The Piping Life
This past weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Greenwood, Nova Scotia to work with the 14 Wing CFB Greenwood Pipe Band. The band is run by Pipe Major Scott Pollen, who started his career in piping with the Kamsack, SK Air Cadet Unit. He learned pipes from Prince Albert resident Dave Monette, and later from the Yorkton & District Pipe Band. I first ran into Scott when he was about 16, and I heard him play solos at the Brandon Games, and asked Brian Fraser [our bass drummer, who lived in Yorkton, just south of Kamsack] who was the kid from Kamsack who could play so well. Scott ended up joining the CRPB, and got leave from cadet camp to attend Maxville with the pipe band. Scott played off and on with the band for a couple of years, and came back for a summer season in 2002 to play with the band. All the while, he continued with cadet piping, reserve pipe bands, and eventually was given the opportunity to join the regular forces, where he received training and passed his pipe major's training course. Now, Scott is a full-time Canadian Forces pipe major. He organizes and trains the 14 Wing Pipe Band, and fulfills other training and performance duties in the local community and with the Canadian Forces. The 14 Wing band performs at various tattoos and at events across Atlantic Canada and beyond.

It was great to get out there to work with Scott's band, and to see the work he is doing for piping in that part of the world. As you would expect of someone dedicated enough to be the only cadet piper in Kamsack, Saskatchewan, Scott has thrown himself into the role, and has a professional looking and great sounding band going there, with a strong group of mostly civilian volunteers.

One of the disappointments of running a band like the CRPB is when people move on, and one of the great satisfactions is when you see them succeeding with new piping challenges. Most of us don't get the chance to turn our passion for piping and pipe bands into a full-time occupation, so it's very cool to see Scott's full-time piping life in the military.

Keeping Tracks
This past week my computer started to slow down and complain while I was working, and I had to take a serious look at what I have piled up on the hard drive. The result, as some may have noticed, was a flurry of video dumped to YouTube. It occurred to me while I was doing this, that these are valuable [and fun] bits of information about th band, who played, and where we were. Some of these short clips came from various cameras. I think Alex Rasmussen did the short ones, from Scotland and Canmore. Do you remember the beer tent being that wild? Do you remember being there? : )
Anyway, I know that I have some more gems on tape, and I plan to get them up here at some point, and I want to encourage the rest of you to do the same.

You can all dump photos onto the band's Facebook site, and YouTube for video, etc. Pretty fun to look back, and helps keep us all interested in driving ahead. Works for me, anyway.

Catch the moments as they fly
This week is the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns, and across the world, people will be celebrating his art and life in one way or another. Burns has a lot to say to us, even in this day of blogs, Facebook, Blackberry, et al. This year, the Conservatory of Performing Arts Pipe Band is going to be having a small Burns Supper on Friday, January 25th. CRPB members will also be there. Looking forward to it. Meantime, plans are brewing for the Mid-Winter Celtic Festival and a day of music and fun. Be sure to get your tickets to hear the City of Regina Pipe Band, and also the re-united Iron Brew. It's going to be a party!

Haven't been keeping up with this blog. Been working on a lot of band music, projects and people. Keep watching this space. Happy New Year, and also Happy Burns Day!

Here's A Bottle

There's nane that's blest of human kind
But the cheerful and the gay, man.
1.
Here's a bottle and an honest friend!
What wad ye wish for mair, man?
Wha kens, before his life may end,
What his share may be o' care, man?
2.
Then catch the moments as they fly,
And use them as ye ought, man!
Believe me, Happiness is shy,
And comes not ay when sought, man!

Merry Christmas
Modern life offers few real breaks and holidays. Christmas is that one-day feast sandwiched between the fabulous last-minutes sales and parties of Christmas Eve, and the Boxing Day Blowout sales and bar parties that prevail. [Are you going to O'Hanlon's for the "Boxing Day Ugly Sweater Party"?] In the rush of things to do and people to see over the holidays, I hope you all find those moments of peace and happiness that can be so rare. Best wishes of the season to all band members and friends, former members and anonymous posters who read here.

Things I've Learned About Pipe Bands

1. You can't make a band sound good unless all the players sound good.
2. The band can't play well unless all the players are playing well.
3. Band players can't play well without investing significant time and energy to do so.
4. Experience and time served count for nothing if you're not working at your music.
5. Enthusiasm for the task and attitude are huge factors, but only if supported by persistent attention to details, and a willingness to change.
6. The point of a band practice is to refine what you bring to the hall. The more you bring, the better we can be. The reverse holds true also.

Sorry if you were expecting 10 items. You think this is the Letterman Show? : )

Learn From the Coach
If you've been in the band for more than a month, you likely know that I am not really, in many ways, a sports fan. Unlike some of us, it is unlikely you'll ever see my face painted green, unless maybe the Speers Funeral people think it would be funny when the time comes. What I do love about watching sports, and the thing I loved about participating when I did on occasion, was that there is a lot that is transferable to a pipe band setting.

We operate as a team, we depend on each other to play well, we need cooperation, team spirit and a common purpose. In pipe bands, we compete with other pipe bands, and we compete with other players in the same band for a spot on the field. Like all of you, I raced home from band and snapped on the TV to see the game. You Winnipeg guys were already soaked in beer and celebrating the win in Toronto, and now we have the best of all possible finals: Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. We expect Rob Bailie to be really wasted regardless who wins. Don't let us down.

Anyway, my larger point is this: I have listened a lot to what Rider Coach Kent Austin has said about his team and its performances since September, and I think there are some transferable things to the CRPB situation. Austin continually stresses that it is the expectation that players will show up ready to play, that they will know their play books, and execute accurately, and when they don't, he doesn't mince words for the team or the media: he just lays it out there. He says what is going well, and he says clearly what needs to be improved. Expectations are clearly defined. Individual targets are set, and as they were today and last week: goals are reached.

Make no mistake: having a better pipe band here means we all have to raise our game. It's not about who the band members are, how many we have, etc. It's all about your sound, your steadiness, and your knowledge of the music. In the next while, I am going to set general expectations for players at band, and start providing detailed information about what needs to be done to meet them.

Meantime, wear your green shirt to band next week. And you Winnipeg guys: bring your banjos to band on the 1st.

How Can I Make a Difference?
Today was, for me, the most enjoyable band practice in a long time. Started with me not having half the gear I needed, but thankfully....not a long haul to get home. Although it made my arm hurt, I loved playing pipes that long at this time of year. And, I loved the fact that there were drummers up on drums, too. Nice work.

I spoke [at length, some might say] today to the pipers about the need to have the pipes going well. Good band performances are all about sound. That was re-impressed on me when I read the final installment of the Pipes|Drums interview with Richard Parkes. If you haven't read this, you should. In fact, if you don't have a subscription to Pipes|Drums, you should. Richard Parkes is brilliant, and his comments on bands, FMM in particular, and the scene in general, are very interesting.

And that leads me to this: if you are the kind of person who likes to make a difference in an organization, who likes to contribute to the band's success, then there is one simple thing you can do: practice. I know that many of you are, and do, and I also know that we have a few "coasters"...the folks who don't really get excited until the air tickets are purchased, or until the concert is a week or so away. Not good enough.

For the band to have settled, great sound, we need each piper to have that. Find your sound. Play. Make the reeds go. Find what works best. Get comfortable. Seek help. Come with a sound. For the drum corps to have a groovy feel going, we need each of the players to have that. Learn the scores. Make them yours. Develop the style, get the feel, hum the tunes. Groove.

