Archive

For more than 20 years, Gary West has been a recognized voice for the piping and drumming world as the presenter of Pipeline, the weekly program on all things piping and drumming on BBC Radio Scotland. An accomplished Highland piper coming up through the famous Vale of Atholl teaching program […]

Underscoring its commitment to education and training, the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association announced this year that the organization will award eight US$250 to deserving drummers who could use the support for schools, lessons, or workshops. Now, the Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming has decided that they will […]

“Fame” is subjective. We define fame as widespread awareness gained through notable and exemplary achievements. By that definition, 27-year-old Ally Crowley-Duncan – “Ally the Piper,” as millions know her worldwide – is without argument the most famous piper in the world. That’s not to say that, in the little world […]

Glasgow – March 25, 2023 – The latest CLASP (Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers) contest was an in-person event at the National Piping Centre McPhater Street premises. Against a good entry, Marc Warnock of Northern Ireland was the aggregate Grade 1 winner, while the Grade 2 and Grade 3 […]

Since 2001, Dr. William Donaldson has been contributing his Set Tunes Series for pipes|drums readers. Now comprising more than 170 piobaireachds, the series is the world’s largest free online repository of ceol mor. Each piece includes all known published manuscripts, often from obscure publications only available from the National Library […]

The most famous piper in the world isn’t a competing player from Glasgow, Vancouver, or Wellington, she’s from New York, and her name is Ally Crowley-Duncan, known to more than two-million fans (and counting) worldwide as “Ally the Piper.” And she’s no squealy-bagging hack. Ally the Piper is an accomplished […]

While on the surface, the loss of a major RSPBA pipe band championship might seem of little consequence to those outside of the UK, it presents not a few questions and concerns. For those not familiar with the matter, here’s the gist of it: The RSPBA is bound as a […]

In Part 1 we reported on what chanters, chanter reeds and drone reeds the world’s Grade 1 and Grade 2 bands are using in their pipe sections. In Part 2, we analyze the pipe bags and moisture control systems they choose to keep their musical machine running at peak potential.  The pipes|drums Bagpipe Equipment Survey […]

Despite a worldwide grassroots petition that gained more than 10,000 signatures, and a lengthy Scottish Parliament hearing to defend the program, BBC Radio Scotland has cancelled the long-running weekly program, “Pipeline.” Presented Gary West’s final show will be on April 1st, after which the public, advertising-free broadcaster will reportedly move […]

pipes|drums looks into the wonderful world of what Grade 1 and Grade 2 bands worldwide are using in their pipe sections: the chanters, chanter reeds, drone reeds, bags, and moisture systems they choose to keep their musical machine running at maximum tonality. The pipes|drums Bagpipe Equipment Survey of Top-Grade Bands Part 1 It’s been a […]

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association has informed the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing that the “RSPBA Highland Dancing Championship” held in conjunction with the World Pipe Band Championships has been cancelled. In a memo to Elizabeth Gollan, Director of Administration at Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, […]

The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland’s April 2nd concert at Edinburgh’s famous Usher Hall will mark the twentieth anniversary since the initiative began, and the organizers are now offering a 20% discount on tickets exclusively for pipes|drums readers. Full-price tickets to the “20 Years Young” show are £16.50 and […]

The first year of Grade 1 competition at the expanding Chicago Highland Games should be a success with confirmation that both City of Dunedin of Florida and Houston’s St. Thomas Alumni planning to make the trip to the Windy City June 16-17. And with Dunedin and Nova Scotia’s 78th Highlanders […]

It was the summer of 2009 when we first sat down for an exclusive pipes|drums Interview with Colin MacLellan, one of the world’s great pipers and contributors to to piping. More than a dozen years on, we thought it was time for another chat. It helped that MacLellan, a native of Scotland and a citizen […]

We continue our conversation with Pipe-Major Richard Parkes and Leading-Drummer Gareth McLees of reigning World Champions Filed Marshal Montgomery. In Part 1, the leaders of the 13-time World’s and RSPBA Champion of Champions winners discussed McLees’s move into the L-D spot after the band’s two decades with L-D Keith Orr […]

The British Columbia Pipers Association is partnering with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association to bring an event that will enable as many as four snare drummers to qualify to compete in the semi-final round of the World Solo Drumming Championship. The Pacific Rim Solo Drumming Championship will be held […]