensemble, or how well the pipes and drums perform and sound together.

In the Northwest (British Columbia, Washington and Oregon) pipe band competitions are based on skill rather than age.  Youth bands compete against adult bands, and are judged by the top pipers and drummers in the world who provide valuable feedback to the bands to help them improve their skills.  Northwest Junior Pipe Bands; Grade 4 and 5 travelled north to Coquitlam British Columbia, into the heart of piping and drumming in the Northwest, where the largest numbers of talented pipers and drummers hone their skills, supported by a long tradition and celebration of Scottish culture and pipe band competitions.  Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4 won first place overall and received recognition for fielding the “Best Drum Corps” at the British Columbia Highland Games on Saturday June 28th, a major milestone for the Seattle - area youth pipe band founded in 1995. 

Northwest Junior Pipe Band youth were enthusiastic about their performance on Saturday, but are maintaining laser like focus on their ultimate goal of performing well during their August trip to Scotland.  The band will compete in 4 competitions throughout their two week stay, but the World Pipe Band Championships is the biggest challenge for any bagpipe band, attracting the most talented bagpipe bands in the World, who travel to Scotland every year for this event.  

Band Director Kevin Auld is a full time performer and instructor of the Great Highland Bagpipe, and begain working with the band in 2002.  After Saturday’s performance Kevin told the band “Regardless of the outcome, you performed your best today, and that’s what makes me proud of our performance.”  Mid Section Director Marcie MacRae was one of the founding instructors with the band, and was thrilled with the performance.  Drumming Director Steve Roy leads a large snare drum corps of 8 members, who performed in near-perfect synchronization Saturday. The youngest snare drummer in the Grade 4 band is 9, and the oldest is 16. Steve is a full time percussionist and instructor who has been volunteering with Northwest Junior Pipe Band for four years.  Other volunteer instructors include Rick Rich, working with our Grade 5 snare drummers, and Ben Little, who graduated from the Northwest Junior Pipe Band in 2007 and has been working with the Grade 5 competition band as leading the band as Pipe Major at Highland Games competitions this year.  Former band members often return to help teach the members of Northwest Junior Pipe Band.

The next competition for the band is in Mount Vernon at the Skagit Valley Highland Games on July 12th and 13th.  The band’s full schedule is available on www.nwjpb.org/schedule.

Grade 4 competed in a class of 5 bands, three youth and two combined adult / youth organizations, placing 2nd overall, with first and second rankings from the two piping judges, 2nd in drumming and 3rd in ensemble.  Watch the video of the best performance in the band’s history:

The brand new Grade 5 band for 2008 performed incredibly well placing first of three youth bands.  The majority of them have been playing for less than one year, and one member just started on pipes in April after learning the music on the practice chanter.  This is a truly remarkable feat.  The band gained first place rankings from three judges and “Best Drum Corps”, continuing the string of 1st place finishes that an almost completely different beginning band won last year before most of that band worked hard to gain the promotion to our Grade 4 band.  See the video here:

NWJPB at the Bellingham Highland Games in Ferndale, WA

Northwest Junior Pipe Band members are building a new future and history of competitive youth pipe bands in Washington State. They have worked feverishly over the last year to raise over $24,000.00 to travel to Scotland while honing their skills to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships this August.  With less than $10,000 to reach their goal and fly to Scotland in August, the band can almost hear the crowds at Glasgow Green urging them toward the finish line.

The community is helping these prize winning young musicians join 200 bands from all over the world in Scotland this August.  Help them meet their goals by attending a benefit dinner with entertainment, dancing, drink and auctions.

Entertainment will include Northwest Junior Pipe Band, Pipers’ Creek Celtic Ensemble, Scottish Dancing, the Bucketmen and more to be announced. The Northwest Junior Pipe Band has grown to nearly 50 members and started new educational and scholarship programs, reaching out to youth who want to have unique and incredible experiences, while learning to play their traditional instruments to the highest standards.

Act quickly for reserved seating by purchasing a table of 8 for $280.00 until April 30^th.