All of this can be done at home. You have sheet music, recordings, good instruments and reeds. Be a musician. Record yourself. Be critical. Develop. Improve. Motivate others with your zest for doing it well.

All of that comes back to rest on the band, and who knows: maybe one day you'll get the chance to play with Richard Parkes.

Jim Teaches More Than Drumming
If you live on the pipe band planet, you are likely aware that this past weekend was the World Solo Drumming Championships. This annual event attracts top snare drummers from around the world to compete. Since he started competing, Jim Kilpatrick, M.B.E. has won the solo title 16 times, and has placed 2nd another 16. That's an astounding feat, never likely to be equalled. This past weekend, Jim was eliminated from the competition in a semi-final round, and did not get to compete in the final, for the first time in my memory. Pipes|Drums posted a story about that, with Jim's response.

Jim faced it head on, and essentially shrugged it off. Wasn't his best ever play, and wasn't his worst. He seemed a little surprised to not make the final, but was gracious in his praise and congratulations for those who did. No words about the judges or the judging. Jim is a shining example of how great people handle things that don't work out. No blame, no complain, just get on with it. "I'll be back," he says.

Apart from his exceptional musical ability, Jim's key to success is his passion for the music. Results come and go, years come and go, and he continues to play, teach, compose and turn out great drum corps. Like other great pipe band musicians, it is his passion for doing it, his love of the music, that drives the thing forward.

That kind of dedication and passion, even in the face of great disappointment, is what band members here are going to have to find. This isn't going to be easy, but it could be a lot of fun. What drives you? Do you have passion for the music and the instrument, or are you about the trips? Are you frustrated about the commitment shown by others, or are you working positively to turn out the best sound you can, regardless of who's there?

And there's another thing we can learn from Jim. In the mid-1980s, when the Shotts band was at a low ebb, Jim Kilpatrick and Robert Mathieson left Polkemmet Pipe Band, which they had built into a real contender, to go back to Shotts, which had fallen on hard times. There were games when Shotts went out with 8 and 10 pipers, and three snares, but they went out. Kilpatrick and Mathieson were anxious to support the band organization that had provided them so many opportunities, so that it could continue to provide those opportunities for others. We know where it went from there.

There is something really positive and worthwhile about building things in your own community. I see it as a responsibility, a payback of sorts, especially when the community has provided so much to begin with. The right choices aren't always the easy ones.

Week One: A Great Start
It's always a little bit daunting to go to the first band practice, and after a year off competing, and the knowledge that we don't have a complete team in place, even more so. So, off we go to the Royal Canadian Legion and there we found that people had travelled from Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Moosomin for practice. With about a dozen pipers, 4 sides, 2 tenors and a bass, it wasn't the biggest practice ever, but it was a very healthy start. Great to see some of the new members playing through the music. Clearly: work has been done.

Most promising was how keen people were to get onto pipes and drums, and while we didn't have a lot we could play, I was interested to see how many folks could scramble through the new medley. We have some things to sort out there for sure, and we made some strides today. Overall, a very positive start. And if you're out there wondering if there is room for more players, the answer is "yes." You want there to be a good band? Come and make one.

Thanks to all those who came out, and to those who emailed to say they couldn't be there. Looking forward to next week. For those who want one, we are coming into a new stock of t-shirts, as pictured. You can order them through the band web site very soon, or send an email.

The Start of Something Good
Here we are back in September. This past season the band was essentially inactive after May, although as pointed out in a previous post, the band has nevertheless been able to make an impact on local events.

Coming back into September, CRPB band members [and those who watch from near and far] are no doubt wondering what is "up" for the coming year. Essentially, it's up to you. Do you want a senior-level pipe band in Saskatchewan? Do you want to contribute? Can you commit? A casual observer of the pipe band scene will understand that this is the time of year for many bands when all bets are off, and that has been true for the CRPB since about last January. The power to change that lies with those of you who can play.

The band needs a lead drummer, and we need drummers in general, but we also need more committed pipers and mid-section players, and a few committee members would be cool too.

We also need a sponsor.

So, the list of needs is big, but no bigger than it was in 1992. In fact, it is considerably smaller. We have uniforms, new instruments, experienced and committed players, a junior band system, and a little money in the bank. What are you waiting for? Email us, and let's make something happen here. Band starts the second Sunday in October.

Donald MacLeod
This time of year always brings a wash of both sad and happy memories related to time I spent with Donald MacLeod. Donald died suddenly June 29, 1982. It seems hardly possible that so much time has passed since then, and it's still hard to believe at times that he is gone. Donald MacLeod is one of the most accomplished musicians of any generation: a supremely musical player, composer, arranger, innovator and teacher. He worked successfully within the established systems and norms of his time, and at the same time developed his own way of doing things, and his own personal style. All of this is well documented in a variety of places, and by various people.

My experience with Donald MacLeod started at summer schools in Saskatchewan, in 1968. The photo here was taken from a shot at the Fort San summer school. He was an engaging teacher, and he knew how to grasp hold of the imagination, or of mine, anyway. All the tunes were connected to people, places and events, and it was all living and vital history to Donald. He presented the music in a broad cultural context, and he tailored it to engage students of various ages.

Years later, I had the chance to study with Donald in Scotland. Over two years, I got to know Donald from an adult perspective, and at a time in his life when he was moving out of active work at Grainger & Campbell Bagpipe Makers, and into retirement. I left Scotland for home in November 1981, and the last tune I had with Donald was "Lament for Macdonald's Tutor." I am still lamenting.

And, I am still grateful. I count myself extremely fortunate to have had some time with Donald MacLeod, and to have had the benefit of his wisdom in many things, not just piping.

Tom Foote, Mosaic Festival, and Making a Difference Off the Field

Recently, the band had the pleasure of hosting a workshop with Tom Foote, who was here from Rochester, NY for a few days. We had 18 or so enthusiastic drummers from several local bands, and Tom put on a great session. The next day, he worked with drummers at the CRPB practice. Great to have someone of his calibre here for the workshop, and we look ahead to the summer school, when Doug Stronach, Steven McWhirter, and Tyler Fry are coming!
Anyway, thanks Tom, and to all those who came out.

The CRPB had to cancel performances at the Mosaic Irish Pavilion because we just didn't have enough members around to make it go. Too bad. At the same time, we hear that the Scottish Pavilion was another session of back-stabbing skullduggery, with arguments about who gets what spots, what the policies are, who should be working...and even performers booing other performers. Just makes you all warm and fuzzy, knowing how much good will and good sense there is in that show. Or, it would if you weren't one of two pipe bands in Regina who have been systematically excluded from the "club" for years. Despite what was said at meetings, two of the city's pipe bands did NOT receive invitations to participate in any way. It's a problem really: should we be insulted, or thankful? : )

And lastly, a note about the band and some off-field efforts this year. Despite no sponsorship arrangements, the band has done quite well financially over the past years. In 2006, for example, we travelled to Scotland, purchased a new set of pipe chanters, a complete new set of drums, and updated some uniform stuff. Not bad. This year, we have turned our focus outside the band, and have sponsored the following initiatives:

Regina Highland Games - The CRPB was a Gold Sponsor for the 2007 games, the same level as the City of Regina itself! As the original organizing force behind the games in 1996, we believe strongly in the value of this event for Regina, and for piping and drumming in this region.

Conservatory Pipe Band Drums - The CRPB has financed the purchase/refit of new drums for the Conservatory Pipe Band. The new drums are the Stronach/Cameron "wee drums" as played by the Toronto Police Pipe Band. The drums sound great, and are also lighter and easier to manage, so they should be perfect for the expanding junior band. The purchase is part of the CRPB's ongoing commitment to developing opportunities for young players in the area.

