Parades, Competition, Schools and more.
HAPPY MONDAY!
ok, we got some news..
First. Parades.
We have 3 parades to do.. and they're all in the same week! The parades have been chosen in order to get us in "A" parade in 3 different Northeast AR counties. Craighead, Greene and Lawrence.
Monday Dec 3. Hoxie, AR
Tuesday Dec 4, Paragould, AR
Thursday Dec 6, Jonesboro, AR
Dress for each event, and for all persons (as possible). Black COMFORTABLE shoes, black pants, white shirt. I'll have a tie for everyone to hand out. I'm looking into sweaters (Wolly Pully's), or we can just wear black jackets/coats. But be prepared to remove them if it gets warm.
Hats, we'll get the Santa hats for everyone.
Now, as to who can participate, EVERYONE! Students and players. While we may have only 3 pipes and 2 drums, we'd like to have a fairly large body of people. So.. Even if you've only had your one lesson or two on the chanter.. come on out and walk with us. At least you'll get to wear gloves!
This is our chance to be seen, get a bit of PR, and show we are a growing organization. So the more bodies, the better.
Details as to location of lineup, time and such will be handed out at practice.
-----------------------------------
Piper and Drummer's Gathering. Nov 4.
The church will be using the facilities, so, the gathering is canceled on this week. consider it an early holiday (but keep practicing).
------------------------------------
Competitions:
It's really not that long until the beginning of the 2008 competition season. I heartily encourage each and every person to consider participating in at least 1 or more solo competitions. This includes the practice chanter, when and where a contest can be found. On tenor and Bass drum.. it's not uncommon for there to be a single competitor at the novice level, so.. you have a real chance right out of the gate.
If.. you wish to compete, We need to get you registered with the association. Just let me know.
As for band.. This is more complex. for those that don't know how it works. here's a rundown (this is for sanctioned events).
1. The band must be registered with the association, and a roster turned in. who's playing what instrument.
2. A person can only be listed on one roster, per instrument. For example. I'm listed with Wolf River as a piper, and so cannot be listed as a piper with NEAC. However I could be listed as a drummer (each type drum is a different instrument), or as an instructor.
3. In order to enter a sanctioned event, at grade 5 (entry level), The band must have a minimum of 5 pipers, 2 snares, 1 bass drum. More is better, but that's the minimum. Of these 8 people, an instructor does not count.
So, what's that mean for us. In order to walk into a Grade 5 sanctioned event.. we need more pipers, more snares and a bass. I cannot be counted as one of the 5 pipers, as I'd be an "instructor", or.. I'd have to play a drum, at which point I would count. The basic issue is.. we need more people, if we wish to compete. Anthony & Amelia.... You do have time to come up to speed, get on the pipes and participate in competition by mid-late 2008... if you wish (and it doesn't cause problems with school and grades). Hannah, no reason whatsoever you couldn't compete on tenor, and participate in the band comps on tenor. A tenor isn't required, but really helps the drum-line score and ensemble score.
Now.. that said, here's the thing about the "competition" band -vs- the "parade" band. Everyone's not going to be in the competition band. And because of that, we may not actually get to do sanctioned competition, as a band in 2008. It depends on the number of players up to snuff. The reality is, what's acceptable on the parade route, or at the rugby game, even hired performance, is much lower than what's acceptable in the competition circle. The hope is to someday have both.. a grade 5, and a grade 4 comp band. However the one and only way to get a Grade 4 band, is to have a grade 5 band... which plays well enough, often enough, and wins.. to get upgraded to grade 4. If there is a single weak player, on any instrument, that can cause the whole band not to win, and thus not to get upgraded.
So here's how it goes. Right now.. it's Danny and myself. We're picking out and going to start working on a competition set. It's not going to be hard, but just must be absolutely clean, and able to be kept in tune, the whole time. The set must be between 1:45 and 4:30min in length, and is a QMM (Quick March Medley - 2/4s and 4/4s). The criteria to join this mini-circle, is an obvious commitment to competition level playing, over and above the normal parade & performance tunes, and the ability or obvious potential to be able to step in with us, play the tunes, and the only difference in sound being volume, not quality. If interested, let me know and we can talk about it.
-----------------------
Schools:
There are several weekend, or week-long schools for piping and drumming across the nation. I'd love for people to be able to go to these, especially our fledgling drummers. However as they do cost a little bit, it's unlikely we as a band can send everyone. (Lyon Summer school, is approx $650/week, North American Academy of Piping and Drumming, NC about $500/week). We do have a bank account with a starter amount in it. I'm thinking of starting to put in a small sum myself every month to help build it up. Others are welcome to do likewise, as able (don't cut into school funds, etc).
