Editorial

There are benefits that artificial intelligence might bring, but replacing human musical creativity is not one of them. If we want to safeguard pipe band creativity from machine intervention, pipers and drummers should petition associations to enact rules prohibiting it.

As the piping and drumming world searches for ways to convince more young people to learn, we realized that, with a little focus, there’s a ready-made benefit that could be compelling to any parent not yet convinced.

Despite decades of stringent vetting, testing and management by associations, there has been a noticeable increase in piping, drumming, and pipe band competitions that employ unaccredited people to adjudicate their events, and competitors don’t seem to mind. And that’s disconcerting.

Judging structures need to evolve with what pipe bands have become over the last hundred years.

Pipe bands most often fail not because they don’t win prizes, but because they lack effective leadership.

It’s time to transform the culture of complaining. How about starting with association leaders sharing the truly rewarding aspects of their roles? Let’s hear why leaders want to be in the role, the personal gratification they get from serving, not why they wouldn’t wish it on their worst enemy.

“Grading disputes discourage bands from competing internationally. That’s a loss for everyone. If we want to promote cross-border participation, we need a clearer, fairer path for bands to follow.”

“The recent Grade 1 dissolutions aren’t anomalies; they’re warnings.” Scott Armit calls for action now, unless we want to see further decline of competition bands around the world

As his band continues to search for a leading-drummer, Pipe-Major Donald Mackay discusses his optimism for the challenges ahead

Because the instrument is inherently unpitched, multi-award-winning pipe band drummer Scott Armit argues that there is no such thing as “flat” snares, and judging snare pitch based on how “cranked” a line is encourages homogeneity over artistry

If associations want to “further the art,” they might want to embrace and provide value for new and existing members who don’t want the pressures, time, and expense of competing. It could be a matter of their very survival.

Bill Livingstone, Andrew Berthoff, Lillian Livings …

Following the February 5th departure of Grade 1 Police Scotland& Federation’s Leading-Drummer David Henderson and several members of the band’s drum section to Grade 1 Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia, we received the following open letter opinion piece from Police Scotland & Federation Pipe-Major Ewan Henderson.

No great artist achieved greatness by copying another artist. Indeed, art evolves and derives. The greatest artists are the risk-takers.

As the number of years lived run up, one becomes even more conscious of time running down. We’re determined to travel to those places we always wanted to see, read the books we’ve always planned to absorb, and appreciate the people we love more.