BagpipeLessons.com Blog

New BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping & Drumming Competition for March 2012

2012-01-20T10:33:00.001-08:00

We are excited to announce a new and expanded BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping & Drumming Competition for March 2012.

We are thrilled to announce the addition of 19 side drumming events, presented in association with James Laughlin of Come2Drum.com -- the internet's best place for information on learning pipe band drumming.

Last year, we saw an incredible worldwide response to the world's first-ever online piping competitions. We received over 600 entries from pipers from around the world, many competing for the first time. The competitors submitted their competition videos via YouTube and received a detailed evaluation and comment sheet from our panel of world-class adjudicators. Videos of the prizewinners were posted for everyone to watch and enjoy.

Some comments from previous BagpipeLessons.com online competitions:

"I think that online competition is a great idea, allowing players to compete with each other disregarding distance."

"The online competition is an absolutely fantastic idea... I got my first sheet yesterday and am very enthused about it. The critique is very constructive."

"This first online competition is an historic event for piping."

We've made improvements and added events based on feedback from our previous competitors and judges. We're pleased to announce 37 different piping events and 19 different drumming events! Drummers have the option to record their videos with a live piper or with a recording of a piper.

We're pleased to continue with our tribute to honor the piping legend: The Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 6/8 March. The competition is open to any piper and is divided into age groups. The overall winner will receive a piping scholarship.

The Medley Event that is open to pipers in any grade, including Open/Professional. The Evaluation-Only Event is for pipers who want to be evaluated by a judge and receive judging sheet only, but don't want to compete against other pipers.

Here's how the online competition works:

Pick the events you want to enter (see below).
Sign up by March 1 (each event limited to 30 competitors).
Help spread the word and get your entry fee for free (see below).
Make your video recording -- this is your competition entry.
Submit your recording.
Wait for your judge's comment sheet and the results!

All competitors will receive a full judging comment sheet. Prizes will be awarded according to the number of entries. Selected prize winners will receive scholarship gift certificates that can be used at any of the BagpipeLessons.com family of websites, including BagpipeGauge.com, BagpipeRevolution.com, or PipeBandTunes.com, with additional prizes to be announced later. Prizes will be given for: Best Dress & Deportment, Best Video Background, Best Quality Video.

Never competed before? No problem! If you don't have a competition grading or you've never competed before you should enter the Grade 5 level events (see below). If you are from a region of the world that uses a different grading system (e.g. Australia, New Zealand), please email me and I can help you select the correct competition level. Also, you can send me a recent recording of yourself playing and I can suggest a grade level for you, too!

Tell a friend and get to enter for free! We need your help to spread the word and include pipers from around the world. After you've entered your events, ask your friends to sign up and tell them to type your name or email address in the "Who referred you?" box during the sign up process. For every three events your friends sign up for, you'll get one free event entry fee! (I will refund your entry fee or credit it towards the next online competition.) So email your friends and bandmates, post on facebook, and blog about it!

Piping Events:
1. Beginner (practice chanter) - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)
2. Beginner (practice chanter) - 3/4 or 4/4 March (2 or 4 parts)
3. Beginner (practice chanter) - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
4. Beginner (practice chanter) - 6/8 March (at least 2 parts)
5. Beginner (practice chanter) - Piobaireachd (Ground Only)
6. Grade 5 - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)
7. Grade 5 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
8. Grade 5 - 6/8 March (at least 2 parts)
9. Grade 5 - Jig (at least 2 parts)
10. Grade 5 - Piobaireachd (Ground Only)
11. Grade 4 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
12. Grade 4 - Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
13. Grade 4 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
14. Grade 4 - Piobaireachd (Ground and Next Variation)
15. Grade 4 - Jig (at least 4 parts)
16. Grade 3 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
17. Grade 3 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
18. Grade 3 - Jig (at least 4 parts)
19. Grade 3 - Hornpipe (at least 4 parts)
20. Grade 3 - Piobaireachd
21. Grade 2 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
22. Grade 2 - Jigs (two jigs, each tune at least 4 parts)
23. Grade 2 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
24. Grade 2 - Hornpipe (at least 4 parts)
25. Grade 2 - Piobaireachd
26. Grade 1 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
27. Grade 1 - Jigs (two jigs, each tune at least 4 parts)
28. Grade 1 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
29. Grade 1 - Hornpipes (two hornpipes, each tune at least 4 parts)
30. Grade 1 - Piobaireachd
31. Any Grade - Medley (4-6 Minutes)
32. Ungraded - Any tune. This is a non-competitive, evaluation event. Play any tune. Your performance will be evaluated by a judge who will write a complete judging sheet for you, but you will not be compared to any other pipers. Submit as many tunes as you like, but each tune requires a separate entry and video. This is a great option to get feedback for non-graded pipers or to play tunes that are not currently offered at your competition level. This event may be played on the practice chanter or pipes.

The Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge is open to all pipers regardless of any competition grading, except Open/Professional. Prize winners will be announced for each age group level. The first place winners for each age group will be judged against one another and the overall winner will win a scholarship and be the Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 6/8 March Champion. Select the appropriate event based on your age on March 1, 2012.

33. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 6/8 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers 12 or younger
34. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 6/8 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers 13 to 14 years old
35. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 6/8 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers 15 to 17 years old
36. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 6/8 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers 18 to 20 years old
37. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 6/8 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers 21 years or older

Drumming Events:

101. Beginner (Drum Pad) - 3/4 March (at least 2 parts)
102. Beginner (Drum Pad) - 4/4 March (at least 2 parts)
103. Beginner (Drum Pad) - 2/4 March (at least 2 parts)
104. Grade 5 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
105. Grade 5 - 4/4 March (at least 4 parts)
106. Grade 5 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
107. Grade 4 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
108. Grade 4 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 2 parts)
109. Grade 4 - Jig (at least 4 parts)
110. Grade 3 - March, Strathspey & Reel (M at least 4 parts, S & R each at least 2 parts)
111. Grade 3 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
112. Grade 3 - Jig (at least 4 parts)
113. Grade 2 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
114. Grade 2 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
115. Grade 2 - Hornpipe & Jig (each tune at least 4 parts)
116. Grade 1 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
117. Grade 1 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
118. Grade 1 - Hornpipe & Jig (each tune at least 4 parts)
119. Ungraded Side Drumming - Any tune. This is a non-competitive, evaluation event. Play any tune. Your performance will be evaluated by a judge who will write a complete judging sheet for you, but you will not be compared to any other drummers. Submit as many tunes as you like, but each tune requires a separate entry and video. This is a great option to get feedback for non-graded drummers or to play tunes that are not currently offered at your competition level. This event may be played on the side drum or drum pad, with or without a piper.

Enter here for all events:

Sign up today! Each event is limited to 30 competitors.

Official Rules:

Important Dates:

Sign up before March 1, 2012.
Last day to send in your competition video: March 15, 2012.
Your video must be not be recorded before January 20, 2012.

Your Videos:

Each event must be submitted in a separate video.
All videos must be made in one complete take (no editing), but take as many tries as you want.
Wearing of your kilt is encouraged, but not required.
Your video should show most or all of your body, including your head. Your video must be lighted properly so your face and hands can be clearly seen. Videos with poor lighting or sound (backlighting, face and hands not clearly visible, distorted sound, etc.) may be not be judged.
You must state your name and the name of your tune(s) at the start of your video. (You don't need to say your tunes for the Medley event, but you must state your name.) For example, "My name is Jake MacCrimmon. For my 6/8 March, I will play Dovecote Park."
Take your time with tuning and getting warmed up, just as you would in a regular competition.
Upload your video to YouTube and set it to Public or Unlisted but not private.
Your YouTube video title must start with the words "BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition" and list your name and the event. For example, "BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition, Jake MacCrimmon, Grade 4 2/4 March"
If you are one of the top six prizewinners, your video and your judge's comment sheet will be posted with the results. A list of all competitors and their city/state/province/country will be posted.
If your video is longer than 15 minutes and you have trouble uploading it to YouTube, please go to http://www.sendspace.com/ and send your video to me at jori@bagpipelessons.com.

Additional Rules for Drumming Events:

You must perform on a standard High Tension Pipe Band Snare Drum. For example, Pearl, Premier or Andante.
Each performance must start with two three-pace introduction rolls.
You may play with a live piper or a recording of a piper. Unaccompanied drum performances are not allowed.
If you choose to use a recording of a piper, the recording must be of a piper playing the Highland bagpipes. Electronic pipes or practice chanter recordings are not allowed. We may be able to provide you with a high-quality pipe recording of your tune at played at your desired tempo. Send us an email with what you are looking for.
Make sure that both the pipes and your drum can both be heard in final recording. (You might want to make some test recordings to find the right optimal volume playback level for your pipe recording.)
You must be in full view of the camera with your face, torso, hands and drum all clearly visible. If you use a live piper, they must also be visible on camera.

Events, Prizes, Fees:

Piobaireachd events: You must email the sheet music for your tune if your setting is not from the Kilberry or Piobaireachd Society books.
Medley event: Your medley must be between 4 to 6 minutes and must contain at least two-parts of each of these types of tunes: march (any time signature), strathspey, reel, and jig.
You may enter events in more than one grade level. But if you are graded by your association, you may enter events in your grade or a higher grade, but you may not enter events in a lower grade.
The Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge events are open to all pipers regardless of any competition grading, except Open/Professional. Prize winners will be announced for each age group level. The first place winners for each age group will be judged against one another and the overall winner will be the Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 6/8 March Champion. Select the appropriate event based on your age on March 15, 2012.
Additional prizes will be given for: Best Dress & Deportment, Best Video Background, Best Quality Video.
Entry fee $10.00 per event.

If you have never competed before, take a look at the winners from the previous piping competitions to help you decide which grade level to enter. Here's an example of an excellent video.

Good luck and send a note if you have any questions!

BagpipeLessons.com on the front page of the New York Times!

2012-01-14T15:47:00.000-08:00

I have very exciting news to share. The New York Times ran a front-page feature this week about online music lessons, featuring BagpipeLessons.com. The newspaper's website even included a short video clip from one of my Skype lessons.

They've got a fantastic story about one of my students, and why online piping lessons work great for him:

New York Times: With Enough Bandwidth, Many Join the Band

When Dr. John McClure, a pathologist in Edina, Minn., was pondering his wish list several years ago, he added something a little out of the ordinary: learn to play the bagpipes. But his goal seemed like a long shot after a friend who had been teaching him moved away.

Now he is getting lessons from a top-tier teacher — Jori Chisholm, whose résumé includes a first-place award at the 2010 Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon, Scotland. Mr. Chisholm lives in Seattle, but distance is no longer a problem — Dr. McClure now takes lessons over Skype.

They even squeeze in a lesson sometimes when Dr. McClure, 50, is at work, though he keeps the noise down by using a practice chanter, essentially a pipe without a bag. “I’ve been on call, waiting for a specimen from the O.R., and I’ll do a lesson with Jori,” Dr. McClure said.

Skype and other video chat programs have transformed the simple phone call, but the technology is venturing into a new frontier: it is upending and democratizing the world of music lessons. ...

Read the full article.

Of course, you may have already experienced the value of online piping instruction!

To celebrate making the front page of the Times, we're offering special "We made the New York Times!" discounts on several of our most popular packages. So visit BagpipeLessons.com and start making that New Year's resolution happen.

Thank you for making BagpipeLessons.com the internet's premier site for information on learning to play the pipes. We have some great things coming up and we plan to make 2012 our best year ever, so stay tuned...

Online Competition Wrap Up

2011-12-31T12:02:00.000-08:00

Here are the complete results for our most recent BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition for November 2011. Below you will find a complete library of the entire competition, including:

the top six winners in each grade level
the top six prizewinners from each event with videos
videos for other competitors who asked to share their videos
the country for each of our competitors (we had a very international representation!)
the tunes that were submitted

Partial results and videos were previously posted in several batches: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition for November 2011 Complete Results:
(Video links open in a new window.)

