Among the members who aren't wearing the MacTavish with City of Regina this year are pipers Graham Schmidt and Nils Michael. Graham is a Regina product, and has played in the band for about 5 years, and Nils came to us from Germany via England & Scotland. When selecting a university to do his M.A. in Economics, Nils wanted to choose a good university near a Grade 2 pipe band, and that's how he ended up at the U of S and driving to Regina for band.
Both these players are now in Edinburgh, and working their chops with the Grade 1 Clan Gregor Pipe Band in the hopes of becoming regulars on the roster there. This is great news for them, and the Clan Gregor. These are two great guys.
While it's tough seeing players go, it is good to see the band players take their skills to the next level, and good to know that what they do in the band here contributes to that success. In the past years, the CRPB has contributed players to: the SFU Pipe Band, the Halifax Citadel 78th Highlanders, the 78th Fraser Highlanders, Peel Regional Police, Alberta Caledonia, and Robert Malcolm Memorial...last year's Grade 2 World Champions. And now, Scotland's Clan Gregor.
If you're a Saskatchewan player with aspirations for playing in the "big bands," it seems pretty clear to me where you need to start.
14 comments:
Undoubtedly. If you want to learn what it takes to play in a Grade 1 band, there's no better place to get your feet wet than with the CRPB.
And what an impressive list of bands! Pretty cool when you think that, in some way or another, the CRPB has contributed to the success of these Grade 1 bands at Provincial, Canadian, North American and even World Championships.
I credit the CRPB (Iain, especially) for much of the opportunity and successes I've enjoyed in respect to bagpiping over the years. Highlights include a teaching stint at the College of Piping, winning both Canadian and North American Grade 1 Championships, and a couple of placings (shite placings, mind you, but placings nonetheless) at the finals at the World Pipe Band Championships. Not to mention the countless friends and great memories I've made along the way over the past years.
While, the CRPB may not be the biggest, or immediate option for some, it's the place to be if you want to take things seriously, and move onto the next level. I'm living proof.
I wish the band nothing but the very best for the upcoming year. See you on the field!
- Sean Somers
Iain and Barb busted my balls to play tone, and now I think I'm at least half ass at it. Winning the Grade 2 world championships with the late RMM was pretty sweet, and for me personally was for sure a function of the tutelage received in the Queen City.
Hope the band gets sorted out!
- Dave Thorpe
CRPB will certainly prepare a player for a grade one level pipe band.However-that may not be the goal that everyone aspire when looking for a band to play with. What other opportunity-can one expect from CRPB
Although I hate being the guy who repeats an argument after it has already been made 3 times, I can only second Sean's and Dave's comments.
Without a doubt I can trace back some of the key skills one requires (or seems to require as I'm in the process of finding out...) to play in a top grade band from my time with the CRPB. I think when I'm playing in the circle I will always remember to "****ing blow!" and will not be able to play a reel without having the image of Barb's 'pointy finger conducting' in my mind!
The CRPB is possibly also the best set-up you can have to figure out for yourself how much you really want it. If you are willing to overcome the natural obstacles of weather and distance in Sask, a 40 minute drive to practice or 0 degrees just don't seem to be good excuses anywhere else. As has been said before, all of those 'core competencies' can easily be applied to any other part of life (well, maybe except the hard blowing...)
cheers to all in CRPB and hope to see you all in Scotland in the summer!
Nils
p.s. I was tempted to post this as anonymous, but I sink most people vud rekognise me anyvais!
BIGGER is not always better.I wonder- perhaps worry that pipe bands are becoming to large.25+pipers 10+sides and large midsections.This may be why some bands struggle for members and face disbanding.Is it time to regulate number of players on the field during competition?At the grade one level this would translate to more bands -more great bands - and more bands-challenging for the top prizes.I could vision CRPB becoming a grade one band if smaller grade one bands became the norm.Many former players could have stayed with CRPB to reach their grade one pipe band playing goal. Just a thought.
BIGGER IS NOT BETTER!I wonder perhaps-worry that pipe band numbers are becoming too large.25+pipers 10+sides and larger midsections.Is it time to regulate the number of players on the playing field during competition.At the grade one level this would translate to more bands and more great bands and a greater number of bands challenging for the top prizes.This would perhaps allow CRPB to become a grade one band with former members not having to leave to realize their their grade one band goals-grade one band players may also be attracted to CRPB Just a thought.