Northwest Junior Pipe Band “Mothers’ Day Eve” Ceilidh/Party Benefit Dinner
Saturday, May 10^th, 2008
Lake City Elks Club, 14540 Lake City Way NE, Seattle
Doors open for auction 5:30, dinner and entertainment starts 6:30
Silent Auction, Dessert Auction
38.00 adult, 33.00 17 and under
Tables of 8: $280.00 until April 30th, $304 after.
Italian Chicken or Lasagna dinner, with salad, bread, and non-alcoholic beverages.
No-host bar.
Entertainment includes dancing, Northwest Junior Pipe Band and Pipers’ Creek Celtic Ensemble.

Table and half table purchases will receive reserved seating.
email concert@nwjpb.org for more info, or call 206-508-1261

Photographer Ellen M. Banner from the Seattle Times took the below photo of one of our 11 year old pipers and posted it online in a photo album of shots from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

We have pipers scheduled to perform on the air on “The Ron & Don Show” on Kiro 710 AM, available streaming live on their website  by clicking the  710 Kiro icon under “On the Air”.

Part of our appearance at the parade made it to YouTube as well. We were the biggest bagpipe band at the parade. It’s hard to believe we had just a dozen members 3 or 4 years ago.  It’s even harder to believe that we’re going to be the first youth bagpipe band from Washington in nearly 40 years to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships!

We recognize though, that as bagpipes gain popularity, more and more people are curious about the instrument, history, expectations, commitment and challenges.  While many of the stories are funny…often it just illustrates how much work organizations like ours need to do to educate the public about our art.  The original discussion thread is from the “Beer Tent” section of Bob Dunsire Forums, a growing discussion board and community of more than 10,000 pipers, drummers, and celtic music and arts fans around the world.  See the discussion likely continuing to grow here>>

“Do you have to be Scottish to play Bagpipes?”

Often, this comes in the form of a statement:  “Only Scottish people can play bagpipes properly” or “you must be Scottish”.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  One of the motivations for many people who start out definitely IS to learn something or get “in touch” with their heritage.  But there are literally thousands of people who play bagpipes or Scottish drums from all over the world.  Northwest Junior Pipe Band encourages youth of any background to come and find out what all the fun is about.  There are bagpipe bands and bagpipers in hundreds of countries from Australia to Mexico (we had a new member join our Grade 5 band this year after learning to play pipes in Mexico), Asia to the Netherlands.  Bagpipes are an acquired taste for many, but there is no cultural background requirement to love them.

“Are you a Bagger…do you play the Pipe Organ?”

This is just a classic example of confusion or lack of familiarity with the instrument.  They’re Bagpipes, and “baggers” are usually people that work in grocery stores.  Pipe Organs are a similar concept (as are many wind based instruments)…but definitely not nearly as portable as a set of bagpipes.  Piper, Bagpiper, Highland Piper…those are the most commonly accepted terms.  :)  We’re not a “Bag Band”, but “Pipe Band” is ok!

On the lack of understanding about the difficulty and commitment necessary to play bagpipes. From “pancelticpiper”

Sometimes, the questions highlight the impact of our “instant gratification” culture.  Learning the bagpipe, the Scottish drums, the variety of unique folk, dance, classical and historical music that we’re devoted to takes significant dedication.

Two stories, both of which really highlight that NO musical instrument can “just be played” without a serious time investment, and that the value of a talented bagpipe performance is often misunderstood:

A woman calls seeking a piper to play around 20 minutes at her event. I tell her the fee is $150.
She was incredulous but didn’t skip a beat, immediately coming back with “So how much do you charge for bagpipe lessons?”
I tell her $25 per lesson.
“So tell you what: I’ll take one lesson, rent a bagpipe for a few dollars, and do the playing myself!”

…her event did not feature bagpipe music.

I got a call from the “property master” of the Ellen show. He explained that Ellen begins each show with some bit of schtick, and her idea for one show was to march in playing the bagpipes.

This guy was surprisingly knowing in that he realised that if he rented a bagpipe from a Hollywood prop house it wouldn’t be in playing condition. He knew that he had to rent a bagpipe which was currently “set up” and played.

