Features

We continue with the second in our three-part panel discussion, featuring John Cairns of Ontario, Scott MacDonald from California, and Scotland’s Kenny MacLeod, on the challenges of making a permanent leap from Grade 2 to Grade 1. In Part 2, the panel delves into ways to ensure the band remains viable both when it does not win in Grade 1 and when it returns to Grade 2, by choice or by force, as well as the idea of splitting Grade 1 and Grade 2 to make transitions easier.

There are so many in the piping world who Ian McLellan deeply influenced. We asked several of the greatest for their thoughts at this sad time.

John Cairns, Scott MacDonald and Kenny MacLeod discuss the reasons why traversing the bridge to Grade 1 (and staying there) is so difficult today, how the situation could be improved, methods to keep morale high, retain players tempted to join the winners, or even keep the band afloat.

“Playing in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is not for everyone, but it was for me. It completed my piping resume of things I wanted to do before I can’t play anymore.”

Hell Week, taking wrong turns, and a royal visit are all part of the second installment of piper Owen Reid’s 2025 Edinburgh Tattoo odyssey

In his new three-part piece, Owen Reid takes us on a new adventure: auditioning, being accepted, and performing as a member of the 2025 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes & Drums.

The pioneers of digital pipe music scoring continue their discussion of technological development in piping and drumming and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the art.

When they turn the pages of Highland bagpipe histo …

Going “over the top” at the Battle of Delville Woo …

We continue our conversation with 2025 World Solo …

As they analyze the Hornpipe & Jig performance that helped gain McQuillan the 2025 World Solo Drumming Championship, we learn that it was as much about sympatico inter-personal understanding as it was about two mutually talented musicians gaining an invaluable extra edge as two friends doing their thing.

We continue with the second and final part of our …

As with Jamie Forrester and Nick Hudson when they won their 2022 Gold Medals, we wanted to hear from Leask and Watson-Massey about their experiences on the way to, during and after their history-making performances.

“There’s never a concern about what judges think. We play the music that excites us, and if they like it, they like it; if they don’t, then there’s nothing you can do. It’s just a human opinion at the end of the day.” – L-D Steven McWhirter

We’re pleased to bring pipes|drums readers/listeners/viewers this exclusive analysis and annotation of Inveraray & District’s “Dream Valley” medley by the leaders who assembled it.