NYPB expands horizons with ‘other’ drumming

Normally pipe bands are happy to bring in one or two pipe band drummers to teach pipe band technique, but the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland is making an unusual move this winter when it comes to organizing a workshop for its drummers.

 

At the band’s workshop on February 28th and March 1st, the drummers of the NYPB will have exclusive access to guest instructors Jeff Queen and Pete Lockett. Making the trip to Glasgow from Indianapolis, Queen is a five-time American Drum Corps International World Champion. Lockett, on route to Delhi, is a renowned Indian/African percussionist with numerous recordings, including the recent Quantum of Solace soundtrack to the last James Bond movie, and his latest album Kingdom of Rythym.

 

“We are very excited to have the two amazing top drummers flying in,” said Alisdair McLaren, director of the NYPB. “We hope that we will learn a lot to use in our own future productions, and that they might learn a thing or two from the best young pipe band snare drummers in Scotland.”

 

According to McLaren the workshop, which is exclusively for NYPB members, is designed to “expand drumming knowledge,” since the band is focused purely on performance band, rather than competition. The NYPB comprises members from bands across the United Kingdom, and is open to all who are interested in joining it or its recently announced Development band.

 

The NYPB has a concert scheduled at the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, Scotland, on April 4th, where National Piping Centre Director Roddy MacLeod and the Celtic folk group Breabach will also perform.