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Date Posted: 20:39:58 02/21/05 Mon
Author: Mike
Subject: Words of Advice

I’m off to Catalina Island Marine Institute tomorrow with a herd of adolescents. Pray for me.

It was suggested that I post this since we have a lot of pipers competing with a band for the first time on Sunday. These are my ten tips for band personnel. Feel free to pipe in with any suggestions of your own.

1. Be 100% confident in your pipes. If there is the remotest chance that your chanter will pop out, your drone reeds will fall into the bag, your drones will squeal, or any of your joints will be too loose or tight, get it taken care of right away. Inspect and replace any tape that might start sliding or oozing. Inspect your drone cords to make sure they aren’t going to slip their moorings. Check your bag for leaks. It is sometimes helpful to have an extra Ross canister (or extra ‘kitty litter’– I understand Tidy Cat works well) for humid Californian and Scottish weather.

2. Be prepared. Have a spare reed ready to go. Have the stamina to play for an hour. Make sure your pipes have been played every day the week before competition.

3. Have your uniform pressed, shined, and ready. I keep mine in a garment bag with a couple of mothballs so it’s always together. Bring a small shoe shine cloth in your sporran.

4. The best bands generally have good m&d. Lift your feet, march with pride. Right or wrong, a sharp looking band will seem to play better.

5. Be on time or early for warm-up. Then relax and follow directions. Don’t leave the area unless you tell someone in charge and they say it’s okay. The pipe major/drum sergeant/tuner are in charge at this point. Let them know of any potential problems. Surprises are a bad thing. Breathe deeply and think happy thoughts. Let those in charge tear their hair out.

6. Warning: Pipe majors lose some or all of their sense of humor before a competition.

7. Something unexpected will happen during a competition. You will make a mistake during a competition. Everyone does. The key is how you deal with it. Bring as little attention to it as possible. Deal with it and move on. Flicking drones is a bad thing and chanters falling out isn’t very good either. You can make sure that doesn’t happen with good maintenance. You can’t help photographers wandering into the circle, chanters drifting, bees crawling up your blow stem, the person next to you losing the tune (or passing gas), or crazed fans throwing room keys and undergarments. You have to deal with it, correct it if possible, and then keep on playing the set as if nothing happened. Relax and stay focused on making good music.

8. Pay attention marching up to the line and exiting the competition area. The judges are still listening. We aren’t judged on this music, but poor playing here can ‘remind’ the judges of poor playing in the circle. Play well and soak up the applause.

9. Listen to the other bands. You can learn a lot. Give the Grade III band a big cheer when they are done! They have been very supportive of us.

10. Don’t forget your shoes.

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