Moose Jaw & Regina: A Good Start
That was fun. The debut for new instruments and band members was pretty good, and got better as the weekend went on. It was a good start. The thing is this: I think it has the potential to be much better. How good could it be, musically speaking? That might be in your hands—if you are a band member. There are some areas to improve, and many of them have to do with individual levels of readiness and performance.

Go back to one of the very early posts on this blog [http://crpb.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_crpb_archive.html] for January 20 and you'll note that I have been thinking about this for awhile. To make the next steps, the individual levels of readiness and confidence in preparation have to be higher. On your mark, get set...

Great work over the weekend. That was our most impressive season start to-date, except maybe in 1993, when it was absolutely stunning to show up with a new band and win. Very nice to win drumming both days, and great job by all on making that possible.

One of the best moments of the weekend for me was this: after playing one of the Grade 4 band events, two long-time friends of pipe bands in Regina who refer to themselves as "CRPB Roadies" [but in fact have been supporters of the Fraser, Victoria Park, City of Regina and Conservatory bands] came up with a donation for the band's trip to Scotland. "Let's cut out the perogy middleman," they said,"and get this straight into the band fund."

Playing some good music, and having the support of friends to do it, is what it's all about.