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COMMENT(S): Sandy Keith, 1937-2012
Published: February 03, 2012
Author: gordpar | (report inappropriate content) |
| I am still in shock and deeply saddened by the passing of my good friend Sandy -a piping legend who I admired and respected .His legacy will live on through his pupils and the city and school bands that he gave so much of his time,energy and passion to. I shall miss him.
Thinking of Mary and the family at this sad and difficult time. Gordon Parkes |
Published: February 03, 2012
Author: GregDinsdale | (report inappropriate content) |
| I was very sad to hear the news of Sandy’s passing. Sandy was a one-off. He was one of those few individuals who told it like it was.......you trusted his view because it was from the heart. I used to love that Sandy would come by the International Adjudicator sessions in Glasgow before the Worlds and provide the group with his opinions and experience. It was fun and I will really miss his presence at these sessions. Thanks for making me smile Sandy.
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Published: February 03, 2012
Author: rsm | (report inappropriate content) |
| Sandy Keith's passing will leave I gigantic rupture in Florida piping. He was an ardent teacher, worker at the schools, and taught individuals at home. He was a Pipe Major who strived for excellence in every way, and his bands, and I say bands in the plural, always performed very well considering the length of time he had to spend with them. He was a fine administrator and the Dunedin Tattoo, and Games are examples of his talents.
You could tell his students because they had good solid sound, and that they were taught extremely well.
He was not always the most diplomatic of individuals, but his motives were always excellence.
I was fortunate to have a very fine conversation with Sandy this year at Orlando Highland Games. We reminisced about many old friends, and related many stories that only a handful of pipers and Pipe Majors would remember. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation.
Sandy gave great service to piping in Florida, and the Dunedin Community.
To Mary and family, our deepest sympathy.
Reay Mackay |
Published: February 03, 2012
Author: BA | (report inappropriate content) |
| My Dad piped first with Sandy in the Air Force Band at Trenton in the early 60's. When he asked Sandy if he would give lessons to his daughter, Sandy replied that no, he would not as it would be a waste of his time and talent as girls grew up and did not have time for piping. My Dad asked Sandy if he knew who had taught Willie Ross. "no" "His mother" "OK, bring her over". I was about 10 years old and playing Green Hills on the chanter. When I arrived at my first lesson with Sandy, he took my notebook, told me we would start at the beginning of the College of Piping tutor book, and if he ever wrote the same thing twice in my book, I would never be coming back. He had high standards and always wanted a clean, big G gracenote, accurate fingering and good timing, not playing ahead of the beat. He had an open mind and was open to listening to different ways of looking at convention and his own beliefs, otherwise, I would never have got in the door for lessons.
As I began to compete in solo piping, my Dad observed that the age group competitive system was not helpful to pipers who may have started later than others and also that people consistently winning their age group were not being challenged. He and Sandy worked through the piping organization in Ontario to change the system from age group classes to skill based levels, the gr. 4, 3, 2, 1 system now in place. They thought this would provide incentive and opportunity to more pipers. Sandy was quite pleased that they were able to bring about this restructuring in the solo competitive system.
I once asked Sandy who he admired, who was his hero, and he replied Seumas MacNeill. I would say that Sandy, with his lifelong passion and dedication to piping, composing, teaching and responsible judging has been true to the traits he admired in his hero.He was generous with his knowledge and insights and willing to assist any level of player improve their skill or overcome an obstacle. He also developed a keen interest in piobaireachd and liked to compose phrases and variations.
He made a great life in piping and loved what he did. He had great appreciation for those in his life who had helped him live the life he wanted and do what mattered to him, particularly, his wife Mary, and his piping teachers, associates and students.
Betty Anne Muckle |
Published: February 03, 2012
Author: PipeCorp | (report inappropriate content) |
| I did not know this man intimately. However, he taught me music theory of the bagpipe starting with the downbeat in the Ohio Scottish Arts School. This man is a great who influenced many. Cheers! |
Published: February 02, 2012
Author: BillLivingstone | (report inappropriate content) |
| Great guy, and Lily and I loved him. Gruff exterior, and warmhearted under it all. Took him a long time to know how to deal with Lily's affectionate hugs when we'd meet. He did finally get used to it.
I met him when I was about 14 when Sandy came to Sudbury. There was a ceilidh and I played, and was terrified as he was one of the very best of the up and comers from Scotland. Funny how much older he seemed to be. But I was just a kid and he was a young man.
He had a big hand in grooming a lot of Ontario pipers most especially Scott MacAulay. Be sad to see The Captain and Nat Russell at the Todd Bar without Sandy completing the trio. Probably one of the most well liked and genuine characters in the world of piping and pipe bands.
To Mary, know that he was well loved, and leaves behind great memories for those who knew him.
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Published: February 02, 2012
Author: DonaldMacPhee | (report inappropriate content) |
| Very sad news indeed. I am a graduate of Dunedin high school and played under Sandy in both the school and city bands - a good teacher and a better Pipe Major. I remember as a wee boy listening to his Erskine band up in Ontario and became friendly with his son Donald and that's when I first met Sandy. My Dad and Sandy were friends and competed against one another when he first moved to Ontario.Sandy was very quick witted and was definitely his own man. I am saddened today at this news because Sandy was an influence in piping career . My sincere condolences to Mary, Donald , and Heather. |
Published: February 02, 2012
Author: piperjde | (report inappropriate content) |
| Dunedin carries a heavy heart today. As a male member of his school bands and the City Band, my memory will always have a little salt and vinegar mixed with the sweetness of success and the laughs. What he provided for so many of us was an exceptional life style. All the traveling I've done the friends I have and the music I have is all owed to him. A few people have married fellow band members and yet it was pointed out to me today, that it's quite possible that we also made an impression in his life too. I hope so and its with this support from all over the world this morning that I can smile and remember fondly the life of "Mr. Keith" |
Published: February 02, 2012
Author: AndrewBerthoff | (report inappropriate content) |
| Sandy was a great character and always interesting conversation. I remember four or five years ago when he brought in Bob Shepherd to judge at the Dunedin games. Also at Sandy's invitation, Shepherd conducted a seminar the day after the games for the SUSPBA adjudication panel. Bob provided a discussion of the RSPBA's "MAP" program. Rather than allowing Shepherd (his guest) to say whatever to the group of 20+ judges, Sandy actively challenged Bob on many points, interrupting him frequently, even contending that some notions were stupid. Call it a lively debate. But in the end, Sandy never let philosophical disagreements get in the way of piping camaraderie. I will miss him. |
Published: February 02, 2012
Author: JimMcGillivray | (report inappropriate content) |
| "Renowned for his no-nonsense, at times even gruff, exterior, those who knew Sandy Keith knew a warm and friendly man, always ready with a quip or joke." Perfectly said. Always fun and interesting to be around. He was a fixture in Ontario during the 1970s. Great character. Called a spade and spade, but always with a smile. | |
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