Beginner (Practice Chanter)

Overall Most Points in Beginner (practice chanter) Events
1. John JT Taylor (88 points) - USA

Event 01. Beginner (practice chanter) - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)
1. John JT Taylor - USA - Scots Wha Hae (link)
Judge: Iain MacDonald, Regina, Canada
(2 entered)

Grade Five

Overall Most Points in Grade 5 Events
1. Carlo Musitelli (210 points) - Italy
2. Jennifer Campbell (113 points) - USA
3. Rick Johnston (88 points) - USA
4. Steve Joubert (88 points) - South Africa
5. Rena Toomey (86 points) - USA
6. Peter Anderson (81 points) - USA

Event 05. Grade 5 - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)
1 Steve Joubert - South Africa - The Lament for Jef Ar Penven (link)
2 Carlo Musitelli - Italy - Mairi Bhan Og (link)
3 Ray Morrison - USA - Morag of Dunvegan (link)
4 Jennifer Campbell - USA - Alan Gillies of Kildonan's Final Farewell (link)
5 Rena Toomey - USA - Mist Covered Mountains (link)
6 Kuno Zimmermann - Switzerland - Morag of Dunvegan (link)

Also competing:
Brian Harrison - Canada - Morag of Dunvegan (link)
Dagmar Pesta - Germany - The Dark Island (link)
Rick Johnston - USA - The Banks of Lochiel (link)

Judge: Richard Hawke, New Zealand
(18 entered)

06. Grade 5 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
1. Rick Johnston - USA - Prince Charles' Welcome to Lochaber (link)
2. Rick Campbell - USA - Miss Delicia Chisholm (link)
3. Rena Toomey - USA - Muir of Ord (link)
4. Jim Lowe - USA - Muir of Ord (link)
5. Dagmar Pesta - Germany - Lady Lever Park (link)
6. Carlo Musitelli - Italy - The 25th Farewell to Meerut (link)

Also competing:
Brian Harrison - Canada - Prince Charles Welcome to Loachabar (link)
2. Carlo Musitelli - Italy - P/S John Barklay (link)
3. Kuno Zimmermann - Switzerland - Farewell to the creeks (link)
4. Peter Anderson - USA - Major John MacLennan (link)
5. Rena Toomey - USA - Jean Mauchline (link)
6. Tim Riddle - USA - Bonnie Dundee (link)

Also competing:
Brian Harrison - Canada - Bonnie Dundee (link)
Dagmar Pesta - Germany - Redford Cottage (link)
Ray Morrison - USA - John D Burgess (link)

Judge: Stuart Liddell, Inverary, Scotland
(13 entered)

08. Grade 5 - Piobaireachd (Ground Only)
1. Carlo Musitelli - Italy - Catherine's Lament (link)
2. Peter Anderson - USA - Too Long In This Condition (link)
3. Ray Morrison - USA - Duncan Macrae of Kintails Lament (link)
4. Jim Lowe - USA - Massacre of Glencoe (link)
5. Rena Toomey - USA - Struan Robertson's Salute (link)
6. Rick Campbell - USA - Lament for the Old Sword (link)

Also competing:
Kuno Zimmermann - Switzerland - The MacBintosh's Banner (link)

Judge: Ian K. MacDonald, Toronto, Canada
(10 entered)

Grade Four

Overall Most Points in Grade 4 Events
1. Tom Hyatt (151 points) - USA
2. Sean Borwick (112 points) - USA
3. Marty McKeon (88 points) - USA
4. Guido Riedemann (88 points) - Germany
5. Derek Stine (88 points) - USA
6. Mary Thrasher (81 points) - USA

Event 09. Grade 4 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
1 Derek Stine - USA - Prince Charle's Welcome to Lochaber (link)
2 Mary Thrasher - USA - Prince Charles Welcome to Lochaber (link)
3 Tom Hyatt - USA - Prince Charles Welcome to Lochaber (link)
4 Ally McKinnis - USA - 79th's Farewell to Gibraltar (link)
5 Kenneth Hiner - USA - Prince Charles's Welcome to Lochaber (link)
6 John Bergen - Canada - Capt. Norman Orr Ewing (link)

Also competing:
Avery Bowen - USA - Jim McBay's Welcome (link)
David James - USA - Men of Argyll (link)
Judith H Reilly - USA - Glenfinnan Highland Gathering (link)
Lizardo Garcia - Mexico - King George V's Army (link)
Marty McKeon - USA - The Iron Division (link)
Robert Baker - Australia - 79th`s Farewell to Gibraltor (link)
Russell Prewitt - USA - The Drunken Piper (link)
Sean Borwick - USA - Greenwood Side, Drunken Piper (link)

Judge: Andrew P. Hayes, Ottawa, Canada
(19 entered)

Event 10. Grade 4 - Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1 Guido Riedemann - Germany - Madam Gayre of Gayre and Nigg's Strathspey, Captain Lachlan MacPhail of Tiree (link)
2 Sean Borwick - USA - Molly Connell, Jock Wilson's Ball (link)
Judge: Richard Hawke, New Zealand
(6 entered)

Event 11. Grade 4 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
1. Tom Hyatt - USA - Leaving Port Askaig (link)
2. Sean Borwick - USA - Cock of the North (link)
3. Ally McKinnis - USA - John D. Burgess (link)
4. Mary Thrasher - USA - Mrs. Lily Christie (link)
5. Russell Prewitt - USA - Cameron MacFadyen (link)
6. David James - USA - Rab's Wedding (link)

Also competing:
Dagmar Pesta - Germany - Major John McLennan (link)
Lizardo Garcia - Mexico - Farewell to Creeks (link)
Marty McKeon - USA - The Battle of Harlaw (link)
Robert Baker - Australia - Ellenorr (link)

Judge: Danielle Millar, British Columbia, Canada (15 entered)

Event 12. Grade 4 - Piobaireachd (Ground and Next Variation)
1. Marty McKeon - USA - The Little Spree (link)
2. John Campbell - Wales - The Wee Spree (link)
3. Ray Morrison - USA - The Munros' Salute (link)
4. Tom Hyatt - USA - Mackintosh's Banner (link)
5. Avery Bowen - USA - Corrienessan's Salute (link)
6. David Vermeulen - USA - Campbell's Gathering (link)

Also competing:
Dagmar Pesta - Germany - Company's Lament (link)
John Bergen - Canada - Glengarry's Lament (link)

Judge: James MacHattie, College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada
(15 entered)

Grade Three

Overall Most Points in Grade 3 Events
1. Bill Urquhart (238 points) - USA
2. J David Hester (201 points) - USA
3. Bryan Laidlaw (148 points) - USA
4. Ben Gibbons (138 points) - England
5. David Vermeulen (56 points) - USA
6. Laureano Thomas Sanchez (38 points) - USA

Event 13. Grade 3 - Jig (at least 4 parts)
1. Ben Gibbons - England - Banjo Breakdown (link)
2. Bryan Laidlaw - USA - Corkhill (link)
3. Bill Urquhart - USA - Glasgow City Police Pipers (link)
4. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland - Paddy's Leather Breeches (link)
5. Angela Goodwin - Canada - Banjo Breakdown (link)
6. John Campbell - Wales - Corkhill (link)

Also competing:
Alexander Radionov - Russia - The Banjo Breakdown (link)
J David Hester - USA - Banjo Breakdown (link)
Robert Baker - Australia - Banjo Beakdown (link)
Sarrah Wood - Canada - Over to Uist (link)

Judge: Stuart Liddell, Inverary, Scotland
(12 entered)

Event 14. Grade 3 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1 J. David Hester - USA - Donald MacLean's Farewell to Oban, Calendonian Canal, Willie Cumming's Rant (link)
2 Bill Urquhart - USA - King George V's Army, Highland Harry, Kalabakan (link)
3 Bryan Laidlaw - USA - Achany Glen, Dorrator Bridge, Colonel MacLeod (link)
4 Ben Gibbons - England - Lord Alexander Kennedy, Maggie Cameron, Kalabakan (link)
5 John Campbell - Wales - The Siege of Delhi, Captain Colin Campbell & Bessy MacIntyre (link)
6 Helen Sanders - USA - The Men of Argyll, Captain Colin Campbell, Willie Cumming's Rant (link)

Alexander Radionov - Russia - The Garb of Old Gaul, Highland Laddie, Because He Was A Bonnie Lad, Balmoral Castle, Pigeon on the Gate, The Kilt is My Delight. (link)

Judge: Andrew P. Hayes, Ottawa, Canada
(12 entered)

Event 15. Grade 3 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
1. J David Hester - USA - Major John MacLennan (link)
2. Bill Urquhart - USA - Dovecote Park (link)
3. Laureano Thomas Sanchez - USA - Ben Gullion (link)
4. Ben Gibbons - England - The Cock of The North (link)
5. Bryan Laidlaw - USA - Leaving Port Askaig (link)
6. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland - Jean Mauchline (link)

Also competing:
Alexander Radionov - Russia - Farewell to the Creeks (link)
Robert Baker - Australia - P/M Donald Maclean of Lewis (link)

Judge: Mike Cusack, Houston, USA (13 entered)

Event 16. Grade 3 - Piobaireachd
1. Bill Urquhart - USA - Battle of the Pass of Crieff (link)
2. David Vermeulen - USA - Clan Campbell's Gathering (link)
3. Bryan Laidlaw - USA - The Company's Lament (link)
4. J David Hester - USA - The Groat (link)
5. Marty McKeon - USA - Lament for Donald of Lagaan (link)
6. John Campbell - Wales - Munros Salute. (link)
Judge: Iain MacDonald, Regina, Canada (10 entered)

Grade Two

Overall Most Points in Grade 2 Events
1. Malcolm Mackellar (238 points) - Australia
2. Andrew Donlon (175 points) - USA -
3. Patrick McLaurin (151 points) - USA -
4. Andrew Yu, Chun Kit (138 points) - Hong Kong
5. Claus Reiss (88 points) - Denmark
6. John Daggett (64 points) - USA -

Event 17. Grade 2 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Andrew Yu, Chun Kit - Hong Kong - David Ross, The Caledonian Society of London, The Grey Bob (link)
2. Malcolm Mackellar - Australia - John Mcdonald of Glencoe, Inveraray Castle, Mrs MacPherson of Inveran (link)
3. Andrew Donlon - USA - Abercairney Highlanders, Inverary Castle, Alick C. MacGregor (link)
4. Patrick McLaurin - USA - Major Manson's Farewell to Clachantrushal, Susan MacLeod, Bessie McIntyre (link)
5. Owen Capon - Australia - The Glengarry Gathering, The Caledonian Society of London, Thomson's Dirk (link)
6. Josh Hinson - USA - Millbank Cottage, Arniston Castle, Alick C. MacGregor (link)

Also competing:
Harvey McLendon - USA - Donald MacLellan of Rothesay, Dornie Ferry, Fiona MacLeod (link)
Ryan Moore - Canada - Highland Wedding, Susan MacLeod, The Man from Glengarry (link)
Sean Becker - USA - Arthur Bingold of Loch Rosque, Dora Macleod, The Sheepwife (link)

Judge: James MacHattie, College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada
(12 entered)

Event 18. Grade 2 - Hornpipe & Jig (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Patrick McLaurin - USA - Newmarket House, Hen's March (link)
2. Andrew Donlon - USA - The Train Journey North, Jig of Slurs (link)
3. Malcolm Mackellar - Australia - Redondo Beach, Archie Beag (link)
4. Andrew Yu, Chun Kit - Hong Kong - Chasing Shadows, Kenny Gilles of Portnalong (link)
5. John Daggett - USA - Tan Bain's Lum, Old Wife of the Milldust (link)
6. Ben Gibbons - England - Fulton Eyes, The Three Prophets (link)

