The Knights of Columbus 126 Pipes and Drums Band is looking for new members to help keep the Band active in the local, national and European community and would be interested in hearing from anyone interested in joining. We are especially interested in experienced players. We do provide instruction for pipers and drummers, from novices on up.

Our Pipe instructor Matthew Welch has studied traditional Highland Bagpipe music with Gold Medalist masters such as Colin MacLellan, Jack Lee, Angus MacLellan and Andrew Wright. Matthew also was a member of the four – time World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, having played with the band on their most recent World Championship wins in 1999 and 2001. He has had a successful professional solo piping career within and beyond the traditional setting. Matthew holds two university degrees in Music Composition, a BFA from Simon Fraser University (1999), and an MA form Wesleyan University (2001) and also has premiered a number of new compositions written for bagpipes by contemporary composers, further linking his piping to his broader musical career as a composer and multi-instrumentalist. His unique approach to the bagpipe and its music has made him in demand as an instructor along the East Coast. He is available for private instruction.

We are a Band of mostly adult players, ranging in age from mid-20’s to mid 70’s. Younger players are also welcome. To pay us a visit, drop in at the Knights of Columbus Columbus Counsel #126 located at 3051 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY, any non-holiday Monday night around 7:00. Practices normally run from 7:30 until 10:00 p.m.

Register with the Band community forum and join our discussion board.

Map of 3051 nostrand ave brooklyn ny
Driving Directions

Over intensive logging of the wood that is used in making bagpipes faces being wiped out.. Read the entire story

Environment Africa Trust (EAT) are seeking information on the market for instruments made from African Blackwood – primarily bagpipes, oboes and clarinets but also a number of less well known woodwind instruments. Their objective is to explore the prospects for instruments made from certified sources of African Blackwood, sold with a small green premium for ensuring timber from a environmentally sustainable and socially ethical source. If you are a musician and would like to help them, by filling in their musicians survey, please email enquiries@environmentafricatrust.org.uk with the subject heading ‘musician’. If you are a retailer, you may wish to fill in the retailers version; using the same email address with the header ‘retailer’. Deadline for completed forms to be returned to Environment Africa Trust is 17^th December 2007, 5pm. UK retailers only please at this stage. With thanks, EAT staff.

LIMITED OFFER:

The first 50 copies ordered all receive a free souvenir program from the concert itself.

Just a quick post to let you all know that the new Field Marshal Montgomery Live CD ‘Re:Charged’ has just been released today.  For more information and/or to get your copy – just visit this link - http://www.CanningReeds.com 

Cheers, Ryan Canning

Just Released — North Texas Caledonian Pipes and Drums 2nd CD ! Buy online !Our Original CD is also available for purchase @ 21.00Click here to purchase the First CD – A New Beginning. Only 21.00 Shipped anywhere in the US via USPS Priority Mail.
  Tracks
1.Hornpipes    2. Grade 5 Quick March Medley3. An Dro4. Reels5. Pub Jigs6. Greg’s MSR7. 3/4 Groove8. The Recruits9. 6/8 March Set10. Duthart Drum Salute11. Grade 4 Quick March Medley12. Grade 3 Medley13. Boyce’s Tunes14. Grade 4 Medley15. The Gael
 

Friday November 30, 2007 – Loch Avie

Short concise description of bagpipes

The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming in Edinburgh opened a new, state-of-the-art practise room and Single Living Accommodation yesterday, Wednesday 21 November 2007.

Full Link

… Naismith, 55, has published two books featuring more than 100 original Scottish songs and produced two CDs. He teaches children ages 7 to 14 in his beginner and advanced classes at the Vista Masonic Lodge No. 687. Advanced students meet at 5 and 6 p.m. and the entry-level class starts at 7. …  Read the Entire Article in “Today’s Local News”

… “Corporal Thomas Pride plays with the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, who recently signed a £1 million deal with record company Universal.The drummer, from Leith, can still hardly believe his luck. The 26 soldiers’ version of Paul McCartney’s hit Mull of Kintyre, will be vying against Kylie and The X Factor winner for the coveted Christmas number one spot.” … Read the Entire Article (Some interesting notes on Pipebands in the Military)

Listen to a quick sound byte of “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes

Alastair Lee placed second overall at the George Sherriff Memorial amateur piping championship in Hamilton, ON on November 17. Alastair was tied in points with the winner Ben McClamrock of Baltimore, MD, who won on piobaireachd preference.

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards’ band – made up of 26 bagpipers and drummers – have recorded a cover of Sir Paul McCartney’s ‘Mull of Kintyre’ and sent the queen, their Colonel-in-Chief, a copy for royal approval… Read the Entire Article

Retired Putnam County Police Officer and Bronx native Jerry Damon made his home here in the Mohawk Valley less than one year ago, and, as he did down state, once again he will pass his knowledge of bagpiping with school-aged kids in mind, hoping to help them identify with their roots and concentrate on their education. Read the Entire Article

With Carnegie Mellon offering a bagpipe performance major, students have many opportunities to hear bagpipes on campus. What many may not realize, however, is that Pittsburgh is full of other opportunities to attend piping performances. Last weekend, the 2007 Balmoral Classic, a weekend-long event featuring a variety of piping performances, was held in Pittsburgh…

Read the entire article

Returning for the second year is Uilleann Piper Brian Bigley. From the age of eight, Bigley studied the traditional, rarely heard, uilleann pipes with Achill Island (Co. Mayo) piper Michael Kilbane — with whom he also studied flute, whistle and low whistle. He has toured extensively throughout North America, Europe and the UK. He is also a world-class Irish step dancer.The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 5 in the Mainstage theater in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.  - MORE INFO

Not too many subjects would seem more assured of cinematic success than a profile of the world’s first and only recognized jazz bagpiper—whose life story ended, moreover, with his appropriation of the title “International Ambassador of Freedom.Read the entire article 

• Bob Allen returns as PPBSO President
• New William M MacDonald Piobaireachd CD available from the CoP Shop

Warm up those Pipes for the Celtic New Year

The National Piping Centre can now also announce the full details of
The New York Piping and Drumming School 2008

The school will take place between 18th – 22nd February 2008, in St Joseph’s School, 39 North Carll Avenue and The Hibernian Hall, 27 Locust Avenue, both in Babylon.

The Piping tutors for the course are Roddy MacLeod MBE, Gavin Stoddart MBE BEM, Bruce Gandy, Jack Lee, Alastair Dunn and Margaret Dunn and the drumming tutors have been confirmed as Graham Brown (snare) and Tyler Fry (Tenor).

Costs for this school are:

Daytime Tuition plus SHARED accommodation: $750

Daytime Tuition ONLY: $500

Daytime Piping Course PLUS the evening workshops: $550

You can have a single room at a $250 supplement.

To attend only the evening workshops which cover areas such as Tuning, Musical Expression and Medley Construction these are only $20 each evening and if you can’t attend the school during the day evening lessons are available at a cost of $40 each.

There will also be other events on in New York that week with the Metro Cup on February 16th, the CLASP competition on 23rd February between 9-4 and then that evening a You Be The Judge Competition!

So CLICK HERE to go to the New York School Page and book your place now!