He actually told me “Ellen wants you to show me how to play them, then I can show her.”

So I show up (with a contract which stipulates that they must reimburse me for any damage to the pipes) and I give a quick demo to the propery master of how to play the pipes. He watched me in a serious, focused way… then said “I think you’ll have to show Ellen yourself.”

…her program did not feature bagpipe music.

On “Laws” about what Kilt or Tartan one can wear.

People often believe (or claim) there are rules or laws about wearing highland dress. Nobody has ever identified a law on paper that prevents you from wearing the tartan of a specified clan. In many cases, people wear the “tartan” of their ancestry, but the “Tartan Police” will not track you down and fine you if you just choose a tartan that you like. The only recommendation is to get a quality kilt and dress from a vendor that cares about the history and importance of the clothing. Our pipe band this needs to spend nearly $10,000.00 on uniforms for new members. Expect to spend a minimum of $500.00 for a good kilt. With that, add 100 for the belt, 100 for the Sporran, 30 for acceptable hose (socks), 125 for “Ghillie Brogues” (shoes), and around 300.00 if you want a traditional Argyle or Prince Charlie jacket.

If you’re paying over $1200.00 for traditional Scottish dress, you’ve earned the right to create your own traditions and wear something you like without fear of the Secret Tartan Police tracking you down. 

“You can tune those things?”

Yes, absolutely.  Pipe bands spend a significant amount of time tuning the three different drones on each bagpipe to sound exactly the same (3 drones times 10 pipers in a band…30 independent sounds to be tuned together) and the “chanter”…the part of the bagpipe that actually makes the music.  There are 9 notes on the chanter.  Tape is very often used to make the finger holes smaller, raising the pitch, or opened up more lowering the pitch.  The position, design, material and temperature of the reed the wind blows through can affect the tuning as well.  I like to believe that many people who claim not to like bagpipes have never heard a well-tuned and talented bagpiper or pipe band perform.

“Why are you wearing earplugs?”

Bagpipes can reach 116 decibels, about the level of a chainsaw.  For performers in Northwest Junior Pipe Band, earplugs are mandatory at practices and performances.

“Can you turn those down?” Thanks to “Janelle, aka Tenor Granny”

Basically, no.  The Great Highland Bagpipe and Highland Snare are designed to be loud.  They’re designed for outdoor play, and there’s no volume adjustment.  However, there are “indoor” bagpipes designed for “tolerable” levels; shuttle pipes, small pipes, kitchen pipes, and other options.  Many pipers have a set of each. 

Concert Organiser ” We are going to use our own sound man and system today, because last time you were here some of our older audience found you were too loud”
Piper “We didn’t use the microphones last time and we won’t this time”
Concert Organises “Oh! Can you turn them down then please?”
Piper “No, we can’t turn them down”
Organiser “But you’ll have to. They really are too loud.
Pipe Major steps in and says ” Don’t worry, we’ll play softer”
After we had played, Concert Organiser “Thank you that was much better than last time”

“Do all Scottish Drummers play Bagpipes?”

This is by far my favorite interaction from the discussion; admittedly cobbled together over a variety of conversations…but sometimes when we don’t hear the answer we expect from someone, it takes a while to sink in. Other times, the person answering the questions changes his “tune”. Thanks to Cliff Davis, Bass Drummer.

Seemingly nice person making conversation: “Do you have any hobbies?”

“I play the bass drum in a pipe band.”

“I love the fife, I saw a group at a Revolutionary War exhibit when I was in Virginia. Is it hard to learn the fife?”

“Actually I meant to say bagpipes and drums. It’s a bagpipe band with drums, and I play the bass drum.”

“Oh I see; how long have you played the bagpipes?”

“Actually, I’m a drummer. I play the bass drum in a pipe band. I’m a lifelong drummer that discovered pipe band about twenty years ago when I was in my thirties. I love pipeband drumming; lots of swing, and it’s some of the coolest drumming around.”

“Is it hard to learn to play the pipes?”