Also competing:
Harvey McLendon - USA - PM George Allan, Ewe Wi The Crookit Horn (Jig) (link)
Owen Capon - Australia - Lucy Cassidy, Brae Riach (link)
Ryan Moore - Canada - Hiccup, Dale's Chimichanga (link)
Sean Becker - USA - Raigmore, Donald MacLean (link)
2. Andrew Donlon - USA - The British Legion (link)
3. Patrick McLaurin - USA - Sweet Maid of Mull (link)
4. Andrew Yu, Chun Kit - Hong Kong - The Heights of Cassino (link)
5. Andrew Kerr - United Kingdom - Angus MacKinnon (link)
6. John Daggett - USA - Ellenorr (link)

Also competing:
Claus Reiss - Denmark - Angus McKinnon (link)
Harvey McLendon - USA - MacNeils of Ugadale (link)
Owen Capon - Australia - Dr Ross's 50th Welcome to the Argyllshire Gathering (link)
Ryan Moore - Canada - Bonnie MacAlpine (link)
Sean Becker - USA - Bengullion (link)

Judge: Ian K. MacDonald, Toronto, Canada
(16 entered)

Event 20. Grade 2 - Piobaireachd
1 Claus Reiss - Denmark - Glengarry's Lament www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACn8xcKLVks" target="_blank">(link)
2 Malcolm Mackellar - Australia - Massacre of Glencoe (link)
3 John Daggett - USA - Too Long In This Condition (link)
4 Andrew Donlon - USA - End of the Great Bridge (link)
5 Owen Capon - Australia - Sir James MacDonald of the Isles' Lament (link)
6 Ryan Moore - Canada - The Field of Gold (link)
Judge: Richard Hawke, New Zealand
(12 entered)

Grade One

Overall Most Points in Grade 1 Events
1. Ernesto Góngora (264 points) - Mexico
2. Nathan Wahlgren (144 points) - USA
3. Graeme McCombe (132 points) - Canada
4. Nicholas Lundberg (112 points) - USA
5. Kyle Banta (63 points) - Canada
6. Ross Wilson (41 points) - Canada

Event 21. Grade 1 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Ernesto Góngora - Mexico - South Hall, Monymusk, Colonel MacLeod (link)
2. Nicholas Lundberg - USA - John MacDonald of Glencoe, Maggie Cameron, Loch Carron (link)
3. Graeme McCombe - Canada - Mrs. Julie Stewart, Ewe Wi' the Crooked Horn, Thomson's Dirk (link)
4. Kyle Banta - Canada - Knightswood Ceileidh, Caledonian Canal, Scorrybreck Falls (link)
Judge: Stuart Liddell, Inverary, Scotland
(7 entered)

22. Grade 1 - Hornpipe & Jig (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Ernesto Góngora - Mexico - The Man from Skye, Marjorie Lowe (link)
2. Graeme McCombe - Canada - The Captain's Pledge, The Gold Ring (link)
3. Kyle Banta - Canada - Clydeside, Michael MacDonald's Jig (link)
4. Ross Wilson - Canada - Donald Willie and His Dog, Ian Green of Greentrax (link)
Judge: Ian K. MacDonald, Toronto, Canada
(6 entered)

Event 23. Grade 1 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
1 Ernesto Góngora - Mexico - Duncan MacGillivray (link)
2 Nathan Wahlgren - USA - Ellenorr (link)
3 Graeme McCombe - Canada - Bruce Gandy's Farewell to the Iron Horse (link)
Judge: Andrew P. Hayes, Ottawa, Canada
(5 entered)

Event 24. Grade 1 - Piobaireachd
1. Nathan Wahlgren - USA - The Rout of Glenfruin (link)
2. Nicholas Lundberg - USA - The Glen is Mine (link)
3. Sarah Simpson - Canada - Queen Anne's Lament (link)
4. Stephen Ross - Australia - Fair Honey (link)
5. Ross Wilson - Canada - MacLeod's Salute (link)
Judge: Mike Cusack, Houston, USA
(9 entered)

All Grades

Overall Most Points in All Events
(including Open Medley and P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge)
1. Malcolm Mackellar (326 points) - Australia
2. Ernesto Góngora (264 points) - Mexico
3. Patrick McLaurin (239 points) - USA
4. Bill Urquhart (238 points) - USA
5. Nathan Wahlgren (216 points) - USA
6. Carlo Musitelli (210 points) - Italy

Event 25. Any Grade - Medley (4-6 Minutes)
1. Patrick McLaurin - USA - Cowal Gathering, Dora MacLeod, Miss Proud, Troy's Wedding (link)
2. Nathan Wahlgren - USA - Cabar Feidh, Wee Buns, Lady in the Bottle, Armel Denis' Welcome to South Uist, Loic Denis' Welcome to South Uist, Irish Traditional Reel, Reel of Tulloch (link)
3. Graeme McCombe - Canada - Pipe Major Robert Fraser, New Year in Noosa, Out of the Air, Slow Air, Ewe Wi' the Crooked Horn, The Ale is Dear, Brent Barton, The Ale is Dear (Reprise) (link)
4. Owen Capon - Australia - Hector the Hero, Murray's Fancy, MacFarlanes, Highland Harry, Harry Gets Reel, Mrs MacPherson of Inveran, The Little Cascade (link)
5. Dagmar Pesta - Germany - Pipe Major Willie Ross, Aspen Bank, Barn Dance, Paddy's Leather Breaches (link)
Judge: Stuart Liddell, Inverary, Scotland
(6 entered)

P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March
This new event was created to honor the great piping legend, Alasdair Gillies, who recently passed away. Alasdair will go down as one of the greatest pipers in history, and many agree was THE greatest player of competition style 2/4 Marches. For this event, pipers competed by playing a single 2/4 March. Prizes were awarded in several different age categories, and the first place winners were judged against each other to determine our first-ever overall champion and winner of a $200 scholarship to go towards their piping tuition.

In addition, the overall winner receives an year-long membership to the all-new BagpipeLessons.com Studio -- the world's newest and most exciting bagpipe learning website.

Event 27. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers 12 years or younger
1. Sean Borwick - USA - Greenwood Side, Drunken Piper ttp://youtu.be/OG4mxyuPb7Q" target="_blank">(link)
Judge: James MacHattie, College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada
(2 entered)

Event 28. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers age 13 to 14
1. Laureano Thomas-Sanchez - USA - King George the V's Army (link)
2. Ally McKinnis - USA - 79th's Farewell to Gibraltar (link)
Judge: Danielle Millar, British Columbia, Canada
(2 entered)

Event 29. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers age 15 to 17
1. Malcolm Mackellar - Australia - David Ross of Rosehall (link)
2. Andrew Yu, Chun Kit - Hong Kong - John MacDonald's Welcome to South Uist (link)
3. Ben Gibbons - England - Lord Alexander Kennedy (link)
Judge: Mike Cusack, Houston, USA
(3 entered)

Event 30. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers age 18 to 20
1 Sarah Simpson - Canada - The 93rd at Modder River (link)
2 Nicholas Lundberg - USA - John MacColl's March to Killbowie Cottage (link)
3 Graeme McCombe - Canada - The Marchioness of Tullibardine (link)
Judge: Richard Hawke, New Zealand
(3 entered)

Event 31. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers age 21 or older
1. Kyle Banta - Canada - Taking of Beaumont Hamel (link)
2. John Daggett - USA - John MacDonald's Welcome to South Uist (link)
3. Sarah Forsyth - Canada - Tommy MacDonald of Barguillean (link)
4. Sean Becker - USA - Knightswood Ceilidh (link)
5. Nathan Wahlgren - USA - John MacDonald of Glencoe (link)
6. Ross Wilson - Canada - Donald Maclean's Farewell to Oban (link)

Also competing:
Bryan Laidlaw - USA - Prince Charles Welcome to Lochaber (link)
Dagmar Pesta - Germany - King George's Vth Army (link)
Harvey McLendon - USA - Donald MacLellan of Rothesay (link)
Mary Thrasher - USA - Prince Charles Welcome to Lochaber (link)

Judge: Iain MacDonald, Regina, Canada
(16 entered)

P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge Overall Champion and Scholarship Winner for 2011
Malcolm Mackeller - Australia - David Ross of Rosehall (link)

Best Video Background:
Kuno Zimmerman - Switzerland - (link)

Honorable Mentions:
Alan Wood - USA - (link)
John Bergen - Canada - (link)
Tom Hyatt - USA - (link)
Ally McKinnis - USA - (link)
Ben Gibbons - England - (link)

Best Dress and Deportment:
Nicholas Lundberg - USA - (link)
Carlo Musitelli - Italy - (link)

Best Quality Video:
Nicholas Lundberg - USA - (link)
Sean Borwick - USA - (link)

Our international panel of world-class judges:
Michael Cusack - USA
Richard Hawke - New Zealand
Andrew P. Hayes - Canada
Stuart Liddell - Scotland
Iain MacDonald - Canada
Ian K. MacDonald - Canada
James MacHattie - Canada
Danielle Millar - Canada

Final Results for the November 2011 Online Piping Competition

2011-12-09T14:31:00.001-08:00

This year we've launched several new, ground-breaking features here at BagpipeLessons.com, including the world's first-ever online piping competition, giving pipers the chance to compete against others pipers from around the world. We followed up with a second online competition for Spring 2011, adding more events and more world-class judges. And this fall, we launched a new and expanded BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition for November 2011 with even more events and another top notch judging panel. We received a new all-time record number of nearly 300 individual entries. High-quality videos were submitted by pipers for 31 different events in 11 different ability levels and age categories. Pipers were judged by their competition video recordings, each competitor received a complete sheet of comments from the judges, and the prizewinning videos have been posted for the world to see (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

The final results are posted below, including the overall top winners in each competition grade level, the age category winners and the overall champion and scholarship winner for the first-ever P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge. Also, posted below are the winners of these categories: Best Video Background, Best Dress and Deportment, and Best Quality Video.

In the coming days, we'll be posting a complete library of the entire competition, including each of the prizewinning videos from every event. We'll be posting the videos of all of the competitors who asked to share their videos. Also, many of the competitors were interested in reading the judge's comments sheets from the other competitors. So, we asked each competitor if they would like to share their comments sheets and we'll be posting those, too.

BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition for November 2011 Final Results:

Overall Most Points in Grade 1 Events
1. Ernesto Góngora (264 points) - Mexico
2. Nathan Wahlgren (144 points) - USA
3. Graeme McCombe (132 points) - Canada
4. Nicholas Lundberg (112 points) - USA
5. Kyle Banta (63 points) - Canada
6. Ross Wilson (41 points) - Canada

Overall Most Points in Grade 2 Events
1. Malcolm Mackellar (238 points) - Australia
2. Andrew Donlon (175 points) - USA
3. Patrick McLaurin (151 points) - USA
4. Andrew Yu, Chun Kit (138 points) - Hong Kong
5. Claus Reiss (88 points) - Denmark
6. John Daggett (64 points) - USA

Overall Most Points in Grade 3 Events
1. Bill Urquhart (238 points) - USA
2. J David Hester (201 points) - USA
3. Bryan Laidlaw (148 points) - USA
4. Ben Gibbons (138 points) - England
5. David Vermeulen (56 points) - USA
6. Laureano Thomas Sanchez (38 points) - USA

Overall Most Points in Grade 4 Events
1. Tom Hyatt (151 points) - USA
2. Sean Borwick (112 points) - USA
3. Marty McKeon (88 points) - USA
4. Guido Riedemann (88 points) - Germany
5. Derek Stine (88 points) - USA
6. Mary Thrasher (81 points) - USA

Overall Most Points in Grade 5 Events
1. Carlo Musitelli (210 points) - Italy
2. Jennifer Campbell (113 points) - USA
3. Rick Johnston (88 points) - USA
4. Steve Joubert (88 points) - South Africa
5. Rena Toomey (86 points) - USA
6. Peter Anderson (81 points) - USA

Beginner (practice chanter)
1. John JT Taylor (88 points) - USA

Overall Most Points in All Events
(including Open Medley and P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge)
1. Malcolm Mackellar (326 points) - Australia
2. Ernesto Góngora (264 points) - Mexico
3. Patrick McLaurin (239 points) - USA
4. Bill Urquhart (238 points) - USA
5. Nathan Wahlgren (216 points) - USA
6. Carlo Musitelli (210 points) - Italy

P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March
This new event was created to honor the great piping legend, Alasdair Gillies, who recently passed away. Alasdair will go down as one of the greatest pipers in history, and many agree was THE greatest player of competition style 2/4 Marches. For this event, pipers competed by playing a single 2/4 March. Prizes were awarded in several different age categories, and the first place winners were judged against each other to determine our first-ever overall champion and winner of a $200 scholarship to go towards their piping tuition.

