Features

In his latest article in his “Insights into pipe band ensemble” series, Alan Jones investigates the prevalence of the S-w-M-w beat-note emphasis in pipe band MSR music.

What began a quarter-century ago quickly became and remains the greatest free collective piobaireachd resource for pipers worldwide.

Over the years, pipes|drums has amassed a lot of m …

When Grade 2 Glasgow Skye Association revealed tha …

The accomplished Canadian scientist, politician, teacher and champion for the Scottish arts passed away January 26, 2026, age 59. We are indebted to the well-known piper, teacher and adjudicator Glenna Mackay-Johnstone for providing this thoughtful and heartfelt tribute to her lifelong friend.

On International Women’s Day 2026, with the help of the world-famous piper Jenny Hazzard, we revisit 1976 through the eyes of Anne Spalding, the first woman to compete at the Argyllshire Gathering, breaking down the wall of discrimination forever.

The shortage of snare drummers and leading-drummers is pretty much a pipe band tradition. But why? Throughout the hundred-year history of competing pipe bands, pipers and drummers have wondered why the perpetual lack exists, but has anyone ever seriously sought answers?

Our discussion with four leaders from the National Piping Centre: Emma Hill, NPC Clubs Producer; Laura-Beth MacCrimmon, Youth & Communities Producer; Finlay MacDonald, Director of Piping; and David Shedden, NYPBoS Producer, continues as the organization reaches its 30-year milestone this year.

We continue this important discussion at a time when pipe bands worldwide are looking for real solutions to an age-old problem that must be solved, first by identifying the causes, then by working on real change for a better future.

This morning, depending where you stood, the sun r …

We chat with Emma Hill, Producer of NPC Clubs; Laura-Beth MacCrimmon, Youth & Community Producer; Finlay MacDonald, Director of Piping; and David Shedden, National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland Producer.

The shortage of snare drummers and leading-drummers is pretty much a pipe band tradition. But why? Throughout the hundred-year history of competing pipe bands, pipers and drummers have wondered why the perpetual lack exists, but has anyone ever seriously sought answers? pipes|drums is, as we continue our panel discussion

In the first installment, he talked about the making of the album, and in this final part, Liddell picks out his other favourite track of the 15 on the album. Given that his first pick was a blazing hot duo of hornpipes with more gracenotes in his arrangement than there are stars in the universe, his second choice might surprise you.

We suspected that an exhaustive list of the contents of Bruce Gandy’s pipe box would make for interesting reading. It did not disappoint.

For this discussion, we stepped back entirely. No interviewer. Just four pipe band drumming experts talking candidly about why snare drummers can be scarce, why leading-drummers are so hard to recruit, what challenges today’s bands face, and what meaningful steps might reverse the trend.