Tom Foote Workshop - The band opened this up for FREE to any interested drummers, and they came.

SOUND ADVICE Scholarships - The CRPB has put up several scholarships for young pipers and drummers to attend the Sound Advice summer camp. The purchase is part of the CRPB's ongoing commitment to developing opportunities for young players in the area.

Desmond Worfolk Goes to Cowal - Desmond is a Regina area dancer who has often performed at band concerts, and whose recent competition success has drawn a lot of attention locally. A couple of years ago, Desmond was a runner up [was it 3rd or 4th?] at Cowal, the World Championships for Highland dancing. That was a great achievement, and Desmond is one of a very few Saskatchewan dancers to get a prize at the Worlds. He's dancing well, working hard, and in a tough financial spot, so the CRPB is stepping in with $1,000 to get him to the big show this year. We appreciate the value of working toward big goals, and we're happy to assist Desmond as he raises the bar for himself. Good luck Desmond!

At the end of the day, "Scottish community" is an empty term if it's defined by what shifts you work at Mosaic, what group you belong to, or where you take your lessons. It's about people sharing experiences and and interest in Scottish arts and culture. This year, we thought we'd share some of our experiences and good fortune.

Another Great Weekend at the Games

The Moose Jaw and Regina Highland Games are now past, and it was a great weekend. The weather was fine for band events, and unfortunately was miserable in the mornings both days. Players suffered through cold and biting wind on Saturday in Moose Jaw [still not sure why] and Regina was indoors in the morning.

The Conservatory of Performing Arts Pipe Band emerged from the weekend as Saskatchewan Grade 4 Champions for the 4th time in the last five years, and many of the band members did well in solos, so it was a great weekend for all in the organization.

The City of Regina Pipe Band played no small role in the weekend, despite not being "on the field" for competition. Band members organized the piping and drumming events, the Queen City Open Highland Dancing Championship, and members played a variety of volunteer and support roles throughout the weekend. As well, the band played at the Regina Ceilidh, and that was quite a bit of fun, and good to get a couple of people out for the first time since...Perth Highland Games!

This week, we're looking forward to a vist from Tom Foote and we'd encourage all drummers to take advantage of the workshop on May 26. Details HERE.

On Your Mark, Get Set...

The next two to three weeks are going to be busy. There is the start of the Scottish pipe band season, and me making a Grade 1 attempt with ScottishPower, and while the prairie season has already started, the May Long Weekend Games usually is a "start" for many bands. This year, the CRPB will be playing at the Regina Highland Games Ceilidh with whatever members we can muster for the event, and of course working hard with the Conservatory of Performing Arts Pipe Band and its competitions over the weekend.

On that note, Brandon Games was a great day for the band members,m with lots of piping and drumming prizes across the board and two very improved band sets from Winnipeg Games in February. The new medley was well received, and the band played very well in that event. [OK, we were surprised, but it was a good surprise!]

So, a number of CRPB members are heavily into organizing parts of the Games weekend here, so it will be busy. The weekend following, we are having a one-day drum workshop with Tom Foote who currently hails from Rochester, NY and is a member of the Toronto Police Pipe Band. Tom has a long history with Grade 1 bands going back to the Clan MacFarlane, 78th Fraser Highlanders and Metro Toronto Police. If you are a snare drummer and anywhere close...you should come. Details here.

What does any of this have to do with the City of Regina Pipe Band? Well, just this: all the current band members' new experiences, organizational contributions, and skill development are going to come back to the CRPB when it gets back competing.

Brandon Games This Weekend

I always have liked going to the Brandon Indoor Games. For years, it was organized single-handedly by PM Alex Cupples, and he looked after the judges, sold tickets, harassed soloists and pipe majors, organized the stewards, did the anouncements...well, you get the picture. It was a one-man show. His supporting team was his late wife, Jenny, and his family members and students, and the members of the Brandon Shrine and 26th Field Regt. bands.

Now, the Games is run by students of Alex: Dave Kyle and Richard Wilson, and they have a great supporting team, too. Their team includes Alex himself, who meets and greets, opens his home to folks, and harasses the recitalists about not playing enough piobaireachd.

Alex Cupples is one of the great characters of prairie piping. He came to Canada in 1973 or '74 after a career with the British Army as a pipe major in the Gordon Highlanders. He was PM of a good civilian pipe band, Livingston and Pumpherston, and he had instruction from some of the greats. He arrived on the prairies as a great gust of fresh air, and he set about organizing. He brought amateur solo grading—as opposed to age categories—to the prairies, and he has been a tireless volunteer, judge, teacher, organizer and cheerleader for regional piping.

This weekend the Conservatory Pipe Band will be competing in Brandon, and all the kids are in the solos, and it's always a great time. The thing that I've really come to value over the years is the tremendous energy and commitment it takes to run these events, and the ability to catch up and enjoy tunes with so many good people.

A Year Off the Competition Field

The band recently took the decision to not compete in 2007. This was not reached easily. The band has competed each year since it was formed in the Fall of 1992, and for those 14 years the band has been Saskatchewan's premier pipe band, and has also won contests near and far. This year, it was not to be. The loss of a valued lead drummer in January to university studies, and thin numbers in the snare line for mixed reasons...and getting on the contest field at the level we desire is beyond what can be done this year.

The good news is that our advertising for a LD has drawn the attention of some very good people, and we are following up some exciting prospects for the future. Also, we have some new members recently acquired, and we are looking forward to re-launching the band's competitive streak next Fall, just in time to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the organization.

In the meantime, band members have sought other competitive opportunities to keep the skills up, and it'll be a great summer for many as they experience other bands and other competitive circuits. The band will be playing at a few events upcoming, and we are working hard on the Highland games weekend, the SPBA summer school, and other events. So, business as usual, but not on the contest field this year.

Stay tuned. We'll be back. It'll be the time of your life.

St. Paddy's Postscript

Sure another year has come and gone, and things have been hectic, since we got back, so not a lot of time to be blogging about all that fun and music south of the border. Suffice to say we had a great time [and have photos to prove it] and we played a lot of tunes.

Thanks to the Celtic Committee headed by Pat Mischel in Glendive, and to the staff at the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Centre. We had a great time, and it was very fun to play for such good crowds. A big thank you to the various establishments that kept freely oiling the mighty wheel of the band thirst on the pub crawls! Madhatters was mad indeed, and there were far too many Clan MacGregor drams!

It was great to have Andy Rogers with us on the trek. Andy played some great tunes, and we had more than our share of fun. Thanks to band members, and especially the rookies, for coming down for three days of madness. When I was at the border crossing on the way home, the Border Guard said, "OK, that last car of people looked pretty green around the gills!"

Must'a been something they ate...

Anyway, here are the photos we'll share:
Click here!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

For a few years now, the band has been making good fun on St. Patrick's Day. We started a few years back doing the American thing: going bar to bar on St. Paddy's, raising free drinks and spare change, and having good fun and banter along the way. Of course, every so often a puzzled and likely sober bar patron asks what's with all the Scottish pipe bands playing on St. Paddy's, and we simply smile and shrug. There is no answer, except that it's fun and accepted.

Our tradition on St. Paddy's has had two strong focal points for the last few years, one being O'Hanlon's Pub in Regina as the start and finish of the crawl, and for the last five years the people of Glendive, Montana have welcomed the band each year. We perform in a concert on Saturday afternoon at their beautiful High School theatre, and often play at locations in the town. Some years there has been a parade, some years Seniors' Homes, the Library, businesses...and it finishes with a fantastic pub crawl through the eight or so bars and clubs on the main strip in Glendive. It's great fun, social, and the people couldn't be friendlier or more welcoming.