In addition, the overall winner receives an year-long membership to the all-new BagpipeLessons.com Studio -- the world's newest and most exciting bagpipe learning website.

First Place Winners (by age category)
Pipers 12 years or younger: Sean Borwick - USA
Pipers age 13 to 14: Laureano Thomas-Sanchez - USA
Pipers age 15 to 17: Malcolm Mackellar - Australia
Pipers age 18 to 20: Sarah Simpson - Canada
Pipers age 21 or older: Kyle Banta - Canada

P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge Overall Champion and Scholarship Winner for 2011
Malcolm Mackeller - Australia

(Each video on this page is a video playlist showing all of the prizewinners of in order. Click the "Next" button on the bottom toolbar to skip to the next video in the playlist.)

Best Video Background:
Kuno Zimmerman - Switzerland

Honorable Mentions:
Alan Wood - USA
John Bergen - Canada
Tom Hyatt - USA
Ally McKinnis - USA
Ben Gibbons - England

Best Dress and Deportment:
Nicholas Lundberg - USA
Carlo Musitelli - Italy

Best Quality Video:
Nicholas Lundberg - USA
Sean Borwick - USA

Thank you to everyone who participated -- the standard of playing for our competitions is incredibly strong and every piper should be proud of taking part in the event. Special thanks to our international panel of world-class judges:

Michael Cusack - USA

Richard Hawke - New Zealand

Andrew P. Hayes - Canada

Stuart Liddell - Scotland

Iain MacDonald - Canada

Ian K. MacDonald - Canada

James MacHattie - Canada

Danielle Millar - Canada

Thanks again for your support of the BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition.

Latest Batch of Results from the Online Piping Competition

2011-12-08T14:14:00.001-08:00

Here's the fifth batch of results and prizewinning videos from the individual solo piping events for the BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition for November 2011. Previously, we've posted the first batch of results, the second batch, the third batch, and the fourth batch just recently.

We still have a few more prizes to announce, including the overall winners in each grade, and the prizes for Best Dress & Deportment, Best Video Background, and Best Quality Video. Also, we'll be awarding the first winner of the piping scholarship for the Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March.

Congratulations to everyone who entered and to the prizewinners!

BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition for November 2011 - Official Results (Part #5)
(Each video below is a video playlist showing all of the prizewinners of in order. Click the "Next" button on the bottom toolbar to skip to the next video in the playlist.)

Event 09. Grade 4 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
1 Derek Stine - USA
2 Mary Thrasher - USA
3 Tom Hyatt - USA
4 Ally McKinnis - USA
5 Kenneth Hiner - USA
6 John Bergen - Canada
Judge: Andrew P. Hayes, Ottawa, Canada
(19 entered)

Event 14. Grade 3 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1 J. David Hester - USA
2 Bill Urquhart - USA
3 Bryan Laidlaw - USA
4 Ben Gibbons - England
5 John Campbell - Wales
6 Helen Sanders - USA
Judge: Andrew P. Hayes, Ottawa, Canada
(12 entered)

Event 23. Grade 1 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
1 Ernesto Góngora - Mexico
2 Nathan Wahlgren - USA
3 Graeme McCombe - Canada
Judge: Andrew P. Hayes, Ottawa, Canada
(5 entered)

Even More Results from the November 2011 BagpipeLessons Online Competiton!

2011-12-07T22:51:00.001-08:00

Here's the fourth batch of results and prizewinning videos from BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition for November 2011. Previously, we've posted the first batch of results, the second round of prize lists and videos, and the third batch of results just recently. We still have a few more events to come back from our judges and we'll get them posted soon.

Congratulations to everyone who entered and to the prizewinners!

BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition for November 2011 - Official Results (Part #4)
(Each video below is a video playlist showing all of the prizewinners of in order. Click the "Next" button on the bottom toolbar to skip to the next video in the playlist.)

Event 05. Grade 5 - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)
1 Steve Joubert - South Africa
2 Carlo Musitelli - Italy
3 Ray Morrison - USA
4 Jennifer Campbell - USA
5 Rena Toomey - USA
6 Kuno Zimmermann - Switzerland
Judge: Richard Hawke, New Zealand
(18 entered)

Event 10. Grade 4 - Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1 Guido Riedemann - Germany
2 Sean Borwick - USA
Judge: Richard Hawke, New Zealand
(6 entered)

Event 20. Grade 2 - Piobaireachd
1 Claus Reiss - Denmark
2 Malcolm Mackellar - Australia
3 John Daggett - USA
4 Andrew Donlon - USA
5 Owen Capon - Australia
6 Ryan Moore - Canada
Judge: Richard Hawke, New Zealand
(12 entered)

Event 30. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers age 18 to 20
1 Sarah Simpson - Canada
2 Nicholas Lundberg - USA
3 Graeme McCombe - Canada
Judge: Richard Hawke, New Zealand
(3 entered)

Just a few more events to come back from our judges and we'll have the complete results and overall winners. Stay tuned!

Latest Online Competition Results!

2011-12-05T11:35:00.001-08:00

Here's the third (and latest) batch of results and prizewinning videos from BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition for November 2011. We posted the first batch of results earlier this week, and the second round of prize lists and videos a few days after that. We'll continue to post the rest as they come in. Congratulations to the prize winners and to all of the particpants!

BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition for November 2011 - Official Results (Part #3)
(Each video below is a video playlist showing all of the prizewinners of in order. Click the "Next" button on the bottom toolbar to skip to the next video in the playlist.)

Event 13. Grade 3 - Jig (at least 4 parts)
1. Ben Gibbons - England
2. Bryan Laidlaw - USA
3. Bill Urquhart - USA
4. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland
5. Angela Goodwin - Canada
6. John Campbell - Wales
Judge: Stuart Liddell, Inverary, Scotland
(12 entered)

Event 21. Grade 1 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Ernesto Góngora - Mexico
2. Nicholas Lundberg - USA
3. Graeme McCombe - Canada
4. Kyle Banta - Canada
Judge: Stuart Liddell, Inverary, Scotland
(7 entered)

Event 07. Grade 5 - 6/8 March (at least 2 parts)
1. Jennifer Campbell - USA
2. Carlo Musitelli - Italy
3. Kuno Zimmermann - Switzerland
4. Peter Anderson - USA
5. Rena Toomey - USA
6. Tim Riddle - USA
Judge: Stuart Liddell, Inverary, Scotland
(13 entered)

Event 25. Any Grade - Medley (4-6 Minutes)
1. Patrick McLaurin - USA
2. Nathan Wahlgren - USA
3. Graeme McCombe - Canada
4. Owen Capon - Australia
5. Dagmar Pesta - Germany
Judge: Stuart Liddell, Inverary, Scotland
(6 entered)

More to come soon...

More results from Online Piping Competition for November 2011

2011-12-02T14:18:00.001-08:00

Here's the latest batch of results and prizewinning videos from BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition for November 2011. We posted the first batch of results earlier this week, and we'll continue to post the rest as they come back from our team of world-champion judges!

Congrats to the winners and to everyone who took part and stay tuned for more stuff to come...

BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition for November 2011 - Official Results (Part #2)
(Each video below is a video playlist showing all of the prizewinners of in order. Click the "Next" button on the bottom toolbar to skip to the next video in the playlist.)

Event 12. Grade 4 - Piobaireachd (Ground and Next Variation)
1. Marty McKeon - USA
2. John Campbell - Wales
3. Ray Morrison - USA
4. Tom Hyatt - USA
5. Avery Bowen - USA
6. David Vermeulen - USA
Judge: James MacHattie, College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada
(15 entered)

Event 17. Grade 2 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Andrew Yu, Chun Kit - Hong Kong
2. Malcolm Mackellar - Australia
3. Andrew Donlon - USA
4. Patrick McLaurin - USA
5. Owen Capon - Australia
6. Josh Hinson - USA
Judge: James MacHattie, College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada
(12 entered)

Event 27. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers 12 years or younger
1. Sean Borwick - USA
Judge: James MacHattie, College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada
(2 entered)

More coming...

First Results from November 2011 Online Piping Competition

2011-11-28T19:19:00.001-08:00

This year we've launched several new, ground-breaking features here at BagpipeLessons.com. In January 2011, we launched the world's first-ever online piping competition, giving pipers the chance to compete against others pipers from around the world. The competition was huge success, so we followed up with a second online competition for Spring 2011, adding more events and more world-class judges. In both competitions, pipers were judged by their competition video recordings, each competitor received a complete sheet of comments from the judges, and the prizewinning videos were posted for the world to see.

This fall, we launched a new and expanded BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition for November 2011 with even more events and another top notch judging panel. We received a new all-time record number of nearly 300 individual entries. High-quality videos were submitted by pipers for 31 different events in 11 different ability levels and age categories. Our knowledgeable and experienced judges have listened to the videos, written their comments, and the first batch of results is posted below!

One of the most popular features of our online competitions is the ability for everyone to view the winning videos, which is often difficult or impossible at live in-person competitions. In an effort to make the competition experience even more valuable for the competitors and for everyone else, we've given all of the competitors (not just the winners) the option to share their videos. In addition, many of the competitors agreed to share their comments sheets, too. We believe this is the first piping competition to publish the competitor's sheets public (with each piper's permission, of course!). The comments sheets and videos for the non-prizewinners will be posted here soon!

BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition for November 2011 - Official Results (Part #1)

(Each video below is a video playlist showing all of the prizewinners of in order. Click the "Next" button on the bottom toolbar to skip to the next video in the playlist.)

