For one of the few times in RSPBA history a new band has been assigned to Grade 1, with the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band to make its debut in the top grade.
The Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band sponsored by Glenfiddich was formed in winter of 2008 by Roddy MacLeod, the band's pipe-major, with a roster of all-star pipers and drummers, with some 16 Highland Society of London Gold Medals won within its ranks and most of its members with years of experience playing with top Grade 1 bands.
The new band plans to compete for the first and only time in 2008 at the World Pipe Band Championships and will take part in the Grade 1 Qualifier.
The only other known times that a new band was graded Grade 1 by the RSPBA's Music Board and National Council was in 2002 when the now-defunct Glasgow Pipes & Drums formed after most of the members of the established Grade 1 band, David Urquhart Travel, left to start the new group; in 1992 when the short-lived Caledonian Airways Pipe Band was formed; and earlier in 2008 when the new Fife Police Pipe Band reportedly was assigned to Grade 1.Spirit of Scotland plans to wear kilts in the Isle of Skye tartan.
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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.