Here's my challenge. By whatever means possible. At such time as we have $2000 in the bank. I'll open an application process for everyone in the band. Students and members that would like to attend a week long school. The school will likely be one during the summer months, in order to allow attendance by those in college or High School. The criteria will be based on participation in practices and events. Obvious commitment and progress. Special weight will be given to those who have also shown commitment to competition (solo or band).
For each $1000 additional in the bank, an additional person gets to go, paid by the band. so.. $2000 - one person goes, $3000 - 2 people go, and so on. Of course any person more than welcome to pay their own way as well.
This is my way of encouraging us to build our program. both financially for the band, and by investing in the individuals who have shown commitment to excellence, and who will most likely learn from some of the best instructors on the continent and bring it back to the band to share. sound fair?
------------------
Differentiating ourselves.
As if playing the highland style drums and pipes isn't different enough, another way we can show ourselves different, and versatile, is to user those skills and talents we already have. When we get a chance to do some sort of performance, for a public audience, I'd love for those that play other instruments, to be able to merge them into the performance. We have as students, a flute, clarinet and If I remember correctly, sax. I also play the Bodhran, working on getting my trumpet chops back, and have played a bit with Classical Guitar, Mandolin and Tin Whistle. If we could work in something closer to an Irish Session type group it would be great, whether mixed in with the big pipes, or smallpipes. just a thought. For those interested, if you're able to travel to Memphis on a Tuesday, we have "sessions" every other Tues down in the cooper young area, at Celtic Crossing. The group varies with who shows up. A sample of what it sometimes sounds like
can be heard at http://blog.birlsgonewild.com/ (2nd entry down).
------------------
Does all this sound like a lot of work.. you betcha. But that's what makes it fun. Having goals, and making progress is the only way to keep us all engaged and energetic. The worst thing that could happen at this early stage, is to get bored, apathetic, or distracted.
To that end, I want to be sure and Thank our newest students. Thanks so very much for taking an interest. We are going to do our best to push you, and expect progress, and hopefully reap the increasing rewards as the months and years go by. We want you, your friends and family to always feel most welcome to visit and participate. Should there ever be an issue, especially anything that does or would make you feel unwelcome or uncomfortable, do not hesitate to mention it to myself, Danny or any person. We want to have fun and cut loose, but also keep it completely family friendly.
ok, we got some news..
First. Parades.
We have 3 parades to do.. and they're all in the same week! The parades have been chosen in order to get us in "A" parade in 3 different Northeast AR counties. Craighead, Greene and Lawrence.
Monday Dec 3. Hoxie, AR
Tuesday Dec 4, Paragould, AR
Thursday Dec 6, Jonesboro, AR
Dress for each event, and for all persons (as possible). Black COMFORTABLE shoes, black pants, white shirt. I'll have a tie for everyone to hand out. I'm looking into sweaters (Wolly Pully's), or we can just wear black jackets/coats. But be prepared to remove them if it gets warm.
Hats, we'll get the Santa hats for everyone.
Now, as to who can participate, EVERYONE! Students and players. While we may have only 3 pipes and 2 drums, we'd like to have a fairly large body of people. So.. Even if you've only had your one lesson or two on the chanter.. come on out and walk with us. At least you'll get to wear gloves!
This is our chance to be seen, get a bit of PR, and show we are a growing organization. So the more bodies, the better.
Details as to location of lineup, time and such will be handed out at practice.
-----------------------------------
Piper and Drummer's Gathering. Nov 4.
The church will be using the facilities, so, the gathering is canceled on this week. consider it an early holiday (but keep practicing).
------------------------------------
Competitions:
It's really not that long until the beginning of the 2008 competition season. I heartily encourage each and every person to consider participating in at least 1 or more solo competitions. This includes the practice chanter, when and where a contest can be found. On tenor and Bass drum.. it's not uncommon for there to be a single competitor at the novice level, so.. you have a real chance right out of the gate.
If.. you wish to compete, We need to get you registered with the association. Just let me know.
As for band.. This is more complex. for those that don't know how it works. here's a rundown (this is for sanctioned events).
1. The band must be registered with the association, and a roster turned in. who's playing what instrument.
2. A person can only be listed on one roster, per instrument. For example. I'm listed with Wolf River as a piper, and so cannot be listed as a piper with NEAC. However I could be listed as a drummer (each type drum is a different instrument), or as an instructor.
3. In order to enter a sanctioned event, at grade 5 (entry level), The band must have a minimum of 5 pipers, 2 snares, 1 bass drum. More is better, but that's the minimum. Of these 8 people, an instructor does not count.