Event 24. Grade 1 - Piobaireachd
1. Nathan Wahlgren - USA
2. Nicholas Lundberg - USA
3. Sarah Simpson - Canada
4. Stephen Ross - Australia
5. Ross Wilson - Canada
Judge: Mike Cusack, Houston, USA (9 entered)

22. Grade 1 - Hornpipe & Jig (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Ernesto Góngora - Mexico
2. Graeme McCombe - Canada
3. Kyle Banta - Canada
4. Ross Wilson - Canada
Judge: Ian K. MacDonald, Toronto, Canada
(6 entered)

Event 18. Grade 2 - Hornpipe & Jig (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Patrick McLaurin - USA
2. Andrew Donlon - USA
3. Malcolm Mackellar - Australia
4. Andrew Yu, Chun Kit - Hong Kong
5. John Daggett - USA
6. Ben Gibbons - England
Judge: Danielle Millar, British Columbia, Canada (15 entered)

19. Grade 2 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
1. Malcolm Mackellar - Australia
2. Andrew Donlon - USA
3. Patrick McLaurin - USA
4. Andrew Yu, Chun Kit - Hong Kong
5. Andrew Kerr - United Kingdon
6. John Daggett - USA
Judge: Ian K. MacDonald, Toronto, Canada (16 entered)

Event 16. Grade 3 - Piobaireachd
1. Bill Urquhart - USA
2. David Vermeulen - USA
3. Bryan Laidlaw - USA
4. J David Hester - USA
5. Marty McKeon - USA
6. John Campbell - Wales
Judge: Iain MacDonald, Regina, Canada (10 entered)

Event 15. Grade 3 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
1. J David Hester - USA
2. Bill Urquhart - USA
3. Laureano Thomas Sanchez - USA
4. Ben Gibbons - England
5. Bryan Laidlaw - USA
6. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland
Judge: Mike Cusack, Houston, USA (13 entered)

Event 11. Grade 4 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
1. Tom Hyatt - USA
2. Sean Borwick - USA
3. Ally McKinnis - USA
4. Mary Thrasher - USA
5. Russell Prewitt - USA
6. David James - USA
Judge: Danielle Millar, British Columbia, Canada (15 entered)

08. Grade 5 - Piobaireachd (Ground Only)
1. Carlo Musitelli - Italy
2. Peter Anderson - USA
3. Ray Morrison - USA
4. Jim Lowe - USA
5. Rena Toomey - USA
6. Rick Campbell - USA
Judge: Ian K. MacDonald, Toronto, Canada (10 entered)

06. Grade 5 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
1. Rick Johnston - USA
2. Rick Campbell - USA
3. Rena Toomey - USA
4. Jim Lowe - USA
5. Dagmar Pesta - Germany
6. Carlo Musitelli - Italy
Judge: Mike Cusack, Houston, USA (16 entered)

Event 01. Beginner (practice chanter) - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)
1. John JT Taylor - USA
Judge: Iain MacDonald, Regina, Canada
(2 entered)

Event 31. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers age 21 or older
1. Kyle Banta - Canada
2. John Daggett - USA
3. Sarah Forsyth - Canada
4. Sean Becker - USA
5. Nathan Wahlgren - USA
6. Ross Wilson - Canada
Judge: Iain MacDonald, Regina, Canada (16 entered)

Event 29. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers age 15 to 17
1. Malcolm Mackellar - Australia
2. Andrew Yu, Chun Kit - Hong Kong
3. Ben Gibbons - England
Judge: Mike Cusack, Houston, USA (3 entered)

Event 28. P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers age 13 to 14
1. Laureano Thomas-Sanchez - USA
2. Ally McKinnis - USA
Judge: Danielle Millar, British Columbia, Canada (2 entered)

Congratulations to all of the prizewinners and to all of the competitors for helping us make history with the biggest and best online competition ever! Stay tuned for more results and videos coming soon...

Looking for ways to take your piping to the next level? Check out the BagpipeLessons.com Studio -- the world's most exciting and most comprehensive bagpipe learning website!

New BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition for November 2011 (Sign up deadline extended!)

2011-10-11T17:44:00.000-07:00

Today, we are excited to announce a new and expanded BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping competition for November 2011.

Earlier this year, we saw the incredible worldwide response to the world's first-ever online piping competition and our second online competition in the spring. We received almost 300 entries from pipers from around the world, many competing for the first time. The competitors submitted their competition videos via YouTube and received a detailed evaluation and comment sheet from our panel of world-class adjudicators. Videos of the prizewinners were posted for everyone to watch and enjoy.

Some comments from previous BagpipeLessons.com online competitions:

"I think that online competition is a great idea, allowing players to compete with each other disregarding distance."

"The online competition is an absolutely fantastic idea... I got my first sheet yesterday and am very enthused about it. The critique is very constructive."

"This first online competition is an historic event for piping."

We've made improvements and added events based on feedback from our previous competitors and judges. We're pleased to announce four events per competition grade, including 6/8 Marches!

We're pleased to add a brand new category of events, The Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge 2/4 March to honor the piping legend. The competition is open to any piper and is divided into age groups. The overall winner will receive a piping scholarship.

The Medley Event that is open to pipers in any grade, including Open/Professional. The Evaluation-Only Event is for pipers who want to be evaluated by a judge and receive judging sheet only, but don't want to compete against other pipers.

Here's how the online competition works:

Pick the events you want to enter (see below).
Sign up (each event limited to 30 competitors).
Help spread the word and get your entry fee for free (see below).
Make your video recording -- this is your competition entry.
Submit your recording.
Wait for your judge's comment sheet and the results!

Michael Cusack
Richard Hawke
Stuart Liddell
Iain MacDonald
Ian K. MacDonald
James MacHattie
Andrew P. Hayes
Danielle Millar

...and more to come...

Tell a friend and get to enter for free! We need your help to spread the word and include pipers from around the world. After you've entered your events, ask your friends to sign up and tell them to type your name or email address in the "Who referred you?" box during the sign up process. For every three events your friends sign up for, you'll get one free event entry fee! (I will refund your entry fee or credit it towards the next online competition.) So email your friends and bandmates, post on facebook, and blog about it!

Events:

1. Beginner (practice chanter) - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)
2. Beginner (practice chanter) - 3/4 or 4/4 March (2 or 4 parts)
3. Beginner (practice chanter) - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
4. Beginner (practice chanter) - 6/8 March (at least 2 parts)
5. Grade 5 - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)
6. Grade 5 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
7. Grade 5 - 6/8 March (at least 2 parts)
8. Grade 5 - Piobaireachd (Ground Only)
9. Grade 4 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
10. Grade 4 - Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
11. Grade 4 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
12. Grade 4 - Piobaireachd (Ground and Next Variation)
13. Grade 3 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
14. Grade 3 - Jig (at least 4 parts)
15. Grade 3 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
16. Grade 3 - Piobaireachd
17. Grade 2 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
18. Grade 2 - Hornpipe & Jig (each tune at least 4 parts)
19. Grade 2 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
20. Grade 2 - Piobaireachd
21. Grade 1 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
22. Grade 1 - Hornpipe & Jig (each tune at least 4 parts)
23. Grade 1 - 6/8 March (at least 4 parts)
24. Grade 1 - Piobaireachd
25. Special Event: Medley. This event is open to players in any grade, including Open/Professional. You may play a selection of any tunes of any style in a medley lasting between 4 to 6 minutes. Your medley must contain at least two-parts of each of these types of tunes: march (any time signature), strathspey, reel, and jig.
26. Special Event: Evaluation-Only. This is a non-competitive, evaluation event. Play any tune. Your performance will be evaluated by a judge who will write a complete judging sheet for you, but you will not be compared to any other pipers. Submit as many tunes as you like, but each tune requires a separate entry fee. This is a great option to get feedback for non-graded pipers or for tunes that are not currently offered at your grade level.

The Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge - Events are open to all pipers regardless of any competition grading, except Open/Professional. Prize winners will be announced for each age group level. The first place winners for each age group will be judged against one another and the overall winner will be the first-ever Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge - 2/4 March Champion. Select the appropriate event based on your age on November 20, 2011.

27. 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers 12 years of age or younger
28. 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers 13 to 14 years old
29. 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers 15 to 17 years old
30. 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers 18 to 20 years old
31. 2/4 March (at least 4 parts) - for pipers 21 years or older

Sign up today! Each event is limited to 30 competitors.

Rules:

Last day to sign up: November 10, 2011. (deadline extended!)
Last day to send in your competition video: November 20, 2011.
Your video must be not be recorded before October 11, 2011.
Your competition recordings must be videos. Audio-only recordings (mp3s, etc.) not allowed.
Each event must be submitted in a separate video.
All videos must be made in one complete take (no editing), but take as many tries as you want.
Wearing of your kilt is encouraged, but not required.
Your video should show most or all of your body, including your head. Your video must be lighted properly so your face and fingers can be clearly seen. Improper videos (backlighting, face and hands not clearly visible, etc.) may be rejected.
State your name and the name of your tune(s) at the start of your video. (You don't need to say your tunes for the Medley event, but please say your name.)
Take your time with tuning and getting warmed up, just as you would in a regular competition.
Upload your video to YouTube and set it to unlisted (or public) but not private.
The title of your YouTube video must say BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition and list your name and the event (e.g., Grade 4 2/4 March).
Videos of the prizewinners will be posted with the results.
For Piobaireachd events: You must email the sheet music for your tune if your setting is not from the Kilberry or Piobaireachd Society books.
You may enter events in more than one grade level. But if you are graded by your association, you may enter events in your grade or a higher grade, but you may not enter events in a lower grade.
The Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge is open to all players of any grade level, except Open or Professional.
Entry fee $10.00 per event.
Additional prizes will be given for: Best Dress & Deportment, Best Video Background, Best Quality Video.

If you have never competed before, take a look at the winners from the last competition to help you decide which grade level to enter. Here's an example of an excellent video.

Good luck and send a note if you have any questions!

You're invited to join the all-new BagpipeLessons.com Studio!

2011-07-13T10:57:00.001-07:00

I'm thrilled to announce the all-new BagpipeLessons.com Studio -- the world's newest and most exciting bagpipe learning website!

Until now, membership in the BagpipeLessons.com Studio has been by invitation-only. Today I'm offering an invitation for all visitors to my blog to join the BagpipeLessons.com Studio. This is an opportunity to take your piping to the next level!

The BagpipeLessons.com Studio is rich with premium content, fully interactive, and gives you complete access to lessons and multi-media materials -- stuff you won't find anywhere else, including high-quality videos, mp3s, tunes, exercises, practice tips, and more!

The BagpipeLessons.com Studio is a collaborative community where you can make and submit videos for comments, make suggestions for lesson topics, get answers to your piping questions, and share inspiration.

The BagpipeLessons.com Studio has a huge and constantly growing library of lessons, tunes, demonstrations, learning tools, practice tips, and exercises, with more content being added almost daily! Every lesson features a discussion area where Studio members can share tips, ask questions, and get help from me - and each other!

Detailed lessons cover all aspects of piping including:

Bagpipe Set Up
Competing & Performing
Equipment & Gear
Exercises
Expression
Fingering & Technique
Learning Tunes
Practice Tips
Tone & Tuning
Highlighting Tunes
Drone Reeds
Crossing Noises
The Dot-Cut
Perfect GDEs
Elements of Technique
Tuning Your Chanter
Secrets of Drone Tuning
Performing Under Pressure
Learn tunes efficiently by avoiding common mistakes
Keeping Track of Your Practicing
Perfect Doublings
Deliberate Practice
Tips for Playing Clean and Fast
Strathspey Triplets
The Practice Checklist
Answers to Your Questions
Getting the most out of your practice
Self-recording
Listening & Learning from Others
Making Your Pipes Easy to Play
Selecting & Adjusting Chanter Reeds

...and more!

The BagpipeLessons.com Studio also features short-term and long-term workshops that target specific tunes, idioms, and skills to help you prepare for upcoming competitions and performances and to help you reach your piping goals!

The information in these detailed, high-quality lessons would cost thousands of dollars to cover in traditional private lessons. But, now you can have complete access to everything at the BagpipeLessons.com Studio for only a few dollars a month.

Let's get started!

To accept your invitation, sign up for the BagpipeLessons.com Studio today:
~~regular price: $20/month or $240/year~~
Special Offer: $216 for the entire year ($18/month) 10% off the regular price!

Once you've signed up:
• Check out the full list of lessons, tunes, videos, mp3s, and more
• Update your personal profile
• Ask a question, make a comment, or just say hello to the other members of the Studio!

In the coming weeks, the BagpipeLessons.com Studio will be open for membership to everyone, but this special offer is available for a limited number of people and for a limited time. Sign up today and don't miss a thing!

Thanks and I look forward to seeing you at the BagpipeLessons.com Studio!

Jori

Final Results for BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition for Spring 2011

2011-06-14T13:38:00.001-07:00

Earlier this year, we announced the world's first-ever online piping competition. We built on that success with the expanded and improved BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition for Spring 2011! We received over 180 entries for 20 events in six competitive grades, including Piobaireachd and an Open 4-6 Minute Medley event where creativity and kitchenpiping was encouraged. The competitors submitted their competition videos via YouTube and were evaluated by our panel of top-level adjudicators (each one a world-class piper). Each player received detailed sheet of comments. The list of prizewinners in each event was posted as the results came back from the judges, along with the videos of the winners.

