Old School: thoughts on cèol mòr with four piping legends - Lt.-Col. David Murray RATING
Our series of archival interviews with four legends of piping, exclusively for subscribers to pipes|drums, concludes with Lieutenant-Colonel David Murray. The interviews were recorded by a 17-year-old Iain Speirs, himself now a piping luminary, as part of high school project in 1989 that focused on the state of piobaireachd at the time, tapping each interview subject for his thoughts and opinions on where the music may be heading. The relatively brief conversations are each fascinating looks into the philosophies and perspectives of each man. In this final instalment, Lieutenant Colonel David Murray, the distinguished military man and a famous "amateur" piper taught by the great Robert Reid, meets with Speirs and provides fascinating personal perspectives on piobaireachd.
The joys and challenges of organizing a piping and drumming summer school in North America RATING
A brief interview with Ellen Mole, director of the Ontario School of Piping & Drumming, on her experiences developing a two-week course for pipers and drummers, and some of the trends that she has identified over the years
Old School: thoughts on cèol mòr with four piping legends - James Campbell of Kilberry RATING
Our series of archival interviews with four legends of piping, exclusively for subscribers to pipes|drums, continues with James Campbell. The interviews were recorded by a 17-year-old Iain Speirs, himself now a piping luminary, as part of high school project in 1989 that focused on the state of piobaireachd at the time, tapping each interview subject for his thoughts and opinions on where the music may be heading. The relatively brief conversations are each fascinating looks into the philosophies and perspectives of each man. In this third instalment, James Campbell of Kilberry, the son of the legendary and, to some, infamous Archibald Campbell – of Piobaireachd Society and Kilberry Book of Cèol Mòr fame – meets with Speirs and provides a reserved, yet candid, look into his outlooks and philosophy on piobaireachd and piping overall.
Old School: thoughts on ceol mor with four piping legends - Seumas MacNeill RATING
Our series of archival interviews with four legends of piping, exclusively for subscribers to pipes|drums, continues with Seumas MacNeill. The interviews were recorded by a 17-year-old Iain Speirs, himself now a piping luminary, as part of high school project in 1989, focusing on the state of piobaireachd at the time, tapping each interview subject for their thoughts and opinions on where the music may be heading. The relatively brief conversations are each fascinating looks into the philosophies and perspectives of each man. In this second instalment, the "Famous Seumas" shows himself to be surprisingly liberal when it comes to ceol mor.
Old School: thoughts on ceol mor with four piping legends - Capt. John A. MacLellan, MBE RATING
A series of four interviews with four legends of piping, exclusively for subscribers to pipes|drums, featuring Captain John A. MacLellan, James Campbell, Seumas MacNeill and Lt.-Col. David Murray.
We check in with the American-born, Canadian-experienced, Scotland-residing, FMM-playing, major-prize-winning, reedmaking-piper on a few of his experiences so far.
Colin MacLellan: the pipes|drums Interview, Part 5 RATING
We conclude our extensive exclusive interview with Colin MacLellan, one of the foremost leaders of his piping generation. In this installment, he discusses his heroes, piping in Edinburgh and what may be on his horizon.
Colin MacLellan: the pipes|drums Interview, Part 3 RATING
Emigration to Canada and back to Scotland, the CPA, the Boycott Year and teachers judging pupils - a few of the topics in the third instalment of our exclusive interview.
Willie McCallum: the pipes|drums Interview, Part 4 RATING
The final installment of our exclusive conversation, in which the great piper discusses judging politics, accreditation, nerves and his view of the future
Willie McCallum: the pipes|drums Interview, Part 3 RATING
The Clasp, the Boycott Year, the Spirit of Scotland, the CPA - the great solo piper is more up-close-and-personal than ever in the third installment of the exclusive subscribers-only series
Quality reed selection is a pre-requisite to obtaining a good tone in a pipe corps. Four criteria to consider when testing reeds are balance, vibrancy, volume and strength. Check the High A Low A balance against a single sounding tenor drone - if these two notes are in the ballpark chances are the rest of the notes can be tuned.