Every year, there is a great band of older guys who crank out the classic rock tunes in one of the bars, and we end up dancing long into the night after the pub crawl is done. When the weekend is over, we always have a boatload of stories, jokes and one-liners to last the season.

This year we have new bass drummer in [our] uniform for the first time, a dedicated djembe player, a bass guitar player, and some new band members, plus special guest Andy Rogers from NB, who will be bringing his considerable piping and social skills to Glendive with the band. Stay tuned for the full report.

And wherever you are, have a great day Saturday.

Bring on the Kids
Last weekend a number of us were in Winnipeg at their Scottish Festival. They have a good turn out of bands, a great location for a contest, and a very good team of people working on the event. It is usually the "first brush" with the season for prairie bands. Nobody is in top form in February playing indoors, but it's always fun to see who has what kilt on, etc.

I did come away from the event a little bit perplexed at the state of—for lack of a better term—juvenile pipe bands. Most of the "kids" bands are not kids bands any longer, and those that are active have small numbers, including our own Conservatory Pipe Band. An examination of the solo entries and results also shows a lack of numbers. Many of the soloists heard in all grades are adults, and the largest bands are adult bands.

Contrast that with the scene years back, when Saskatoon had two junior bands, Moose Jaw had two, Regina had one very large one with an "A" and "B" band, and Winnipeg had several. These days, the biggest bands are those Grade 4 and 3 bands full of enthusiastic adult learners or what I sometimes call "re-treads," the people who come back to piping in their 30s and 40s after years away.

Now, I'm all for people of all ages coming back to piping, or taking it up at any age, and it's great to see them out at Games and entering contests. Take a casual glance at the photos from workshops, summer schools and other events that you can see online. You'll find the majority of people to be adults. The winningest Grade 4 band at Winnipeg? An adult band.

The adults are great. They are fun to teach, buy lots of stuff from retailers, enter contests, and contribute a lot, but they aren't the future of good piping and drumming. As always, the people who start as children, have solid teaching and good experiences, will be the future of good music in our band and solo music. I have huge enthusiasm for kids working hard and raising their level, while having a lot of fun with their friends and the music, and frankly, I don't see enough of it. Bands in this part of the world need to focus on youth and building musicians with skills. We need a culture of fun and an attitude that strives for excellence.

If the trend continues, there won't be junior bands on the prairies. There will be Grade 4 bands and Grade 5 bands which have some kids in them learning, but which are mostly adults. That might be good for the retailers of piping gear, but bad news for the future of good piping and drumming in this area.

What are the solutions?

Lead Drummer Wanted

Currently, the band is doing what it can to get ready for the season, and a very limited competition season at that. Looking ahead, it's clear that we are in the place where we need some fresh leadership in the drum corps. Grade 2 is more competitive than ever before, and to remain in the grade we need to develop the drumming program from the bottom up.

Not to say that we haven't had success there. The drummers who have come through the Grade 4 band so far have done very well indeed, playing in the Grade 2 band, and being "recruited" now by other Grade 2 and 1 bands. And, the drummers we have had coming up from Grade 4 have kept afloat at the Grade 2 level these past two seasons. Now, however, we need someone to step forward.

We need that pipe-band-passionate, people-friendly, collaborative, builder to come to Regina. Are you here already? That would be cool. The band has a lot of offer. We have a "turn-key" operation in terms of equipment and facilities, and what we need now is the right drumming guru to take hold and help develop drumming from the ground up.

And make no mistake: there's as much challenge as opportunity. You'll be planting trees on a dry plain...it takes lots of buckets of water, patience and a bit of luck to grow it. But you'll be part of a team that's been doing it for a few years, and we'll start running. Check out the web site, and let us know if you're interested.

Fifteen Years, And Still a Great Event
Whether you were there during the day, and saw the many great community groups performing to a busy hall, or braved the -30°C to attend the Ceilidh at night, you'd have to think it was a pretty good day of entertainment. It's always a big event for the pipe band, because it breaks in new members and new music, and it has been one of our staple fundraisers for all those years.

As usual, we played some good stuff, played some less-than-good stuff, and had a lot of fun. Shona Le Mottee and Tim Readman were outstanding. People who stayed at home missed a great show in all respects. Shona is an amazing player, and Tim's backing and vocals were a highlight. I look forward to hearing them again.

Thanks to the band members and volunteers for their hard work before and at the event. People pitched in and made it happen, and a few played key roles. Catherine organized the Celtic Fair, Angela the food for the day, Sharon and Allan Schmidt did the bar and silent auction with help from their team, and a variety of people assisted with posters, tickets, auction, etc.

Thanks to the sponsors and and the people who came out, and to the various media outlets for their help promoting.

For me, the MWCF has always been about playing, raising some cash, and creating that "feeling" in the hall where people go home and say, "damn, that was fun." We haven't always succeeded at all three, but we've pretty much always nailed the last one. This year was no exception.

You Know What to Do
For 15 years now, the band has been organizing the Mid-Winter Ceilidh. It grew from an event to a festival of many events, back to a ceilidh, and then to a one-day event capped by the ceilidh at night. It is the band's first [real] public performance in most years, and it is also a great night, because we always have other notable performers. This year is no exception. Check out Shona's web site, and go to MySpace to hear some sound clips.

Reading the various comments on previous blogs, you get the idea that there are lots of people around who watch pipe band news in the area, but who don't maybe play anymore. My assumption is that you care about pipe bands in Regina, otherwise why read the blog, or comment? There has been the odd troll for sure, but most people are making comments b/c they have an interest.

So here's the thing. If you are interested to see what's up with piping in Regina, come to the Ceilidh. You'll hear where we're at, and you can come here and comment. You can talk to us at the Ceilidh, offer support, call us wankers, offer to play, or just have a good night, drink a few pops and get a cab home. Even if you never want to lift a pipe or drum again, it's a chance to support a local pipe band, have some fun, and hear some great music.

So quit hiding by your computer. Vote for piping and drumming in Regina with your feet and your wallet. Put your money where your blog comments are. You know what to do. Come to the Ceilidh.

Our Loss, Their Gain


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.

Happy New Year, Finally

The last post painted a dreary [accurate] picture of where the band sits, and the holiday did not bring better news. Our Lead Drummer Dave Roth has stepped away to complete his university studies, and we have several people in the "not available until May" category. It would appear that, at best, this will be a slow-starting competitive year. We will be lucky to have enough bodies to make it onto the field May long weekend.

That said, the rest of us are working hard on a new medley, we have drafted help with scores, and we are working hard to continue playing at as high a level as possible. We have an ambitious musical selection for the Mid-Winter Celtic Festival and we have other travel and performance opportunities coming up, but none involving competition in the near future.

We have also made a decision that—as far as we know—is unique in the pipe band world. We have appointed Kenna Whelan as "Lead Drummer" to manage the personnel and music decisions in the drum corps. Kenna is well-known as an excellent tenor drummer and drum instructor. Kenna's experience, and extensive knowledge of pipe band music will allow us to make progress in the meantime. Not easy times for Kenna or the rest of the band, but it's a hobby, and we're still having fun at band, so, why not?

So, there's my update. Hope you enjoyed it. [If you don't get the significance of that...read the comments on the last post.] And lastly, thanks for reading. Hope to see lots of you "anonymous" people at the Ceilidh on February 3rd.