The competition was a great opportunity for many pipers to compete, to gain valuable feedback from the judges, and to participate in the wider piping community. Many of the pipers live in places that require long distance travel to get to traditional competition locations. Many pipers participated in both online competitions and several pipers competed for the first time!

The next BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition is planned for Fall of 2011. Sign up to be notified when more details are available.

The overall winners were determined by the highest total placings in the three events in each competition level. The winners receive prizes donated by R.G. Hardie, Apps Reeds, Kinnaird Bagpipes & Reeds, and scholarship gift certificates that can be used at any of the BagpipeLessons.com family of websites, including BagpipeLessons.com, BagpipeGauge.com, BagpipeRevolution.com, or PipeBandTunes.com. The piper with the most points in any grade wins the BagpipeLessons.com Super Aggregate Prize and a scholarship for a week of tuition at Canada's world-famous College of Piping.

In addition, each overall winner receives an invitation for membership to the all-new BagpipeLessons.com Studio -- the world's newest and most exciting bagpipe learning website! Right now membership in the BagpipeLessons.com Studio is by invitation-only, so learn more and sign up to be notified when membership invitations are available.

BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition Overall Prizewinners:

Grade 1:
1. Graham Thompson - USA
2. Lincoln Hilton - Australia
3. Ronan Madden - Ireland

Grade 2:
1. Andrew Yu - Hong Kong (wins a Pipe Chanter donated by R.G. Hardie)
2. Claus Reiss - Denmark
3. Andrew Donlon - USA

Grade 3:
1. Bill Urquhart - USA (wins an engraved Practice Chanter donated by R.G. Hardie)
2. Ramsey Bissex - USA
3. David Hester - USA

Grade 4:
1. John Campbell - Wales (wins a reed mandrel and book donated by Apps Reeds)
2. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland
3. David Vermeulen - USA

Grade 5:
1. Russell Prewitt - USA (wins a set of Carbon Fiber drone reeds donated by Kinnaird Bagpipes & Reeds)
2. Peter Anderson - USA
3. Sandro (Alex) Murro - USA

Beginner:
1. Peter McDougall - Canada (wins a Pipers Pal reed storage kit donated by Kinnaird Bagpipes & Reeds)
2. Mark Martin - USA
3. Gregory Askew - USA

BagpipeLessons.com Super Aggregate Prize for the Most Points Any Grade:
Graham Thompson - USA receives a scholarship for a week of tuition at Canada's world-famous College of Piping.

Special Awards:
Best Background: MaryBeth McQueen. Filmed inside the National Museum of the Pacific War, Fredericksburg, Texas, USA.

Best Dress & Deportment: Dr. Stephen Ross, Australia (watch his video below) and Brian Harrison, Canada.

Best Video Quality: Graham Thompson, USA (watch his videos below).

Some videos of the prizewinners:

Graham Thompson won the Open Medley event, and the Overall in the Grade 1 category. Graham writes: "I am 19 years old and am originally from Gloversville, NY near the Adirondacks I am currently in Rochester, NY where I study music education at Nazareth College. My primary instrument here is the French horn and I will be in my junior year this fall. I began taking piping lessons when I was 13 years old."

Here is Graham's winning Medley:

Graham Thompson also won the Grade 1 Piobaireachd, playing the John MacDonald Setting of MacLeod of Rassay's Salute:

Lincoln Hilton of Australia won the Grade 1 MSR with some tunes of impressive difficulty: Leaving Lunga, Maggie Cameron and the eighth-parted reel Pretty Marion:

Graham Thompson also won the Grade 1 Hornpipe & Jig:

Andrew Yu won the Overall in Grade 2. Andrew writes: "My name is Andrew Yu (My chinese name: Yu Chun-kit) from Hong Kong and I am 16. I started piping when I was 11. My first piping teacher is Cary Chung from Hong Kong Aux police pipe band. In 2009, I started lessons with Chris Lee (Runner up of Nicol-Brown 2010). In my videos, I play a set RG Hardie bagpipes and a Mccallum chanter . I recently won the Open Solo Piping competition in Singapore."

Here is Andrew's winning March, Strathspey & Reel:

Dr. Stephen Ross of Canberra, Australia won the Grade 2 Piobaireachd playing the Battle of Auldearn Setting No. 1. Adding to the challenge, Stephen recorded his competition video in front of a live audience!

Andrew Yu also won the Grade 2 Hornpipe & Jig:

Bill Urquhart of Ketchikan, Alaska, USA won the Overall in Grade 3 and also the Grade 3 March, Strathspey, and Reel:

David Hester of Baltimore, Maryland, USA played the modern tune The Field of Gold, by Pipe Major Donald MacLeod to win the Grade 3 Piobaireachd event:

Here is Ramsey Bissex's winning Grade 3 Jig:

John Campbell from Wales won the Grade 4 Overall. John writes: "I was born in Wales and always had a desire to learn 'A' musical instrument, but didn't know what. I started the pipes in 1999 at age 39 in my last of 23 years in the RAF, after a chance encounter with a piper who was practicing for a Millenium New Year gig. In 2009 I attempted solo competitions for the first time with some degree of success. I don't have access to local tuition, but now rely completely on the occasional online lesson to keep me out of trouble."

John won the Grade 4 Piobaireachd (Ground & Next Variation) playing the Munro's Salute:

John Campbell won the Grade 4 2/4 March:

John Campbell also won the Grade 4 Strathspey & Reel:

Russell Prewitt of La Center, Washington, USA won the Overall in Grade 5. He writes: "I took an interest in bagpipes when I heard a piper off in the distance while my wife and I were on a hike in Glencoe, Scotland. I can play on an airplane because I'm an aircraft technician for the airlines and it's a good place to practice without disturbing anyone. By the way it was on the ground and at the gate."

Here is Russell's winning Grade 5 2/4 March. (First class, Russell!):

Seattle's Peter Anderson won the Grade 5 Piobaireachd, playing The Munro's Salute:

Sandro (Alex) Murru won the Grade 5 Slow Air, playing the Road to Ardfern:

Peter McDougall of New Brunswick, Canada won the overall in the Beginner events. Peter writes: "Just a quick note to say how much I have appreciated what the judges had to say on their comment sheets. It was clear that they really did take the time to listen and watch. I've had a lot of fun telling my non-piping family/friends/colleagues about how you've managed to integrate new technology with an ancient art. When I first mention that I participated in an internet based event they laugh and wonder how this could even be possible. When I explain it a little further, they are all intrigued and comment on what a great idea it was. Thanks for your efforts in putting on this competition, thanks to the judges for their involvement."

Watch Peter's winning March video:

Peter McDougall also won the Beginner Slow Air:

Gregory Askew of Palmdale, California, USA won the Beginner 2/4 March. Gregory writes: "This was my first competition. I have been playing the chanter for 3 1/2 years and hoping to start on the pipes soon."

Watch Gregory's winning 2/4 March:

The complete list of prizewinners:

Event 19. Open - Medley (4-6 Minutes)
1. Graham Thompson - USA
2. Graeme McCombe - Canada
3. Lincoln Hilton - Australia
4. Aaron Stone - USA
5. Shian Jessen - Denmark
6. Cedric Feys - Belgium
Judge: William McCallum
(15 entered)

Event 18. Grade 1 - Piobaireachd
1. Graham Thompson - USA
2. Lincoln Hilton - Australia
3. Benjamin Pollard - USA
4. Graeme McCombe - Canada
5. Brian Haddon - Canada
6. Aaron Stone - USA
Judge: Greg Wilson
(11 entered)

Event 17. Grade 1 - Hornpipe & Jig
1. Graham Thompson - USA
2. Aaron Stone - USA
3. Ronan Madden - Ireland
4. Lincoln Hilton - Australia
5. Brian Haddon - Canada
6. Ernesto Góngora - Mexico
Judge: Alan Bevan
(16 entered)

Event 16. Grade 1 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Lincoln Hilton - Australia
2. Ronan Madden - Ireland
3. Graham Thompson - USA
4. Brian Haddon - Canada
5. Aaron Stone - USA
6. Graeme McCombe - Canada
Judge: William McCallum
(14 entered)

Event 15. Grade 2 - Piobaireachd
1. Stephen Ross - Australia
2. Ronan Madden - Ireland
3. Claus Reiss - Denmark
4. Andrew Donlon - USA
5. Andrew Yu - Hong Kong
6. Seth Wells - USA
Judge: Peter Aumonier
(12 entered)

Event 14. Grade 2 - Hornpipe & Jig
1. Andrew Yu - Hong Kong
2. Claus Reiss - Denmark
3. Seth Wells - USA
4. Andrew Donlon - USA
5. Kyle Banta - Canada
6. Ryan Moore - Canada
Judge: Andrew Bonar
(10 entered)

Event 13. Grade 2 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Andrew Yu - Hong Kong
2. Claus Reiss - Denmark
3. Andrew Donlon - USA
4. Ernesto Góngora - Mexico
5. Kyle Banta - Canada
6. Harvey McLendon - USA
Judge: Richard Hawke
(13 entered)

Event 12. Grade 3 - Piobaireachd
1. David Hester - USA
2. Bill Urquhart - USA
3. John Campbell - Wales
4. Bob Wallace - USA
Judge: William McCallum
(5 entered)

Event 11. Grade 3 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Bill Urquhart - USA
2. Ramsey Bissex - USA
3. J David Hester - USA
4. Bob Wallace - USA
5. Alexander Radionov - Russia
6. Sandro (Alex) Murro - USA
Judge: James MacHattie
(8 entered)

Event 10. Grade 3 - Jig (at least 4 parts)
1. Ramsey Bissex - USA
2. Irene Braham - Mexico
3. Bill Urquhart - USA
4. Shian Jessen - Denmark
5. Gwendolen Rowe - USA
Judge: Greg Wilson
(8 entered)

Event 09. Grade 4 - Piobaireachd (Ground & Next Variation)
1. John Campbell - Wales
2. Marty McKeon - USA
3. Mark Baban - USA
4. David West - USA
5. Carraig New - USA
6. Tevye Celius - USA
Judge: Richard Hawke
(12 entered)

Event 08. Grade 4 - Strathspey & Reel
1. John Campbell - Wales
2. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland
Judge: Andrew Bonar
(4 entered)

Event 07. Grade 4 - 2/4 March
1. John Campbell - Wales
2. David Vermeulen - USA
3. David James - USA
4. David West - USA
5. Marty McKeon - USA
6. Garry Gregson - USA
Judge: Alan Bevan
(12 entered)

Event 06. Grade 5 - Piobaireachd (Ground Only)
1. Peter Anderson - USA
2. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland
3. Jim Lowe - USA
4. Dagmar Pesta - Germany
Judge: James MacHattie
(7 entered)

Event 05. Grade 5 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
1. Russell Prewitt - USA
2. Darren Gordon - USA
3. Sandro (Alex) Murro - USA
4. Kelsie Sinclair - Australia
5. Peter Anderson - USA
6. Brian Harrison - Canada
Judge: Peter Aumonier
(12 entered)

Event 04. Grade 5 - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)
1. Sandro (Alex) Murru - USA
2. Russell Prewitt - USA
3. Brian Harrison - Canada
4. Peter Anderson - USA
5. Kelsie Sinclair - Australia
6. Jim Lowe- USA
Judge: Richard Hawke
(11 entered)

Event 03. Beginner (practice chanter) - 2/4 March
1. Gregory Askew
2. Peter McDougall
Judge: Andrew Bonar
(3 entered)

Event 02. Beginner (practice chanter) - 3/4 or 4/4 March (2 or 4 parts)
1. Peter McDougall - Canada
2. Mark Martin - USA
Judge: James MacHattie
(2 entered)

Event 01. Beginner (practice chanter) - Slow Air
1. Peter McDougall
2. Mark Martin
Judge: Alan Bevan
(2 entered)

[Aggregate winners were determined by British Columbia Pipers Association Rules: 1st = 88 points, 2nd = 56 points, 3rd = 38 points, 4th = 25 points, 5th = 16 points, sixth = 10 points.]

