Piping Centre Extends Degree Program to International Students

Glasgow, Scotland’s Piping Centre has announced that four places for overseas students have been made available to complement the Bachelor of Arts Music Degree Course the Centre has developed with Glasgow’s Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama (RSAMD).

The degree course, announced in late 2000, is the first-ever university-level degree to be approved for Highland piping. The first semester that the major in piping will be offered begins in September 2001.

As many as four non-British students will be accepted to the program each year.

Students will receive individual and group instruction, and the curriculum is drawn from the existing BA in Scottish Music, but with a new major in piping.

According to Roddy MacLeod, Director of the Piping Centre, “A unique feature of the degree is the option to take subjects leading to entry for further teaching colleges and eventual qualification under the General Teaching Council for Scotland. For the first time, pipers will have the opportunity to train for full certification as classroom music teachers.”

In addition to instruction in piping itself, students will receive class work in bagpipe and reed making, pipe bag making, notation software, music theory, and study of other British bagpipes.

“The BA (Scottish Music – Piping) degree is a breakthrough for the Highland bagpipe,” said Colin MacLellan, Education Officer at the Piping Centre. “For the first time ever, the Highland pipe is officially on the same level as the violin, the piano, and every other ‘serious’ musical instrument. The Piping Centre is proud to have built this degree program with the RSAMD.”

Information and the RSAMD Prospectus (including information on how to apply) are available from The Assistant Registrar, RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G2 3DB Scotland, or from Colin MacLellan at The Piping Centre, 30-34 McPhater Street, Cowcaddens, Glasgow G4 0HW Scotland

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