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

Grade 2 Side Drumming Hornpipe & Jig:  1st Place Amber S

Grade 2 Side Drumming MSR: 3rd Place Amber S

Grade 4 Piping 2/4 March: 4th Place Marcus D

Grade 4 Piping Strathspey & Reel:  2nd Place Megan M, 3rd Place Paul V

Grade 3 Piping Strathspey & Reel: 2nd Place Saul G

Grade 2 Piping Piobaireachd:  1st Place Aaron S winning the Ian Charles Macleod Memorial Shield.

Grade 2 Piping March, Strathspey & Reel:  1st Place Aaron S, winning the William Lamont Memorial Trophy, presented in memory of Bill Lamont, Past President of the BCPA

Grade 2 Piping Hornpipe & Jig: 3rd Place Aaron S.

Grade 2 Piping Aggregate Winner:  Aaron S, winning the Heather MacInnes Collins Memorial Trophy

MOST OVERALL POINTS of any grade, piping or drumming:  Aaron S, winning the solid brass MacIver Memorial Trophy, first awarded in 1944 in memory of Donald MacIver, founding member of the BCPA.

Grade 1 Piping Jig:  1st Place Alexander Schiele winning the Donald & Kathleen MacLeod Memorial Trophy

Grade 1 Piping March, Strathspey & Reel: 5th Place Alexander Schiele

It was an exciting day for all competitors.  The band contest was exciting to watch; with very strong competitors across the board in the Grade 4 competition group and 15 performances altogether.  Snow remarkably started at the end of the contest and that encouraged many Washington State area pipers and drummers to leave before spending much time at the Ceilidh afterward, unfortunately, but luckily the snow was mosty centralized on the hill that Simon Fraser University campus sits on. 

Congratulations to all competitors for once again demonstrating some of the best talent in piping and drumming in the world, and thanks to all the volunteers in the British Columbia Pipers’ Association for staging a remarkable event for the 78th Annual event.  Senior Adjudicators included Stuart Liddell and Steven McWhirter, formerly of SFU Pipe Band, who lead Inverary & District Pipe Band from Novice Juvenile to Juvenile, Grade 2, and finally Grade 1 over the last several years, who have just placed 2nd in their first band competition in Grade 1 last week.  See more biography about Stuart and Steven on the IDPB roster page.  Adding to that remarkable talent from Scotand, BCPA brought Bruce Gandy, a Victoria area native and one of the world’s top pipers over from Halifax, Nova Scotia.  It’s not cheap or easy to bring the best talent from around the world to the Northwest to teach and provide performance feedback and adjudication, but it’s a valuable experience for the dedicated musicians who work year round to prepare some of the best musical performances in the world right here in our area.  It takes investment and dedication to ensure we continue to grow piping and drumming talent in our region.

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Saturday, July 11th.  In 80 degree heat, the young members of Northwest Junior Pipe Band consumed over 10 gallons of water and nearly 4 gallons of Gatorade, just based on our coolers at the band tent.  The morning started with solo competitions, with band members reaching another new milestone at a highland games competition.  Soloists from NWJPB won aggregate awards (highest overall results across 2 or more events) in every piping event entered.  Grade 5, Grade 4, Grade 3, and Grade 2 piping soloists brought home plaques commemorating their successes, and there was another in Grade 4 side drumming, for a grand total of five NWJPB members earning best overall in their grade level.  Full results listed at the end of this post.  In all events, there were 24 top 6 placings for band members, and nearly 90% of those were top 3 placings. 

In band competition, the Grade 5 (beginning) band played one of their best performances of the season, winning best drum corps and 2nd place to the very talented White Spot Pipe Band Grade 5.  The band felt proud of their performance and have worked very hard to improve each week, and it’s really showing.

The Grade 4 competition band competed using the Medley Selection seen in this video from the BC Highland Games. 

The band’s music selected, arranged, and taught by Kevin Auld, Band Director, Snare scores and instruction by Steve Roy, Snare Drumming Director, and Tenor and Bass scores and instruction by Marcie MacRae, Mid-section Director.  In a field of four bands including White Spot, the Keith Highlanders, and the new talented youth piping organization, Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band, NWJPB placed first and won best drum corps.