Three cheers for the CRPB! hip-hip-hooray. Playing in the ranks over the past 5 years has done marvels for myself as a piper and a person. Iain and Barb and the rest of the band are incredible people who inspire you to not just play great music but to have fun too. Sound cliché? Well it’s definitely true. Just read any of these testimonials or talk to anyone who’s played in the band. We’re always up for a good time, a long time…everyday.
Playing with the band exposes you to so many great opportunities like travel, concerts, pub crawls and late-night curry hunts. *pause to reflect* Oh yeah, you can throw in some dress-up bling-bling as well.
As with any successful organization, a huge amount of credit goes to the leadership for providing direction, stability, camaraderie, those 5-minute talks, new reeds, drops of seasoning (but you have to rub it in yourself), dirty jokes, and of course inspirational speeches. Rocks only. It's incredible that the band has continued to function at a highly-competitive level given the fact so many people come and go every year. Many greats have played in the ranks and many more will follow. Unfortunately, good things can't last forever. It's no doubt we won't be hearing the end of showstoppers like the Minstrel Boy or Jesus Christ Superstar for too long. There's nothing wrong with having a little breather to refresh the piping fingers…or drumming shoulders for that matter!
-Graham 'not anonymous' Schmidt
HEY GUYS THE DOG'S NOT DEAD-I have spent the last few days reading some interesting thoughts.Age is a very important consideration when playing in pipebands. Energy is very important especially when one is the head dog.Youth brings enthusiasm, the old dogs bring experience.At some point one becomes an old dog and it may become difficult to commit to the band for many good reasons . Well CRPB Your leaders are old dogs especially Iain-this PM may be a pain in the butt - however he can and will teach you new tricks. Youth is the key - bring the enthusiasm and the old dog will provide the leadership,energy,motivation and experience. PIPE BANDS -do not build character they reveal character.-CALLING ALL DOGS- So young and old dogs, if you want to pipe or drum now is the time. VPSM
Hey-this post is getting interesting-CRPB-are you still in the kennel or did someone let the dogs out -I don't hear any barking!
Quick, check my...never mind. Reading with interest, and trying to do other work and get the big, fabulous, must-be-there, Mid-Winter Ceilidh going full steam. And I have tunes to learn.
Lots of nice things said, all appreciated. We've had more than a few people go through the band who made life interesting and the band good.
Interested in the comment re: size of bands. Sorry it posted 2x. I have a photo of the Edinburgh City Police with the Worlds Trophy that I lifted from Piper and Drummer...looks like 10 pipers, 3 snares, 1tenor, 1 bass. having said that, I watched the 2006 Worlds DVD [again] last night, and the huge bands are impressive.
Thanks for all your comments.
BAND SIZE......Perhaps in competition all grade one bands should field the same number of players.What is the magic number? 10-12-14-16-18-20-22-24-26-28-30.........pipers.If we are going to judge bands and have champions then let's compete with exactly the same number of players.Compare apples to apples-or chanters to chanters.Same idea for the drummers.I would find it easier to adjudicate bands.Cheers!
It's interesting to hear the experiences of previous members and how they are able to apply things learned in the CRPB. When I read Greg's post and his transformation between solo events, it makes me realize that what we do in the CRPB is bring out what is already there. Did I really do that much for Greg in that time frame? No. What I did was to try to help him find his own point of reference for optimal performance. So that brings me to the numbers question that Anonymous is posing. What is the ideal number of players? As many as you can get out who are willing to find a way to reach personal best. That's why it is inspiring to continue to go to band despite the numbers. There's always lots to do. Sometimes more than other times.
Barb
P.S. Anonymous-you could be slipping. You've let us know that you're an adjudicator of pipe bands.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS-This not a CRPB question it is a world pipe band issue. I believe bands are toooooo large. Smaller bands would translate to more bands at all levels.P.S.-I did not say I was an adjudicator I said it would be easier for me to adjudicate bands-that competed with the same number of players.Cheers!
Hey CRPB-Pipes and Drums web informs the piping world-that the 78th Frasers plan to compete with 28 to 30 pipers they have 34 pipers 14 sides and 7 mid-section players in the band.BIGGER IS NOT BETTER.The new mega band trend will kill the number of pipe bands throughout the world.Time to regulate number of players per band before the Gong Show becomes the norm.CHECK -OUT PIPES AND DRUMS WEB FOR SOME GREAT DISCUSSION.
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