The Last Band of 2006

Today was the last band practice for 2006, and if today was an indication, we don't have a band for 2007. Having said that, there have been a few lean winters in the 15 years we have been on the road, and many of them have ended in great summers of fun and performance. This one should be no different.

A very enthusiastic and dedicated group of people has been coming regularly all autumn, and many recently learned some new music and assisted with the successful Chrismas concert. Thanks to you all for your drive and commitment. We know that we have members at a distance who are commited to being there when the roads are clear again, and we'll be waiting.

When Christmas and Hogmany are over, I will be in touch with each of you—looking for your commitment, or your uniform and instruments. Think it over and decide what you'll be doing, because if you live fairly close at hand, "I'll see you in May" isn't going to cut it. You can't be in a Grade 2 band without commiting to the program, and we can't survive at this level without a stronger commitment, especially from those players in Regina and area.

I'm looking forward to playing the new music in 2007, and I want to do it with the best band as we can assemble. In the meantime, best wishes to all for a safe and happy holiday season.

A Word on Lead Drummers


In the course of the band's 14 or so years, we have had a few lead drummers. Part of the equation of change is that we have had the same miserable a-hole as PM all these years. Not always right, but usually thinks he is, and stubborn to boot. It drives a lot of things forward, some people out, and makes some hesitate to join. Mea culpa.

We've had some crackers as lead drummer. Paul Hamilton arrived from Ontario at precisely the right time in the band's history, and took on the task with enthusiasm and supprted all the band did. Ryan Sullivan took charge of the corps at a young age, and drove forward our musical ability as a band in many ways. Doug Pritchard's calm and organized approach built the numbers in the corps, and he was great to work with on all fronts. Tim Borton developed quickly in the corps, and his precise playing style and mega-enthusiasm for the genre made the band an exciting place. Brett Stinson took over the corps from Tim, and made some risky and large changes to refresh the corps, and succeeded. Then, there was Dave Roth.

Through most of these years—with a year or so break at one point—Dave Roth has played under all these LDs, and at one point played LD himself [1999]. Dave has never been a "jump to front" kind of guy. He was always about playing with a good corps, in a good band, and he has come back last-minute to rescue us on more than one occasion whe we were in tough and needed that strong flank player to make us competitive. Dave has always had strong ideas about bands and drumming, and what seems to drive him is his love for drumming, and his loyalty to this band.

So here we are, post-Scotland, and struggling to keep our heads above water, and it's very tough to constantly re-build, re-build, re-build, and stay enthused. And so I wanted to say this: wherever the road leads, and whatever the future brings, it has been such a privilege to play with Dave Roth, and now to be PM of the band that he helps to lead. Ditto to the rest of you: Paul, Ryan, Doug, Tim and Brett. It hasn't always been an easy or a smooth road, but if I never said it in so many words before: thanks for everything.

And if you're sitting on your hands when you could be playing in the band, get off your backside and get to it. The PM might be bad, but the LD more than makes up for it.

Whatever You Do—Don't Win Grade 2!



Since winning the Worlds with two outstanding performances back in August, the Robert Malcolm Memorial Grade 2 band has been in the piping news, as people speculated what would happpen with their grading—would they stay in Grade 2? Go to Grade 1? Compete against their own SFU? The story more or less finished with the resignation of the band's leadership this week. Dave & Shaunna Hilder, and Andre Tessier have all packed it in, and rumours are that many others have too.

Last year at this time, we had the 2005 World Champion Drambuie-Kirkliston Pipe Band folding after several successful seasons building to the top of Grade 2.

On the one hand, it's sad to see a great band go, and you can't but admire the skill and dedication that brings a band like RMM to the top of its grade. RMM2 has always had a scrappy competitive relationship with Maple Ridge that drove both bands far forward of where they might otherwise have ended up. Dave, Shaunna and Andre deserve a lot of credit for the band's ultimate success, as do former builders, including Dave Hicks, Pat Napper and Kathy MacPherson.

On the other hand, the RMM band will be just fine, and the spaces will likely fill with other people willing to stand in the Ancient Fraser kilt and be part of an overall winning and successful organization. By this time next year, it'll likely be off the radar screen, and a "new" RMM2 wil have successfully finished a season in the field.

What's lost in that big picture is the individual effort and committment that it took to get the current band to where it was. So, congratulations to all those RMM2 members on their success, and best wishes for your future plans, be they in RMM, or elsewhere.

On Remembering

The role of pipe bands and pipers in Remembrance Day calls out a cast of characters that we don't always see together. The annual services in Regina see the City of Regina, Conservatory and Wa Wa Shrine pipe bands perform together at the Agridome, and the RCMP Pipe Band plays a separate role there as well. At the Cenotaph in Victoria Park, the Regina Police Service plays. While we are remembering the veterans who gave their lives, and honouring those who remain, as well as the current military, I also tend to think about the more immediate losses reflected in the ranks of the pipe bands.

I can't play that parade without remembering Brian Fraser. Our former bass drummer was a big part of the band in so many ways, and he had a special place and role on Remembrance Day. It was on that parade that he adopted the name "Only the Bass Drummer," which became his own joke on himself. This year, we missed Bruce Cooke, who was PM of the Wa Wa Shrine for a long time, and who did these ceremonies for many years. I thought about him yesterday, and reflected on his many years of service to the community. And these are just two.

In the life of a piping community, we see a lot of people come and go, and doing an annual parade where we see most is one way to note that passage of time, and the change of guard.

Week #1: You Have to Start Somewhere
Well, we had the first band practice today, and it's clear that we have a lot of work to do to just make it onto the field in 2007. It's a long way to the top, when you want to...play in a competitive pipe band. Thanks AC/DC, for that steal. Ah well, as our former premier used to say, "Never say 'Whoa' in a mudhole." So backs to the wheel, dig in, here we go.

The good news is that the digital age made the new music almost painless. Posted sound files and scores for new tunes and snare beatings make it a quick start at band, and we played through most of the [still developing] new medley today, as well as some other stuff. Nice scores, Dave.

If you didn't make this one, get the tunes out and expect a call...

Mid-Winter Celtic Festival Launches



Go to Festival Page

In a Week, It All Starts Again
I had a look, and the first post here was last January, in the lead up to the Mid-Winter Celtic Festival. A scan back through the months, and you see the tremendous effort by all band members to put together music for the Festival and the Glendive concert, the various fundraising, and ultimately, the unfolding drama of performance, travel and competition.

I have had my head buried deep in piles on music recently, and we have some great tunes to look forward to next week. Ex-member Sean Somers has penned a cracking opener for the new medley, and Dave Roth has been trolling the depths at Tradtunes.com for some great music. The Vale of Atholl Pipe Band was kind enough to help out with a couple of requests, and so was SFU. When all is said and done, it is about the music, and I'm looking forward to getting to it.

The Mid-Winter Celtic Festival will be back on February 3rd, 2007, and we have a great surprise lined up, to be announced shortly. Gonna be an awesome show!


This November 2nd is the 80th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #1 in Regina. This grand building has been the band's home since early in our first year of operation, and we have had many a good tune [and quite a few "developing" ones] in the hall. It'd be great to have a full turn out on November 11, or as full as it can be. In times when Canadian soldiers are losing their lives abroad, it's not a bad thing to show that we are cognizant of the sacrifices made.