Sunday, July 12th: a later start in the morning, and those of us who weren’t awoken by the lightning and thunder overnight were surprised to wake to cool grey skies reminiscent of Scotland.  Anticipation was in the air, as the Grade 5 drum corps, who won 1st place at Skagit both of the last two years, would be competing again, with a Grade 4 drum corps feeling a little more confident.  In the end, both drum corps performed incredibly well, wowing the crowds who braved the early afternoon rain.  Smiles and fist-bumps all around after the competition completed as both groups felt pretty good about their progress and their performances.  The band then got to watch the Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band drum corps perform in the Grade 1 fanfare.

Shortly afterward came the Quick March Medley competition, and the weekend aggregate “Washington State Grade 3 and 4 Pipe Band Championships”.  NWJPB performed a Quick March Medley that they will only compete with at the SkagitValley Highland Games, and the Pacific Northwest Highland Games in Enumclaw the weekend of July 25th and 26th.  Moisture and cool air can play havoc with the wood and reeds of bagpipes, so it takes extra care and caution to prepare the pipers during rainy weather.  Luckily, the rain eased up shortly before the competition, and the band performed very well. 

Finally, the highlight of the day; Northwest Junior Pipe Band instructors decided the time was right to offer NWJPB students a new challenge and opportunity, to compete at the next competition level in pipe bands, Grade 3.  The competition level is very strong in Grade 3, but the band members have been practicing together 3 hours on Sundays and 2 hours on Thursdays almost all year, and all of the new pipers and drummers in new positons have all shown great progress.  There were 5 pipe bands in Grade 3, including Northwest Junior.

Massed Bands started a bit early, around 4:10, trying to beat the next raincloud.  The announcements the band had worked so hard to hear came next:

Saturday Grade 5 Quick March Medley:

1. White Spot Pipe Band 5
2. Northwest Junior Pipe Band 5, Best Drum Corps

Saturday Grade 4 Medley Competition:

1. Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4, Best Drum Corps
2. White Spot Pipe Band
3. Keith Highlanders Pipe Band

Drum Fanfare:

1. NWJPB Grade 4
2. NWJPB Grade 5

Quick March Medley, and Washington State Grade 4 Pipe Band Championships, 3 competitors

1. Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4, Best Drum Corps
2. Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band
3. Keith Highlanders Grade 4

Grade 3 Medley Selection, 5 competitors:

1. Portland Metro Pipe Band, Best Drum Corps
2. Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4
3. Keith Highlanders Grade 3

The band took a quick photo and quickly started tearing down the new band tents to try to avoid the next rainstorm.  The talented musicians of NWJPB thank their incredible instructors, the community of supporters, judges, other bands, and volunteers who work so hard to give us the opportunity to perform, compete, and improve at these events.  It provides a meaningful experience for youth and greater opportunities than many other activities youth could choose to be involved in.

Solo Placings from Saturday:

Grade 4 Side Drumming – Aggregate winner:  Bryce, 6 competitors

• 2/4 March:  Bryce 1st, Steven 2nd, Morgan M 3rd
• 6/8 March:  Bryce 1st, Robert 3rd, Steven 4th

Grade 3 Side Drumming, 5 competitors

• 6/8 March:  Amber 2nd
• 2/4 March, Strathspey & Reel:  Amber 3rd

Grade 2 Tenor Drumming, 8 competitors

• 6/8 March:  Ali 3rd, Alexander 5th

Grade 5 Piping – Aggregate winner: Megan, 13 competitors

• 2/4 March:  Megan 1st, Marcus 3rd
• Slow Air:  Marcus 1st, Megan 2nd

Grade 4 Piping - Aggregate winner:  Devon, 15 competitors

• 2/4 March:  Devon 1st, Elliot 3rd
• 6/8 March:  Saul 1st, Elliot 2nd, Devon 6th

Grade 3 Piping - Aggregate winner: Aaron, 19 competitors 

• 2/4 March:  Aaron 1st
• Strathspey & Reel:  Aaron 1st

Grade 2 Piping - Aggregate winner:  Alexander, 15 competitors 

• Piobaireachd:  Alexander 1st
• Hornpipe & Jig:  Alexander 1st
• March, Strathspey & Reel:  Alexander 2nd 

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The Bellingham Highland Games on Saturday June 6th set several new milestones for the Northwest Junior Pipe Band.  The weather was almost perfect, overcast in the morning, clearing in the afternoon.  After setting so many new milestones in 2008, the band wasn’t sure what to expect from this year, but back to back wins at our first two competitions of the season is giving the band a very positive outlook. 

