Competitive Bagpiping

[ChrisFox]

I'm probably the only one here that cares about this, but hey, ya never know. I might just find that one other person that knows about the world of competative bagpiping, or perhaps even convert someone to taking an interest... ok I'll keep my delusions to myself, then eh?

I hope to compete in the (not so) distant future. Would love to be a Grade 1 piper someday..gimme 15-20 years maybe...

For all of you who don't know much about piping competitions, here's a short little (very watered down) version of the way things go:
There are five grades--the fifth being the extreme amateurs and the first being the one that everyone strives to be. [i]I am in a Grade 5 non-competing band.[/i] The fifth grade actually wasn't added until somewhat recently I believe..

[b]In order to compete[/b] you have to sign up with your local pipe band association, for those of us on the east coast that just so happens to be EUSPBA (The Eastern United States Pipe Band Association). This is so the judges know who you are, how long you've been playing, and what grade you are before you actually compete. *GASP* You have to be graded [i]before[/i] you start competing? Yes..I'm not sure how this works yet, but you have to be placed so that you are competing against people of your same level...it's fair that way.

[b]When you compete [/b](this is for solo competition..there's also band competitions which I'll get into a little later), you have a number...much like ice skaters and horse racers have numbers..and you pin it to your kilt, back, wherever...kilt is prefered. Show that number to the judge, give your name, and the name of the tune/tunes you'll be playing. It's normal for competitors to tune up before they actually start playing the tune, but once you start there's no going back.

[b]Points are scored [/b]for overall sound of the bagpipe--this means tuning of all three drones and the chanter, technique&percision (how cleanly you play notes and embellishments), some I think are judged for marching while you're playing, though not the lower grades 4 and 5, and a number of other things that I'm not 100% sure of because I've never competed. However, if your interested..or don't have anything else to do here's a more in-depth and helpful website about all things piping and competing related.

[b]Typical tunes for solo competitions are:[/b]
Light music (Ceol Beag)--consists of anything ranging from Marches, to Strathspeys and Reels, to Slow Airs.
and Ceol Mor--Piobaireachd (which is an entirely different thing so we wont get into that really, lets just say it's the classical music of the bagpipe..long tunes, often very repetative.)

[b]Band competitions[/b] are a slightly different in that it's a group being judged for a whole ensemble. They get judged for overall appearance, attack (everyone starting at the same time), the overall sound (yes tuning...some judges are so good at this they can tell which drone of which piper is out of tune in a band of 100+) which also means how well the tunes are played, and the cut-off (everyone stopping everything at the same time...this means tune is over and drones are off ..hard to do all together.)

[b]How do you advance?[/b] Consistantly winning first in all areas of your grade. There are some other things involved, but I'm not quite sure what. (Few even make it up to Grade 3.)

[b]Where do you compete?[/b] Highland games, festivals, etc. There are some national competitions that I know of one that just got over with not too long ago in Canada (there's the Celebration of Celts and the North American Championships), and some world wide ones. The World Pipe Band Championships are being held next week on the 13th in Glasgow, Scotland. (Only the best of the best make it thus far..)

[b]Why do you compete?[/b] To win all those shiny medals, of course! No, it's more of a personal improvment thing (for me at least...some people can be real assholes about it see kids website below.. ), and just the fun of getting out there and doing something out of the ordinary. Plus it's nice to be recognized, whether you win or not, for all the hard work you've put into your piping.

[b]Some notable names and bands in the piping world to look into:[/b]
[i]Here's where I just go on pimping my favorite people and show my fangirl side..[/i]
Roddy MacLeod (I met him!!!! He taught at the school I went to over the summer. And he gave me an exam!! :wub:)
Gavin Stoddart (The coolest old man you'll ever meet. He also taught at the school.)
Bruce Gandy (OMG Canadian, eh? What's more to be said? Awesome teacher..yes he taught at the school as well.)
Chris Hamilton (Taught at the school, and is now my regularish instructor--he lives in Maryland, which is about a 3 hour drive from here, so weekly is out of the question, but I'm trying for the monthly thing. Cool guy. Known for his Ned Flanders appeal. (Pay no attention to the kids website...nothing personal, I just wish he would burn in hell for all eternity ))
[b]Bands[/b]
ScottishPower (Here's hoping they win the worlds!!)
City of Washington Pipe Band (One of the only three Grade 1 pipe bands in the United States)

That's enough for now I guess. I'll post results of the worlds once they're over with and I can actually find them. I encourage you all to go to at least one bagpipe competition in your lifetime, and make sure there's a massed bands there. It's amazing what thousands of bagpipers can do to a person.
_________________
"I've got a sticky Darodo!"
"You might want to see a doctor about that."
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/kaymando/gandyhands.jpg[/img]

[Red_Quatre]

Wow. Bagpipes. Who'd a thunk.
_________________
[color=red]I have magical female powers[/color]
***[url=http://queen-of-ninjas.deviantart.com/] DA[/url]***[url=http://www.fanart-central.net/user-Red_Quatre.php] FAC[/url] ***

[ChrisFox]

Are you being sarcastic? :huh:
_________________
"I've got a sticky Darodo!"
"You might want to see a doctor about that."
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/kaymando/gandyhands.jpg[/img]