Over the Memorial Day weekend, the Band hosted Andrew Hayes, from the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band (http://www.sfupipeband.com/html/members.html). He instructed the band, and students, in a number of topics including instrument maintenance, tuning, playing together, and musicality. Many folks had individual lessons as well spending an hour one-on-one. Even the trios spent time with Andrew working on their competition sets. Overall the weekend was a great success and a very good time.
Tonight, at our first practice after the workshop, we are using the techniques that Andrew taught. The band’s sound has greatly improved and tuning came together much quicker. The key now is to maintain the sound, and keep practicing the tunes.
Hopefully, what will stick with us longest is Andrew’s four themes for bagpipe bands: execution, tone, expression, and ensemble. We have a month to pull all four themes together for the Alaska Highland Games on June 28th. Execution comes with practice, and we are starting our two practices a week this week. Tone is already improving thanks to Andrew’s instruction and help getting instruments in shape. Thanks to the concentrated practice time this weekend expression is coming together. Ensemble is also improving; as soon as the drummers joined us this weekend we started sounding like a performing band!
We greatly appreciate Andrew’s time, and I expect that we’ll be inviting him back again in the future, if he’s willing to put up with us.
Slainte!
FRHPB President