Moss Doesn't Grow on a Rolling Stone

A short postscript to the previous note...the concert was a huge success according to anyone who was there, and there were about 80,000 over the weekend. The Stones were in great form, and near the end of the show Mick Jagger did a run all the way down the football field walkway. The guy is clearly in brilliant shape, and good on them for delivering so well. Not sorry to have missed it, and happy that it was clearly such a great experience for those who wanted to be there.

Can't Get No Satisfaction

Tonight and Sunday, The Rolling Stones are playing in Regina. Say what? Rolling Stones? Regina? They are expecting about 30-40,000 per show, which [if true...sales may be exaggerated] makes it the biggest show of its kind ever staged here. Almost everyone I know is going, has tickets, has people coming in to see it, and the city bars and restaurants will be wild. The beer will flow, the old boys will shake what they have left, and all will be fine.


I won't be there, and while the event casts a shadow you can't ignore, I'm happy to say that I don't really care to be there. Once you've been to a Planxty show live in the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, the Stones in Taylor Field [in 8°C weather] just won't do. I might just put on "Planxty—Live 2004," turn it up loud, and imagine the sea of Irish rugby colours that invaded the Usher Hall back in 1981 when Planxty played to over 3,000 wildly enthusiastic fans. Now, that was a concert.

This Post is All About YOU

In Fall 1992, I was on the brink of something really big in my life. As September rolled on, Barb and I were going to Drs appointments to figure out what was happening with that lump inside her that seemed to be pretty active, and upside down. That lump was named Eilidh, and she was born October 2, 1992 on a day that was 30° C. The very first organizational meeting of the CRPB was held at a community centre in East Regina that September. We had 15 pipers, some mid-section players, and 5 snares. By Christmas, we had 5 pipers, a rookie bass drummer, and one snare drummer. The band was saved by the arrival from ON of an experienced and enthusiastic drummer with Grade 1 experience. [Thanks Paul.]

A lot happens in 14 years. Eilidh is now the same height as her Mom. She has been a provincial Highland dancing champion and had many prizes across North America and Scotland. She has won piping prizes with her band and in solos, has very high [ie: much higher than her Dad ever had] marks at school, and is absolutely dying to get into the CRPB. Part of her motivation is that her younger brother, no slouch either, has been playing in the band for two years. One of the true joys of competing with the band in the last two years has been to play in the same band with Ruaridh. He has been a great band member, especially for someone aged 11/12: works hard, rarely complains or moans at [or about] long practices, and took his lumps with dignity when he got cut last year. Age 11. Did I mention that?

So, heading into the next year, I'm thinking that 14 years is a great start. Can you remember when you were 14? Lots of possibilities yet to be explored, and opportunities at every corner. What is going to make this year special for me, is the inclusion of a new crop of players, the beginning of something fresh. The band is all about providing an opportunity that wouldn't otherwise exist here. That seems worth it, even after 14 years. And for those of you who have been in the band already, and are staying for the next bit: you won't be disappointed.

New Season Begins October 1st

The new season for the pipe band begins October 1st, 1:00 pm at the Legion. We will be having the AGM that day so that we can get some early plans made for the new season, set some goals, and see what we need to do to achieve them.

In conversations with Dave, Barb, and Kenna, we have identified some challenges and opportunities for the band and its members in the months ahead, The big Scotland trip over [and paid for!] we have to turn out attention to developing the band in some other areas, and look to a North American travel schedule for 2007.

A band is not a static environment: members come and go as their schedules and interests dictate, and this fall is no different. There will be some changes as members decide to do other things, and this provides opportunities for new members to get into the band and get involved. The banner here appears on our web site, and we invite all interested pipers and drummers to come out to the band, and see where we can go from here.

If you're leaving the band, thanks for your efforts on all fronts—musical, organizing, fundraising.

The Future is Now

As it turned out, we didn't have enough players to make the trip to Calgary/Canmore. Too bad, because they always put on a great weekend, and this year we would have had good competition from Edmonton and Chilliwack. Hope those bands have a great weekend, and may the best band get the fastest beers in the Rose & Crown at 3 am.

We need to get ourselves organized for the coming year, and a few questions come to mind. Who's in? Who's out? What should next year's goals be? Are we actually in the right grade? How can we develop the players and the organization more successfully?

One of the annual rites of Fall for me is evaluation of things band related: goals, directions, members, and my continued participation. If you're in the band, time to feed into the process. If you're not in, dryclean the gear and return. If you are one of many "Anon" blog readers, what do you think?

From the outside, maybe it seems a little crazy to think so much about changing or re-designing what has been one of the most consistently successful bands in the region. Well, it has been so consistently successful because we have always done just that.

Moving on to the Next Thing

The band is entered to complete at Calgary and Canmore Highland Games, but it is looking doubtful if we have enough people to field a band that weekend. We have university start-ups, new jobs, lack of money and holidays as the main reasons, and good reasons they are.

The next thing is to decide who wants to have another go at the band in the upcoming season, and we have heard from at least one who is bowing out, and there may be more, as is common at this time of year. The real question is: who'sd out there that wants to take up the challenge?

Perth Highland Games: A Journey's End


The band got up and went to Perth on the bus this morning, and as you might expect, most people slept all the way there. Apparently, a few had a rather late night on Saturday.

Nevertheless, we had a decent performance at Perth, not quite as good in some respects as the Worlds, but pretty good. We were 3rd in a six-band contest. The winners were The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (who won at North Berwick, Perth and were in the final at the Worlds) and second was the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. We were third, the 1st Battalion Scots Guards were fourth.

Following the games, we had a drink at the bus, and many songs on the bus back to Glasgow. The band bought a lot of Chinese food, and we had a buffet at the residence, after which many people went out. The photo here is of the Todd Bar at Strathclyde University. There were as many people again on the patio outside, and they were all there for the pipe band events.

So, that's it for Scotland 2006. It was a good band trip, and the members developed musically and in other ways. Next up is Calgary/Canmore, and we're looking into whether or not we can do that. Not sure we'll have enough people with holidays and money to make it work. Stay tuned.

The Worlds: That's Us on the Right


The bus came at 7:30 am this morning, and we went down to Glasgow Green. As it turned out, we had a great parking spot for the bus, and it was a sunny and warm morning. We had a tune off the bus to settle in, then a walk 'round to make sure we knew where to go, etc., and then tuned for about 45 minutes before playing.

This was the best performance of the trip so far, and we were happy. It could have been better, but it was about the best we could expect today. It turned out to be 16/17 in the heat. In our defence, we played very early (2nd on) and of the six pipe bands who finished in the final six on the day, five were from our heat.

We recorded the Worlds performance on video, and you can listen to it HERE When you get to YouTube, search fior "CRPB" and you'll find it.


The 12 bands that made the final [see http://www.piperanddrummer.com] were all excellent, and were very happy to see that Robert Malcolm Memorial from BC won Grade 2 in the end. What a great achievement for the band, and so good to see friend Shaunna and Dave Hilder succeed after a couple of close misses. Well done also to Andre Tessier and the drum corps, and of course to ex-CRPB member Dave Thorpe.

So, all I can say is that the band gave a great effort, and we had our best play, and it was judged to be not what was needed for the day. The band members performed well, and we learned more about what our limitations are, and it draws some clear goals for areas in which we need to improve. A positive was that the drum corps was 10th in the heat.

Heard a few Grade 1 bands, and so many had a great sound. Excellent to see Alberta Caledonia in the final at the Worlds, and also to see SFU have such a strong finish. Band members spent lots of time listening to the bands, and meeting old friends and acquaintances. Apart from the disappointment of a low placing, it was a great day, and we're all looking forward to Perth tomorrow.