Even more results for the Spring 2011 BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition (Updated!)

2011-06-12T21:44:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest batch of results for the Spring 2011 BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition. Here are list of prizewinners for seven more events including videos of the first place winners. We had some fantastic entries for our first-ever Open Medley event where competitors could play anything for 4-6 minutes -- creative arrangements and kitchen piping was encouraged! The results of other events were announced previously, here and here.

Stay tuned for the final results and overall prize winners coming soon!

Event 19. Open - Medley (4-6 Minutes)
1. Graham Thompson - USA
2. Graeme McCombe - Canada
3. Lincoln Hilton - Australia
4. Aaron Stone - USA
5. Shian Jessen - Denmark
6. Cedric Feys - Belgium
Judge: William McCallum
(15 entered)

Here is Graham's winning Medley:

Event 16. Grade 1 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Lincoln Hilton - Australia
2. Ronan Madden - Ireland
3. Graham Thompson - USA
4. Brian Haddon - Canada
5. Aaron Stone - USA
6. Graeme McCombe - Canada
Judge: William McCallum
(14 entered)

Here's Lincoln's winning MSR:

Event 18. Grade 1 - Piobaireachd
1. Graham Thompson - USA
2. Lincoln Hilton - Australia
3. Benjamin Pollard - USA
4. Graeme McCombe - Canada
5. Brian Haddon - Canada
6. Aaron Stone - USA
Judge: Greg Wilson
(11 entered)

Here is Graham's winning Piobaireachd, MacLeod of Rassay's Salute (John MacDonald Setting):

Event 13. Grade 2 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Andrew Yu - Hong Kong
2. Claus Reiss - Denmark
3. Andrew Donlon - USA
4. Ernesto Góngora - Mexico
5. Kyle Banta - Canada
6. Harvey McLendon - USA
Judge: Richard Hawke
(13 entered)

Here is Andrew's winning MSR:

Event 12. Grade 3 - Piobaireachd
1. David Hester - USA
2. Bill Urquhart - USA
3. John Campbell - Wales
4. Bob Wallace - USA
Judge: William McCallum
(5 entered)

Here is David's winning Piobaireachd - The Field of Gold, by Pipe Major Donald MacLeod

Event 10. Grade 3 - Jig (at least 4 parts)
1. Ramsey Bissex - USA
2. Irene Braham - Mexico

3. Bill Urquhart - USA

4. Shian Jessen - Denmark
5. Gwendolen Rowe - USA
Judge: Greg Wilson
(8 entered)

Watch Ramsey's winning Jig:

Event 09. Grade 4 - Piobaireachd (Ground & Next Variation)
1. John Campbell - Wales
2. Marty McKeon - USA
3. Mark Baban - USA
4. David West - USA
5. Carraig New - USA
6. Tevye Celius - USA
Judge: Richard Hawke
(9 entered)

Watch John's winning Piobaireachd - The Munro's Salute.

04. Grade 5 - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)
1. Sandro (Alex) Murru - USA
2. Russell Prewitt - USA
3. Brian Harrison - Canada
4. Peter Anderson - USA
5. Kelsie Sinclair - Australia
6. Jim Lowe- USA
Judge: Richard Hawke
(11 entered)

Watch Sandro's winning Slow Air:

Latest results from the BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition for Spring 2011

2011-06-09T14:41:00.000-07:00

More results are coming in from our panel of world-class judges. Below we have the results for five more events, along with videos of the first place winners, adding to the results and videos announced earlier this week.

Congratulations to everyone who took part and stay tuned for more results and the overall prizes! Check out the amazing list of countries represented by our competitors.

Event 15. Grade 2 - Piobaireachd
1. Stephen Ross - Australia
2. Ronan Madden - Ireland
3. Claus Reiss - Denmark
4. Andrew Donlon - USA
5. Andrew Yu - Hong Kong
6. Seth Wells - USA
Judge: Peter Aumonier
(12 entered)

Stephen's winning Piobaireachd:

Event 11. Grade 3 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
1. Bill Urquhart - USA
2. Ramsey Bissex - USA
3. J David Hester - USA
4. Bob Wallace - USA
5. Alexander Radionov - Russia
6. Sandro (Alex) Murru - USA
Judge: James MacHattie

(8 entered)

Bill's winning March, Strathspey, and Reel:

Event 05. Grade 5 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
1. Russell Prewitt - USA
2. Darren Gordon - USA
3. Sandro (Alex) Murru - USA
4. Kelsie Sinclair - Australia
5. Peter Anderson - USA
6. Brian Harrison - Canada
Judge: Peter Aumonier
(12 entered)

Russell's winning 2/4 March:

Event 06. Grade 5 - Piobaireachd (Ground Only)
1. Peter Anderson - USA
2. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland
3. Jim Lowe - USA
4. Dagmar Pesta - Germany
Judge: James MacHattie

(7 entered)

Peter's winning Piobaireachd, The Munro's Salute:

Event 02. Beginner (practice chanter) - 3/4 or 4/4 March (2 or 4 parts)
1. Peter McDougall - Canada
2. Mark Martin - USA
Judge: James MacHattie

(2 entered)

Peter's winning March:

First Results for the Spring 2011 BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition

2011-06-06T15:42:00.000-07:00

We launched the world's first online bagpipe competition earlier this year, and followed up with a second expanded and improved online competition for Spring 2011. We received over 180 entries from around the world in 20 different events in six competition grade levels.

Our world-class judges have deliberated carefully and the first batch of results are in. The judge's comments sheets have been individually emailed to each competitor.

When the remaining results are in, we'll be announcing the overall winner in each grade and also some special prizes for Best Dress & Deportment, Best Background, and Best Quality Video. The winners will receive some fantastic prizes donated by Prizes donated by R.G. Hardie, Apps Reeds, Kinnaird Bagpipes & Reeds and the top overall piper wins a scholarship for a week of tuition at Canada's world-famous College of Piping.

Congrats to all the prizewinners and participants. Stay tuned for more results soon!

Event 17. Grade 1 - Hornpipe & Jig
1. Graham Thompson - USA
2. Aaron Stone - USA
3. Ronan Madden - Ireland
4. Lincoln Hilton - Australia
5. Brian Haddon - Canada
6. Ernesto Góngora - Mexico
Judge: Alan Bevan
(16 entered)

Graham's winning Hornpipe & Jig:

Event 14. Grade 2 - Hornpipe & Jig
1. Andrew Yu - Hong Kong
2. Claus Reiss - Denmark
3. Seth Wells - USA
4. Andrew Donlon - USA
5. Kyle Banta - Canada
6. Ryan Moore - Canada
Judge: Andrew Bonar
(10 entered)

Andrew's winning Hornpipe & Jig:

Event 07. Grade 4 - 2/4 March
1. John Campbell - Wales
2. David Vermeulen - USA
3. David James  - USA
4. David West  - USA
5. Marty McKeon  - USA
6. Garry Gregson  - USA
Judge: Alan Bevan
(12 entered)

John's winning 2/4 March:

Event 08. Grade 4 - Strathspey & Reel
1. John Campbell - Wales
2. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland
Judge: Andrew Bonar
(4 entered)

John's winning Strathspey & Reel:

Event 01. Beginner (practice chanter) - Slow Air
1. Peter McDougall - Canada
2. Mark Martin - USA
Judge: Alan Bevan
(2 entered)

Peter's winning Slow Air:

Event 03. Beginner (practice chanter) - 2/4 March
1. Gregory Askew - USA
2. Peter McDougall - Canada
Judge: Andrew Bonar
(3 entered)

Gregory's winning 2/4 March:

New BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition for Spring 2011

2011-04-25T15:06:00.001-07:00

Earlier this year, we made history with the world's first-ever BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition. Pipers from six continents sent in over 100 entries in thirteen events in six competitive grades. Each competitor received a comment sheet from the judges and the winning videos were posted online. The online competition proved to be a huge success.

Update! Sign up deadline extended ONE MORE DAY to MAY 16! Video deadline extended to May 30. Prizes donated by R.G. Hardie, Apps Reeds, Kinnaird Bagpipes & Reeds and more!

The overall winner with the most points in ANY grade wins a scholarship for a week of tuition at Canada's world-famous College of Piping.

Today we are thrilled to announce a new expanded and improved BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition for Spring 2011.

Some comments from the first competition:

"I think that online competition is a great idea, allowing players to compete with each other disregarding distance."

"The online competition is an absolutely fantastic idea... I got my first sheet yesterday and am very enthused about it. The critique is very constructive."

"This first online competition is an historic event for piping."

We've made some great improvements based on suggestions from the competitors and judges. We're please to announce three events per competition grade, including Piobaireachd!

The new Special Medley Event that is open to pipers in any grade, including Open/Professional. This event is a kitchen-piping event where modern tunes and creative arrangements are encouraged. The Evaluation-Only Event is for pipers who want to be evaluated by a judge and receive judging sheet only, but don't want to compete against other pipers.

We're continuing our tradition of international world-class judges, including:

Willie McCallum - Bearsden, Scotland
Alan Bevan - British Columbia, Canada
James MacHattie - Prince Edward Island, Canada
Peter Aumonier - Ontario, Canada
Greg Wilson - New Zealand
Richard Hawke - New Zealand
Andrew Bonar - British Columbia, Canada
and more to be announced soon!

Here's how the online competition works:

Pick the events you want to enter (see below).
Sign up (each event limited to 30 competitors).
Help spread the word and get your entry fee for free (see below).
Make your video recording -- this is your competition entry.
Submit your recording by May 30. (deadline extended!)
Wait for your judge's comment sheet and the results!

All competitors will receive a full judging comment sheet. Prizes will be awarded according to the number of entries. Top prize winners will receive scholarship gift certificates that can be used at any of the BagpipeLessons.com family of websites, including BagpipeGauge.com, BagpipeRevolution.com, or PipeBandTunes.com, with additional prizes to be announced later. Prizes will be given for: Best Dress & Deportment, Best Video Background, Best Quality Video.

Tell a friend and get to enter for free! We need your help to spread the word and include pipers from around the world. After you've entered your events, ask your friends to sign up and tell them to type your name or email address in the "Who referred you?" box during the sign up process. For every three events your friends sign up for, you'll get one free event entry fee! (I will refund your entry fee or credit it towards the next online competition.) So email your friends and bandmates, post on facebook, and blog about it!

Events:
1. Beginner (practice chanter) - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)
2. Beginner (practice chanter) - 3/4 or 4/4 March (2 or 4 parts)
3. Beginner (practice chanter) - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
4. Grade 5 - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)
5. Grade 5 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
6. Grade 5 - Piobaireachd (Ground Only)
7. Grade 4 - 2/4 March (at least 4 parts)
8. Grade 4 - Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
9. Grade 4 - Piobaireachd (Ground and Next Variation)
10. Grade 3 - Jig (at least 4 parts)
11. Grade 3 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
12. Grade 3 - Piobaireachd
13. Grade 2 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
14. Grade 2 - Hornpipe & Jig (each tune at least 4 parts)
15. Grade 2 - Piobaireachd
16. Grade 1 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)
17. Grade 1 - Hornpipe & Jig (each tune at least 4 parts)
18. Grade 1 - Piobaireachd
19. Special Event: Medley. This event is open to players in any grade, including Open/Professional. You may play a selection of any tunes of any style in a medley lasting between 4 to 6 minutes. Modern tunes and/or kitchenpiping is encouraged. Get creative!
20. Special Event: Evaluation-Only. This is a non-competitive, evaluation event. Play any tune. Your performance will be evaluated by a judge who will write a complete judging sheet for you, but you will not be compared to any other pipers. Submit as many tunes as you like, but each tune requires a separate entry fee. This is a great option to get feedback for non-graded pipers or for tunes that are not currently offered at your grade level.
Sign up today! Each event is limited to 30 competitors.