So, what's that mean for us. In order to walk into a Grade 5 sanctioned event.. we need more pipers, more snares and a bass. I cannot be counted as one of the 5 pipers, as I'd be an "instructor", or.. I'd have to play a drum, at which point I would count. The basic issue is.. we need more people, if we wish to compete. Anthony & Amelia.... You do have time to come up to speed, get on the pipes and participate in competition by mid-late 2008... if you wish (and it doesn't cause problems with school and grades). Hannah, no reason whatsoever you couldn't compete on tenor, and participate in the band comps on tenor. A tenor isn't required, but really helps the drum-line score and ensemble score.
Now.. that said, here's the thing about the "competition" band -vs- the "parade" band. Everyone's not going to be in the competition band. And because of that, we may not actually get to do sanctioned competition, as a band in 2008. It depends on the number of players up to snuff. The reality is, what's acceptable on the parade route, or at the rugby game, even hired performance, is much lower than what's acceptable in the competition circle. The hope is to someday have both.. a grade 5, and a grade 4 comp band. However the one and only way to get a Grade 4 band, is to have a grade 5 band... which plays well enough, often enough, and wins.. to get upgraded to grade 4. If there is a single weak player, on any instrument, that can cause the whole band not to win, and thus not to get upgraded.
So here's how it goes. Right now.. it's Danny and myself. We're picking out and going to start working on a competition set. It's not going to be hard, but just must be absolutely clean, and able to be kept in tune, the whole time. The set must be between 1:45 and 4:30min in length, and is a QMM (Quick March Medley - 2/4s and 4/4s). The criteria to join this mini-circle, is an obvious commitment to competition level playing, over and above the normal parade & performance tunes, and the ability or obvious potential to be able to step in with us, play the tunes, and the only difference in sound being volume, not quality. If interested, let me know and we can talk about it.
-----------------------
Schools:
There are several weekend, or week-long schools for piping and drumming across the nation. I'd love for people to be able to go to these, especially our fledgling drummers. However as they do cost a little bit, it's unlikely we as a band can send everyone. (Lyon Summer school, is approx $650/week, North American Academy of Piping and Drumming, NC about $500/week). We do have a bank account with a starter amount in it. I'm thinking of starting to put in a small sum myself every month to help build it up. Others are welcome to do likewise, as able (don't cut into school funds, etc).
Here's my challenge. By whatever means possible. At such time as we have $2000 in the bank. I'll open an application process for everyone in the band. Students and members that would like to attend a week long school. The school will likely be one during the summer months, in order to allow attendance by those in college or High School. The criteria will be based on participation in practices and events. Obvious commitment and progress. Special weight will be given to those who have also shown commitment to competition (solo or band).
For each $1000 additional in the bank, an additional person gets to go, paid by the band. so.. $2000 - one person goes, $3000 - 2 people go, and so on. Of course any person more than welcome to pay their own way as well.
This is my way of encouraging us to build our program. both financially for the band, and by investing in the individuals who have shown commitment to excellence, and who will most likely learn from some of the best instructors on the continent and bring it back to the band to share. sound fair?
------------------
Differentiating ourselves.
As if playing the highland style drums and pipes isn't different enough, another way we can show ourselves different, and versatile, is to user those skills and talents we already have. When we get a chance to do some sort of performance, for a public audience, I'd love for those that play other instruments, to be able to merge them into the performance. We have as students, a flute, clarinet and If I remember correctly, sax. I also play the Bodhran, working on getting my trumpet chops back, and have played a bit with Classical Guitar, Mandolin and Tin Whistle. If we could work in something closer to an Irish Session type group it would be great, whether mixed in with the big pipes, or smallpipes. just a thought. For those interested, if you're able to travel to Memphis on a Tuesday, we have "sessions" every other Tues down in the cooper young area, at Celtic Crossing. The group varies with who shows up. A sample of what it sometimes sounds like
can be heard at http://blog.birlsgonewild.com/ (2nd entry down).
------------------
Does all this sound like a lot of work.. you betcha. But that's what makes it fun. Having goals, and making progress is the only way to keep us all engaged and energetic. The worst thing that could happen at this early stage, is to get bored, apathetic, or distracted.
To that end, I want to be sure and Thank our newest students. Thanks so very much for taking an interest. We are going to do our best to push you, and expect progress, and hopefully reap the increasing rewards as the months and years go by. We want you, your friends and family to always feel most welcome to visit and participate. Should there ever be an issue, especially anything that does or would make you feel unwelcome or uncomfortable, do not hesitate to mention it to myself, Danny or any person. We want to have fun and cut loose, but also keep it completely family friendly.
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