“The bagpipe is a difficult instrument to learn and particularly difficult to master. I think that most students spend at least six months to a year on a practice chanter before they are ready to go on to the bagpipes. But I’m no authority because I’m a drummer.”

“Oh, I see. Do you have to have Scottish blood to wear a plaid skirt and play the bagpipes? Do you get to throw those telephone poles? What do they wear under those skirts? What is the name of that fife song in the Old Spice commercial? And tell me again, how long did you say you’ve been a bagpiper?”

“About ten years.”

 “Are there real songs for those things?”

There are thousands of tunes composed for the Great Highland Bagpipe, and many that “fit” the instrument, but people are still learning about this unique instrument and the types of music they’re capable of.  The challenge of bagpipe music is that there are nine basic notes, without the full range of possibilities available to most instruments.  While some “popular” music can be translated to the bagpipes, many tunes sound unusual if played on pipes.  In addition, there are “Scottish” and “Irish” tune styles or “idioms” that most commonly get written for the highland bagpipe.  Probably the most common are March tunes, designed for parades, events, festivals and celebrations accompanying the troops in or out.  Similar to the “Fife and Drum” corps that you think of in American history…the small “piccollo” or flute marching in front of snare drummers.  There are also a variety of different dance styles including the Strathspey (uniquely Scottish in origin), the Reel, the Jig, the Hornpipe.  One of the most commonly recognized and celebrated tunes for the bagpipe is “Amazing Grace“, a christian hymn, with words originally written by  Englishman John Newton in the 1700’s, but only relatively recently associated with bagpipes…within the past 100 years.  Piobaireachd is the “historic” and “classical” music for bagpipes, with a history going back hundreds of years.

“Where do you put the batteries?”

In your electric tuner?  Bagpipes are purely wind and arm-powered.  It is pretty amazing that so much sound can be produced from human power, but it’s true.  No batteries required, just a lot of breath and arm control.

A word on “manners”

Several commented about people walking up to them while playing and just beginning to ask questions in the middle of a song.  This may be related to the question about whether there are songs written for bagpipes…but it’s hard to know for sure.  When you encounter a musician performing or playing music, just politely wait until they finish playing to ask them.  Most pipers and drummers are happy to answer your questions…but no-one wants to be interrupted when they’re performing or demonstrating a skill that they have invested significant time in building.  If you’re at a Highland Games event and see a man or woman sitting at a table by a performing piper or drummer; listening and writing notes…that’s a competition judge, and you should avoid interupting them as well.

 Other Resources

For one of the most complete set of references answer questions about bagpipes, pipe bands and more, please visit Andrew Lenz’s “Bagpipe Journey” website (prominently linked in our sidebar).  He has a huge collection of reference articles covering everything from anatomy of a bagpipe to finding a good instructor, or finding a bagpipe band to join.  Andrew’s website is an excellent resource for almost anything you want to know about bagpiping.

See the great article posted in February about piping and drumming in the Northwest here>>

ABC news recently ran a feature story about bagpiping.  While they call it a “resurgence” many in the piping world think of it as continued growth in  public interest.  Rock Band “Red Hot Chili Pipers” is given some credit for “mainstreaming” bagpipes, but the story covers several of the reasons why bagpiping seems to be gaining popularity.  The reporter attempts playing pipes in a humorous depiction of how challenging the instrument is to master.

“It takes some blowing power, and, of course, the skill and coordination. It’s rather like, if you can tap your head and rub your tummy at the same time, you’ve probably got it”

Watch the video, “Bagpipe Rock“

“So, why learn? Playing makes you look like a blowfish. And the pipes can reach 111 decibels — that’s louder than a pneumatic drill. In the wrong hands, it’s torture.  ‘Being played by someone who knows how to play them, they will not sound like a strangled cat. You get a lovely sound from the instrument,’ said Manderson. It’s a sound that does something inexplicable to anyone with a lick of Scottish blood. But even those of you not lucky enough to be Scottish seem drawn to the drone.”

It’s good to see the “mainstream” press continuing to pick up on the work so many put into this unique hobby/lifestyle/music.