Of Airports, Practice, Hard Decisions, and Festival Fun


The news of the airport madness came as we were waiting for band members Dave Hicks and Ian Aastrom to arrive. Dave flew from Calgary, and eneded up snarled in London, as did Ian who was travelling with the Transcona Pipe Band from Winnipeg. Both got here, but report of the widespread confusion, delays and difficulty. It seems as though something very bad has been averted, but it will not be easy travelling to and from the UK in the near future. Band members are anticipating having to check their pipes in the cargo on Monday, as well as all their personal belongings.

Band practice has been going well. Dave Roth has re-built the drums at least once, and refined the sound, and we have been working hard on tenors and bass, and of course the pipes too.

Trying to be competitive in the 2nd Grade at the World Championship is a big job for a band, and we are trying to push the band as hard as we can to get the most out of all the players, and represent our level as best we can. Sometimes, this means that not everyone gets to play, and these are extremely hard decisions to make, especially when they involve veteran players, valued band members, and of course—friends.

The Piping Festival is a fantastic experience for all involved, and this is Gaelic singer Kathleen MacInnes in performance at the Piping Centre on Wednesday. What a beautiful voice she has. Get to this Festival. It's brilliant.

Off to the band dinner right now in Glasgow, and then we have an early day tomorrow. The lunches are made, the shoes are shined, and the water is in the cooler. Temperature looks to be mixed sunny and overcast, about 25°C.

Playing for the World, And a Day Off


Monday morning the band climbed back on the bus for the short trip to Glasgow's George Square. Once again, we had the honour of kicking off the Glasgow International Piping Festival with a 30-minute performance at the Square. A large crowd was gathered, and they were very appreciative. We were followed by The City of Blacktown and the Australian Highlanders, both Grade 1 bands.

Following our performance, and a few photos, the band scattered for the next 48 hours. Many went to piping concerts and shows, some to meet friends and socialize, and many ended up at the Lord Todd Bar and the Piping Centre Club for some late night music. You can get a sense of the Festival by checking out PiperandDrummer.com.

Tuesday [today], band members have scattered to various parts of Scotland. Some took a driving route through central Scotland, some took the train back to North Berwick to explore the seacoast and the historic sites, and many are taking advantage of Glasgow's incredible museums, shows, and the Piping Festival. Two members have enrolled in the "Back to BASSics" tenor and bass workshop for the day.

Band members are getting a much needed break from daily practice and pressure to perform, before it all winds back up tomorrow, with two practices a day.

Thanks for all your messages in posts and emails.

Bridge of Allan: And Work to do Before We Sleep


What started as a chilly and overcast day, turned out to be hot and sunny in the afternoon, and a beautiful day at the Bridge of Allan Games. The band had a very good warm up and preparation for Bridge of Allan, but in the end, we had some issues that would put us well down in the list. The drummers had a very rough play, and up front there were a number of blowing issues. Very disappointing for all.

The early draw combined with the bad play meant a very low placing. So, we spent the afternoon listening to bands tuning, and enjoyed the social atmosphere at the Games. There were many people there to watch and listen, and lots of pipe band folks from around the World showing up in preparation for the Worlds.

Alberta Caledonia had a great day, placing 2nd in the Grade 1 event. This is a superb finish for them, and bodes well for next week at the Worlds. The 78th Fraser Highlanders were there too, and finished third behind Alberta. I spent an hour listening to the pipe section warm up, and they were very good. I loved the tune selections they used to warm up: classic 6/8 and 4/4 marches. Great stuff.

Tomorrow the band performs at George Square in Glasgow as the first official show of the 2006 Piping Live! Festival. Then, we have a "day off" to recover, and start preparations for next weekend on Wednesday. The goal for the next week will to build on the positive elements of this past weekend, and to work hard to improve the delivery of sound, and the relaxed kind of musical performance that we need to contend for prizes in Grade 2.

On a personal note, I have to say that it is deeply disappointing to be so far back in the list today, but even more so to have played poorly. The band members have worked extremely hard, contributed a lot of personal time and money to be here, and it would be great to be able to put on a better show next weekend, regardless of what placings we get.

So, at the end of the day, looking for solace, I turn to other things that make me happy, or inspire me to try again. When you're working hard at something you love, and not always succeeding, you have to find the spark to keep yourself going, so that you can motivate others to keep going too. So I went to YouTube again and listened to this video by Scottish singer Karine Polwart. Hope you like it too. LISTEN

North Berwick: A Beautiful Day on the East Coast


The bus arrived promptly at 8:45 this morning, and we made the 1.5 hour trip to North Berwick in good time. This year, the driver brought us into the town and ther games park from the other side, and we got a stunning view of the East coast, Tantallon Castle [see below] and other natural features.

We spent an hour in the morning working on the bagpipe sound and drums, had the lunch that we packed at the residence, and then got down to playing. The Grade 2 event went well. We played everyone, had a good sound, and played well. There is room to improve for sure. We did improve on some aspects when we competed again in the Grade 1 event, but by then the players were tired, and the performance was physically much harder, and past our best. Still, the drummers had a better second run, and some aspects of the piping were better, in part because it was more relaxed.

We recorded the Grade 2 event on video, and you can listen to it HERE

Result: we were 4th of 9 grade 2 bands. Although initially this is a step back from the 2nd prize we got here last year, this was a stronger field than last year, with three excellent Grade 2 bands ahead of us. Full results at www.rspba.org


Aside from a great view of the castle, it was great to see so many pipe band friends there. Alberta Caledonia had two very strong performances to win the Grade 1 events, and the Gaelic College PB from Cape Breton did well in Grade 3. Also in the prizes was Ogden Legion from Calgary. We saw P/M Alex Cupples and his son Ian. They were visiting and came out to the Games. Also bumped into a wide variety of folk, from former Edinburgh Police and Babcock-Renfrew P/M Iain McLeod, to Major Gavin Stoddart, who was just at the piping school in Regina.

Thanks to everyone for their posts and emails. We are off to Bridge of Allan in the morning, and we play around 12:30 pm. Looking forward to a better performance, although a prize will a be a tough order, b/c there are more bands, and many more good bands likely to be there, and most of them playing after us.

More to come.

Day One: Finding the Scotland Sound


Looking forward to North Berwick tomorrow, and band members are focussed on playing well. Above photo is was taken a few minutes ago in one of the common kitchen areas at the dorm where we are styaing. In the background is the trophy from North Berwick last year.

Practice today was a shock to everyone's jet-lagged system. Pipes are harder when you first get here. The mositure opens up the reeds, and the system expands with moisture. The good news is that the sound is ultimately better, too. Bagpipes and humidity are a good match, to a point. New drum heads contribute to an overall Day One struggle as we try to turn around the band sound in a new climate, and with some new reeds and heads.


In the dorm, 10:20 p.m., there is the sound of practice chanters and pads here and there, some smallpipes in the 2nd floor kitchen, and an iPod boom box in the first floor kitchen playing tunes of a more mainstream variety. Some have gone to bed, and some are ironing shirts and cleaning shoes. Living in the dorms, we get to experience each other's culinary flirtations. Here's one I thought I'd share.

Bus comes at 9:00 a.m.tomorrow, and we'll try to post when we return.

In Scotland Again


I have been here for pretty much a week now, and ytoday met up with the rest of the pipe band in Glasgow. Most of the band members arrived this afternoon in Glasgow. Since arriving, I have watched the Grade 1 and a few Grade 2 bands at the European Championships in Greenock, and have travelled around a lot, and played at two Highland Games.