• Grade 5:  Best Drum Corps, Best band on ensemble preference.
• Grade 4:  Best Drum Corps, Best band.
• A sweep of all the top prizes in two band grade levels. 
• First time in the band’s history winning 1st place at the Bellingham Highland Games in Grade 4.
• FOUR aggregate winners (best combined score across 2 or more solo events):  Grade 4 Side Drumming, Grade 3 side drumming (tie), 2 aggregate wins in Grade 4 Piping (tie).
• NWJPB fielded solo competitors in every grade (G1 bass, G2 tenor and piping, G3 side and piping, G4 side and piping, G5 piping) with top 6 finishes in every grade.
• First Juvenile Pipe Major leading the band during a regular season competition, at least in the past 6 years.  Last year at the Crieff Highland Games in Scotland, Pipe Major Matt Maier led the band to a 1st place win and celebrated his last competition with the band.

Thanks to our amazing community of supporters and volunteers who helped us raise nearly $10,000.00 at our Ceilidh fundraser on Mothers’ Day “Eve” last month.  Without you, this kind of positive experience for youth would not be possible.  NWJPB had several pipers and drummers out due to injuries, school events, and family illnesses, but still managed to pull through with amazing success.

Solo results are available on the BC Pipers’ Association website.

Congratulations to all band members for a solid showing! 

• 5th in Grade 5 piping 2/4 March, 4th in Grade 5 Slow Air
• 1st, 2nd and 6th in Grade 4 piping 6/8 March, 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th in Grade 4 piping 2/4 March, tie for “aggregate” win, best overall score in their grade for two NWJPB pipers.
• 6th in Grade 3 piping Strathspey & Reel (1st place for NWJPB Alumni PM Matt Maier)
• 3rd in Grade 2 piping Hornpipe and Jig and 5th in the March, Strathspey and Reel for our Juvenile Pipe Major
• 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th in Grade 4 Side Drumming 2/4 March, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the 4/4 March.  Lead Drummer Steven won the Aggregate award for the day.
• 1st in Grade 3 Side Drumming 6/8 March, 3rd in the 2/4 March and a tie for the aggregate award for the day.
• 3rd and 4th in Grade 2 Tenor Drumming 2/4 March, 4th in the 6/8 March.
• A sweep of Grade 1 Bass drumming.  NWJPB entered 3 competitors and took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (although we were the only three competitors)

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The band came in seventh in the field of 11 competitors, which considering the challenges faced tuning the drones while they filled with water, and rain dripping off of faces and chanters, causing for slippery fingers and finally the water wheel effect of the tenor mallets flinging rain back into the faces of our mid-section, wasn’t bad. Combine all these elements with the adrenaline and nerves brought on by the pure wonder and awe of the first competition for a Washington youth pipe band in Scotland since 1969, the band was happy to end up near the middle of the grade.  Below you you can see a good shot of the band, followed by a closeup of the rain.

The band and rain at North Berwick Highland Games

The close-up:

Close-up shot of the rain on the competition field

 The band also challenged up to Juvenile to compete against their friends to the North, White Spot Pipe Band. In a field of seven competitors, NWJPB placed 5^th, one behind White Spot performing their Selection Medleys. The rain stopped in the afternoon, and the Grade 2 and 1 bands had a much easier time of the afternoon. North Berwick is a beautiful city by the sea, and some band members managed to make their mark at North Berwick in other ways as you can see by the photo below.  More photos of North Berwick are now posted in our photo album.

NWJPB leaves it's mark at North Berwick

Sunday morning brought a new day and a new opportunity to perform as well as possible. The forecast predicted a low chance of rain, we reached final tuning and the rain began, but lightly and briefly. The air was warmer and fingers managed to keep their feeling. The band competed in Grade 4 (as they do in the US and Canada) since there was no Juvenile competition. The band was a little intimidated by the huge class of 24 pipe bands in Grade 4, a competition so long that the judges were given a half hour break from judging after twelve bands.  In addition, we had no preparation in advance that the group would be this large, because Perth and the RSPBA did not post information in advance of the games about the number of bands who were signed up.  NWJPB arrived and unloaded the instruments from the coaches and dived in to prove that they could do better than Saturday. Saturday’s competition was now a distant memory as the tuning and warm-ups took over.

