| What is a Junior Pipe Band? |
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A Junior pipe band is comprised of players ages 8 to 18
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| Why have a Junior Pipe Band?
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In a Junior pipe band there is an opportunity to develop young players to a much higher level when they are surrounded by their peers. As a Junior pipe band we are able to offer a more appropriate setting than a mixed aged-community band. Beginners and Band Members are guided by expert instructors. Parents help with organizational tasks. Outings to competitions, parades, and performances are family oriented.
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| How much will
it cost to get started? |
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Lessons are $45.00 per month (October to June) for drummers and
bagpipers. Beginning Piping students purchase a practice chanter for
about $65.00. Beginning Drumming students will purchase drumsticks &
a practice pad for about $60.00 as well. Tutor (Method) materials
are provided as well for about $5.00
The second and beyond members of any family are only an additional
$15.00/month for lessons. They will need to purchase their own
equipment separately. |
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| What type of time commitment is required? |
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Beginning students have a one hour group lesson every Wednesday 6-7
pm. Students should practice 5 times a week for approximately 30
minutes.
New Students attend parades in Spring and Summer to help with the
banner and drinks.
As students become members of the band they participate in
rehearsals on Wednesday nights from 7-9pm. Band Members practice for
45 minutes a day as they learn the band music as well as their own
competition piece.
Once a student becomes a band member, the focus of Wednesday night
rehearsal is on “team development” –i.e. how to play together as a
team.
Students begin taking private lessons outside of the Wednesday time
frame. Scotia-Glenville students have the option of having private
lessons during the school day. Private lessons usually run
$80-88/month and are paid directly to the instructor. Any of our
instructors are available for different times.
During the Spring, Summer & Fall Band the band will participate in
approximately 8 parades and 5 competitions. The parades are the main
source of band revenue and members are asked to commit to a majority
of them. |
| Do we purchase our own instruments? |
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The band provides drums and harnesses. Drummers
pay for their own sticks, which they usually purchase once or
twice a year.
The band provides loaner pipes to new pipers until they purchase their own. Even after you buy your own pipes the band will provide a specific pipe chanter, cover, cords and chanter reeds. |
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| Who are the Music Directors? |
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Maureen Connor has been teaching bagpipes since 1991. She holds a M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership, is certified at the Graduate and Senior Teacher Level by the Institute of Piping. She has a variety of experience in Arts Management, Education, and Operational Management. She began teaching the Scotia-Glenville Pipe Band in 1994, teaches at summer schools with Balmoral and Invermark throughout the United States, and is a member of the Oran Mor Pipe Band. She continues to study with Jimmy McIntosh and Alasdair Gillies in Pittsburgh, PA. She is owner of The Bagpipe Connection, which books pipers at performing engagements throughout the Capital District.
Eric MacNeill is Drum Sergeant of the Grade 2 Oran Mor Pipe Band, and Professional solo level competitor. Not only is Eric is one of the top-ranked Professional Drum Majors in North America; he also competes in solo bass and tenor contests. Coming from a pipe band family, Eric has been drumming since he was a toddler; when he took the reins of Oran Mor’s drum corps in 2000, becoming one of the youngest lead drummers for a Grade 2 band in North America. Eric instructs at the Invermark and Piping Hot Summer Drummer summer schools, and is a graduate of at Siena College. |
| What happens during the First Year? |
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This is the first stage of learning for pipers on practice chanter and drummers on pad and sticks.
Pipers
Bagpipers begin on the Practice Chanter, learn fundamentals and parade repertoire during their first year. Progress Tests are held along the way to earn the goose. This takes place after the fundamentals are developed, 5-6 band tunes are memorized and can be played accurately, on the beat, and with minimal errors. This process includes:
1. Tone Interval and how to switch without crossing noises
2. Introduction of simple gracenotes to emphasize or separate
3. Introduction and development of embellishments (groups of gracenotes)
4. Development of simple parade repertoire
Evaluation: Students are regularly evaluated for technical clarity, expression, proper posture, finger control.
Drummers
Using, Taking No Short Cuts, by Reid Maxwell, drummers master correct hand position and basic rudiments. Emphasis is on control and technique through repetition.
1. Introduction of basic rhythms (quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes, as well as dotted note) and alternating left and right hands
2. Introduction of Roll, both double and buzz
3. Introduction of accents
4. Development of above with addition of more complicated rhythm patterns and accenting
5. Introduction of flams and drags
6. Introduction of parade scores
Evaluation: students are regularly evaluated for technical accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, and hand control
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