Met some pipers from The Blacktown bands from Australia, and some friends from the UK and Canadian piping scene. Most impressive so far was Field Marshal Montgomery. They were stellar in the pouring rain, and would have been very deserving winners of that competition. Had the best pipe tone by a wide margin, plus a great overall package. 5th in ensemble? Not in my books.

Tayside Police were also very good indeed, and had a better sound than a few Grade 1 bands I heard. 12th in piping? Either something very bad happened that only one piping judge heard, or one of the judges had a bad day.

And a mystery solved: it turns out that the North Berwick people have "78th Fraser Highlanders" in the draw, when what they mean is "78th Highlanders, Halifax Citadel." Arrived at the dorms in Glasgow to find gate passes and the draw from the committee in North Berwick, and it seems that someone made an understandable error when entering the bands for the draw.

So, we will prepare the field for the 78th Highlanders [Halifax] at North Berwick, and not the 78th Frasers. "There can be only one.." [off-stage left, deep voice that sounds like Bill Livingstone.]

The title of this post: next time you're in a used book store, have a cruise through the Scottish and travel books to see if you can find this title by "H.V. Morton." He also penned "In Scotland," anbd they are charming travelogues from an era past. As we meander through the countryside, I often think of Morton, and what he would make of modern Scotland.

All About Hard Work, Trolls, Friends and Draws

Hard Work Thanks to the band members for their hard work over the weekend. We had a great time at O'Hanlon's and thanks also to the many band friends and supporters who came out to wish us well. Our thanks also and a tip of the glengarry to Niall O'Hanlon himself, always the supporter and an extraordinary pint of Guinness to be had there as well. The band's accomplishments this year have been nothing less than extraordinary: solid plays and wins at home against good competition, concerts and new music, a complete new set of drums, new chanters, and a trip to Scotland. Not bad all things considered, especially when bands in the heartland of Scotland are giving up the ghost because they are struggling with numbers and money.

Trolls Even in Regina, peaceable little prairie city, web trolls attempt nasty anonymous posts about the band. So unsure of your views or ashamed of your behaviour that you can't sign your name? If this blog really gets under your skin, perhaps you should get some counselling sessions or grammar lessons? There seems to be some need for both.

Friends Past and Present So many people have called or emailed to wish the band well, and our thanks for your support and interest. In preparing for another large trip, I have been thinking about how much Brian Fraser and Tim Dixon would have been into this trip. Last year, the week of the O'Hanlon's send off, Brian called to tell me how painful it was for him to have us go without him being in the band. I promised him the bass drum head when we returned from the trip, and sadly, I had to deliver it at his funeral. Thanks to all you past members for your contributions, all of which helped to make this season possible. You long-time, now retired or moved on players, we'll lift a glass for you.

Draws Another day, another crappy draw. Bridge of Allan has us on 2nd. Good news: after an incredible performance, we'll have all afternoon to scoop pints and listen to bands. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon, all things considered.

You, Me and The 78th Frasers


The draw for North Berwick was posted yesterday, and it seems as though the contest organizers have changed their minds since the entry form went out. The combined Grade 2 and 1 event will be a medley this year. This means we won't really need an MSR in Scotland, unless somewhere else has a change of heart, too.

Regardless, the best part is that we play the combined event just before the 78th Frasers. Years from now, you can tell your grandchildren, "Yes, at North Berwick in '06, we were just ahead of the Frasers." No one need know by then that it was the draw, and not the result. North Berwick offers a unique opportunity to Grade 2 bands: to play against some of the best bands in the World. For the Grade 1 bands, these can be hair pullers, as bands last year would tell you who lost to the Grade 2 Drambuie-Notplaying Pipe Band.

All things considered, it should be an exciting time, and I'm looking forward to some great tunes on Scottish soil.

Not An Ideal Draw, But Where Would You Rather Be?
So if you are thinking that maybe 2nd out of 20 bands in the heat [see Worlds draw at www.rspba.org] is a bad draw, you are right. Having said that, nothing has really changed except that, as Dave Roth pointed out, maybe we'll get a better parking spot this year? Don't count on that, either.

The good news is that the play time is a minute off 11:00 am, and shouldn't make it hard to get things together for then. Also, morning dew/rain will be dry, if it's going to be dry.

Here's the thing: at 11:00 am on the 12th, there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be than standing in the circle with the CRPB. Don't care about the time, the order, or the judges. Can't wait.

The Back Stretch
Ever watched a horse race, such as the Kentucky Derby? I am not a racing fan per se, but I think horse racing is pretty exciting. I once gave £2 to my buddy John Lappin to place a bet on a longshot at the Scottish Cup in Ayr. The horse was called "King Conn," named after the legendary founder of the Clan Donald. He was also a 33:1 longshot. So John says, "I'll place the bets" and heads off with my £2, and comes back. We watch the race, and to my great excitement, King Conn makes a break out of the back stretch, and through what seems sheer will and very hard riding, wins the race. That was when I found out John placed my £2 on his horse—a 2:1 favourite—which placed well back.

We're in the back stretch now. We have a few weeks to go until we arrive in Scotland for our next contests of the season, and this is the time to turn on the steely determination to play well. We can't decide the prizes, but we can decide how we will play. It's all about preparation and details, and the rest should look after itself. There are lots of distractions at the moment, and we haven't had the best attended or most regular practice schedule for about a month, and it's not going to get better until the summer school here is done.

What can you do? You can do the work where you are. Make the instruments great, make your playing great, and the band will follow. Too many people are taking a break from individual practice at the moment, and it's the wrong time. We're in the back stretch, and the corner is coming. Dig deep. Go hard. Sometimes, the 33:1 horses win.

Seeing the Future

If the last year proves anything, it's that we can't see or really predict the future, but sometimes, you just get a feeling. Last night was the Spring Recital for our Grade 4 pipe band The Conservatory of Performing Arts Pipe Band and what a great night it was. It gave me the feeling that the future for piping and drumming is very strong, especially if we are able to get more kids into the program. If you are interested in a strong Grade 2 band well into the future, this should be a focus of your recruiting activity. We need a strong focus in our band on teaching and supporting kids who want to play these instruments. If we do that, it'll be easier to predic the future success of our own group.

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.

Schedule Changes: Good News/Bad News
We've had an up and down week on the scheduling front. First, we added several fundraisers to the schedule, then we heard that Red Deer Highland Games had cancelled the piping and drumming portion of their games, and so it makes little sense to travel to Ellerslie, either. So, take those games off the list, and our first competition after this weekend is....North Berwick!

The good news is that members won't have to spend the money to travel and eat in AB over that weekend. We WILL be planning to do something that weekend, though, so keep it open and send your ideas. Band weekend practice? Concert? Recording? All three?

Also, we received an invitation to play at George Square again this year as part of the Glasgow International Piping Festival. Brush off your "Black Donald's Suite." Tune list to come.

Looking forward to the weekend. Hoping that the weather gods are smiling on us, for a change.

Sad, But True
Having recently passed the half-century mark [and many thanks to all who made it such a great occasion] I have to admit that at my age, after way too many years of doing it, I still get...uh, what is the current word... pumped? stoked? psyched? excited? anticipatory? about a big weekend band practice.

This weekend is not different. We have people coming in to get ready to compete, all-day drumming sessions, NEW BAND CHANTERS [didja hear that?] to put in, and possibly some fun, too. The thing that I really like is that people are coming from a long way to play with the band. They are making a big investment of time, cash and enthusiasm in what we have going here. My goal is always to make that investment pay for people, from near and far.

And, Dave says he's going to make cookies. C'mon, beat that.