The band was drawn to play 6^th of the 24 bands, which made some members nervous. The judges would need to really remember the band’s performance through several hours of judging talented band after talented band, from all over the world. The Royal Army of Oman pipe band was parked next to NWJPB and several members took pictures with them and received lapel pins. The Oman pipe band is a military band from Oman, with the most unique and beautiful uniforms (Best Dressed Band at Perth).

Washington’s Keith Highlanders Grade IV band was at the games when NWJPB arrived, and they were drawn to perform just after NWJPB.  The bands compared notes about the games, the rain, the North Berwick Games, and the many KHPB members who flew in Saturday evening after 10:00 pm after spending more than 30 hours on flights to get to Glasgow. 

Royal Army of Oman Pipe Band

The time flew by and NWJPB’s turn on the competition field was near.  The pipes well set, the drums tensioned and dried after a few sprinkles, and the band approached final tuning just after the rain had started coming down, so with plastic covered drums, the band practiced and touched up tuning on the drones and drums. The steward called for the band to enter the field, and the rain had stopped. Taking the line with confidence, the pipers and drummers of NWJPB put their game faces on, and performed the March Medley as well as it has ever been performed in competition. Most of the band stayed behind to watch the Keith Highlanders perform, then returned their instruments to their cases on the coach so they could have lunch and watch more of the bands. Oran Mor is a Grade 1 band in the Eastern US Pipe Band Association, competing in Grade 2 in Scotland. Back in June, they had a fire on their tour bus going to a competition in Ohio.  The band asked to borrow a bagpipe cover from us (possibly because they haven’t fully recovered from the losses suffered in the fire), and we were happy to loan one to them. Oran Mor came in first in their competition, and our bagpipe cover was “there to hear it” as they competed. We’re proud to support another US band going to Scotland and playing very well.

Massed Bands was enormous. There were 42 bands on the field, which was the center of the horse track at Perth. The announcements began with the Drum Major competitions and moved to bands. They announce Grade 4 first, then placings from top to bottom. Grade 4, 1^st place: Northwest Junior, USA!  After a brief moment of confusion, screams of excitement, pride and joy erupted from the band and supporters around the field.  Our once ”little” pipe band from Shoreline, Washington had come to Scotland and won in a field of 24 pipe bands from around the world.

The Grade 4 bands competed in “the winners circle” at the racetrack.   We went back there for photos with our Perth Band Trophy, and took group shots as well as individuals with the trophy.  The most poignant moment of the day was when a piper and a couple of drummers, Elliot, Bryce and Stephen stepped into the competition circle and began playing the Streaker hornpipe and Paddy’s Epic Journey, a favorite tune set from the band’s 2007 Medley Selection.  Some looked around wondering what was going on, but this was a spontaneous and joyous celebration of the events of the day, and piper after drummer after piper quickly made their way to join in on the fun in the circle, playing the tunes from the heart and truly enjoying the last moments for the band in Perth, Scotland on a day the band members will not soon forget.

First place Grade 4 of 24 bands at Perth, Scotland, UK

NWJPB, Number 1 at Perth, UK

NWJPB Pipers in the Winners' Circle

NWJPB Grade 4 snare drummers at Perth

NWJPB Grade 4 Midsection

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The Shoreline Enterprise newspaper posted the below story about the Northwest Junior Pipe Band trip to Scotland that begins Tuesday, April 5th.  Follow the band’s progress in Scotland by signing up for updates.



 

Click the photograph by Enterprise photographer Jeff Faddis for the story.

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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.

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Northwest Junior Pipe Band has been rapidly growing and steadily improving over the past few years since gaining a promition to Grade 4 from the beginning Grade 5 class.  With over 50 members and the second season fielding two pipe bands, The first competition of 2008 started out strong for the band.  This is a historic year for what was once a struggling youth pipe band from Washington, and band members felt a lot of pride in their musicianship and teamwork when they completed the first event of the year with the highest ever combined ranking of bands in our history.

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

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This is compiled from a ton of responses to questions pipers and drummers receive, many of which are funny to those that are immersed in and committed to piping and drumming, and surround themselves with the unique community that devotes itself to the Scottish arts.  However, in most cases, they speak to the ignorance and lack of understanding about bagpipes and drums.  Sometimes they just speak to a human desire to be “in” or “have the inside track”…most of these cases are just funny. 

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.

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