Rules:

Last day to sign up: May 5, 2011.
Last day to send in your competition video: May 30, 2011. (deadline extended!)
Your video must be not be recorded before April 25, 2011.
Your competition recordings must be videos. Audio-only recordings (mp3s, etc.) not allowed.
Each event must be submitted in a separate video.
All videos must be made in one complete take (no editing), but take as many tries as you want.
Wearing of your kilt is encouraged, but not required.
Your video should show most or all of your body, including your head.
State your name and the name of your tune(s) at the start of your video. (You don't need to say your tunes for the Medley event, but please say your name.)
Take your time with tuning and getting warmed up, just as you would in a regular competition.
Upload your video to YouTube and set it to unlisted (or public) but not private.
The title of your YouTube video must say BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition and list your name and the event (e.g., Grade 4 2/4 March).
Videos will not be made public, but prizewinners will be asked for permission to be posted.
For Piobaireachd events: You must email the sheet music for your tune if it is not from the Kilberry or Piobaireachd Society books.
You may enter events in more than one grade level. But if you are graded by your association, you may enter events in your grade or a higher grade, but you may not enter events in a lower grade.
Entry fee $10.00 per event.
Additional prizes will be given for: Best Dress & Deportment, Best Video Background, Best Quality Video.

If you have never competed before, take a look at the winners from the last competition to help you decide which grade level to enter. Here's an example of an excellent video.

Good luck and send a note if you have any questions!

First-Ever Online Piping Competition Final Results & Wrap-Up

2011-02-23T12:35:00.000-08:00

Last month, we announced the world's first-ever online piping competition and the response was incredible! Pipers from six continents sent in over 100 entries in thirteen events in six competitive grades. In a first-of-its-kind event, pipers submitted their competition tunes via YouTube video recording or audio recording. The recordings were compiled and sent to our panel of top-level adjudicators (each one a world-class piper), who listened to each recording and wrote a detailed sheet of comments for each competitor. The list of prizewinners in each event was posted as the results came back from the judges, along with the videos from many of the winners.

The competition was a great opportunity for many pipers to compete, to gain valuable feedback from the judges, and to participate in the wider piping community. Many of the pipers live in places that require long distance travel to get to traditional competition locations. Several pipers (including some of the prizewinners) competed for the first time!

The feedback from the competitors has been very positive and I'm pleased to announce that the next BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition is planned for April 2011. Sign up to be notified when more details are available.

Some comments from the competitors:

"I think that online competition is a great idea, allowing players to compete with each other disregarding distance."

"The online competition is an absolutely fantastic idea and you all did a great job. I got my first sheet yesterday and am very enthused about it. The critique is very constructive."

"This was great! It's a great way to keep tunes going in the off season!"

"I think overall it's a fantastic idea. Information has been updated regularly, and I look forward to the next online competition."

"Watching videos the winners and other successful participants gave me some new ideas for better piping."

The overall winners were determined by the highest total placings in the two events in each competition level. Each overall winner receives a $50 scholarship gift certificate that can be used at any of the BagpipeLessons.com family of websites, including BagpipeLessons.com, BagpipeGauge.com, BagpipeRevolution.com, or PipeBandTunes.com.

In addition, each overall winner receives a free membership to the new expanded and improved BagpipeLessons.com 30 Day Practice Challenge for March 2011. The 30 Day Practice Challenge is a month-long online piping school based on the simple goal to practice every day for 30 days. Each day, pipers will receive an email with a daily challenge and a specific focus for the day inlcuding educational tips, sheet music for tunes and exercises, mp3s, audio recordings, videos, live call-in question and answer sessions, and more. Pipers of all skill levels will have the opportunity to discuss their progress by sharing video and audio files with the group. Learn more and sign up for the 30 Day Practice Challenge.

BagpipeLessons.com Online Competition Overall Prizewinners:

Grade 1: David MacNeil - Canada

Grade 2: Ernesto Góngora Acosta - Mexico

Grade 3: Colleen Poe - USA

Grade 4: Bill Urquhart - USA

Grade 5: George Low - USA

Beginner: Fred Arnold - Canada

Best Background: Peter Schmidt - USA
Best Dress & Deportment: Bill Urquhart - USA

Best Video Quality: Kevin McSwiggan - USA

Some videos of the prizewinners:

David MacNeil's winning Grade 1 Jig:

Colleen Poe's winning Grade 3 2/4 March:

Bill Urquhart's winning Grade 4 Strathspey & Reel.
Bill also won the prize for Best Dress & Deportment.

George Low's winning Grade 5 Slow Air:

Peter Schmidt's video won the prize for Best Background:

The complete list of prizewinners:

Event 01 - Beginner Slow Air (practice chanter)

1. Frederick Arnold - Canada

2. John Hanlon - Scotland

3. John Taylor - USA

Judge: James MacHattie of Prince Edward Island, Canada - Canadian Gold Medal Winner and Director of Piping at Canada's world-famous College of Piping

3 competitors

Event 02 - Beginner March (practice chanter)

1. Frederick Arnold - Canada

2. John Hanlon - Scotland

Judge: Andrew P. Hayes of Ottawa, Canada - Inverness Gold Medal Winner 2010

2 competitors

Event 03 - Grade 5 Slow Air

1. George Low - USA

2. Russell Prewitt - USA

3. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland

4. John Bergen - Canada

5. Kuno Zimmermann - Switzerland

Judge: Alan Bevan of Abbotstford, Canada - Inverness Gold Medal Winner 2008

9 competitors

Event 04 - Grade 5 2/4 March

1. Karen Webb - Australia

2. George Low - USA

3. Russell Prewitt - USA

4. Guido Riedemann - Germany

5. Kuno Zimmermann - Switzerland

6. Brian Pack - USA

Judge: James MacHattie

7 competitors

Event 05 - Grade 4 2/4 March

1. Bill Urquhart - USA

2. John Campbell - Wales

3. Carraig New - USA

4. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland

Judge: Alan Bevan

7 competitors

Event 06 - Grade 4 Strathspey & Reel

1. Bill Urquhart - USA

2. Henrik Idoff Hornhaver - Denmark

3. Carraig New - USA

4. John Campbell - Wales

5. Alexander Radionov - Russia

Judge: James MacHattie

5 competitors

Event 07 – Grade 3 2/4 March

1. Colleen Poe - USA

2. Kevin McSwiggan - USA

3. Ramsey Blissex - USA

4. Irene Alcántara - Mexico

5. Victor Serrano - Mexico

6. David Hester - USA

Judge: Andrew P. Hayes

7 competitors

Event 08 - Grade 3 Strathspey & Reel

1. Ramsey Blissex - USA

2. Kevin McSwiggan - USA

3. Colleen Poe - USA

4. Gwendolen Rowe - USA

Judge: Alan Bevan

6 competitors

Event 09 – Grade 2 March, Strathspey & Reel

1. Andrew Yu - Hong Kong

2. Claus Reiss - Denmark

3. Andrew Donlon - USA

4. Ernesto Góngora Acosta - Mexico

5. Kyle Banta - Canada

6. Nicola Sharp - Australia

Judge: Andrew P. Hayes

9 competitors

Event 10 - Grade 2 Jig

1. Ernesto Góngora Acosta - Mexico

2. Nicola Sharp - Australia

3. Claus Reiss - Denmark

4. Andrew Donlon - USA

5. Miranda Boath - Australia

6. Jonathan McIntyre - Australia

Judge: James MacHattie

9 competitors

Event 11 - Grade 1 March, Strathspey & Reel
1. Kirk Brunson - USA

2. Graham Thompson - USA

3. David MacNeil - Canada

4. William Woods - USA

5. Graeme McCombe - Canada

6. Ryan Morrison - USA

Judge: Alan Bevan

11 competitors

Event 12 – Grade 1 Jig

1. David MacNeil - Canada

2. Graeme McCombe - Canada

3. Graham Thompson - USA

4. Ryan Morrison - USA

5. Ross Wilson - Canada

6. William Woods - USA

Judge: Andrew P. Hayes

11 competitors

[Aggregate winners were determined by British Columbia Pipers Association Rules: 1st = 88 points, 2nd = 56 points, 3rd = 38 points, 4th = 25 points, 5th = 16 points, sixth = 10 points.]

The New BagpipeLessons.com 30 Day Practice Challenge for March 2011!

2011-02-22T11:10:00.000-08:00

Last year, over 200 pipers from around the world joined together for the first BagpipeLessons.com 30 Day Practice Challenge. With the simple commitment to practice every day for 30 days, we discovered how dedicated, sustained practice routine can lead to big breakthroughs. Together, with beginners and world-class competitors and pipers from all levels in between, we shared practice tips, inspiration, and encouragement!

I'm thrilled to announce a new expanded and improved 30 Day Practice Challenge for March 2011. On March 1, we'll begin a month of fun and focus filled with educational tips, sheet music for tunes and exercises, mp3s, audio recordings, videos, live call-in question and answer sessions, and much, much more!

Each day you'll receive an email with your daily challenge and your specific focus for the day along with tips for staying excited and motivated to keep practicing. You'll have the opportunity to discuss your personal successes by sharing video and audio files with the group.

Whether your goal is to get more comfortable with the basics, to get ready for upcoming competitions, or simply to get more enjoyment and fulfillment from your piping... Sign up today! The 30 Day Practice Challenge is a fun way to make some real progress towards your piping goals.

BagpipeLessons.com 30 Day Practice Challenge

$59.99 Sign up today and discover what everyone is talking about!

Help us spread the word! After you sign up, if you get three friends to join the 30 Day Practice Challenge, I'll refund your entire sign up fee and you can take part for free!

Traditional in-person piping workshops and summer schools are fun, but they can cost hundreds of dollars with time-consuming travel, costly tuition, and room and board expenses. With the BagpipeLessons.com 30 Day Practice Challenge you can complete your daily practice challenges at a time and place that is convenient for your schedule and lifestyle.

Some topics we will cover during the 30 Day Practice Challenge:

Technique
Tuning
Sight reading
Setting goals
Expression and phrasing
How to practice effectively
Metronomes
Performing
Tune types and idioms
Memorization
Blowing steady
Getting ready for competition
Setting goals
Learning tunes quickly
Tracking your progress
Identifying common mistakes
Selecting and making adjustments to chanter reeds
Doublings, grips, taorluaths, D throws, and birls
Self-recording
Listening
Identifying your strengths and weaknesses
Making a secret hit list
The myth of talent
Making time for practice
Keeping practice fun
Picking the right tunes
Making your pipes easy to play
Piobaireachd
How to be the perfect pipe band player
Expressing strathspeys
...and more!

Do you have specific topics or skill areas would you like to see covered in the 30 Day Practice Challenge? When you sign up, I'll send you a brief Pre-Challenge Questionnaire where you can share your suggestions and we'll make sure that your topics are included.

I founded BagpipeLessons.com in 1999 and I've enjoyed teaching the pipes to students of all ability levels from around the world. I've always enjoyed using exciting, new technologies to bring the best traditional bagpipe teaching methods to pipers around the world. I'm very excited about this new 30 Day Practice Challenge.

BagpipeLessons.com 30 Day Practice Challenge
$59.99 Sign up today and join our active learning community!

Jori Chisholm

Founder and Chief Instructor

BagpipeLessons.com

Latest Online Competition Results (Updated)

2011-02-19T14:50:00.000-08:00

Here are the latest results from the BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition. The list of prizewinners and the number of competitors are listed below. The judge's comments sheets have been individually emailed to each competitor.

The overall winners and prizes for Best Background and Best Dress & Deportment will be announced shortly!

Event 03 - Grade 5 Slow Air
1. George Low - USA
2. Russell Prewitt - USA
3. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland
4. John Bergen - Canada
5. Kuno Zimmermann - Switzerland

Judge: Alan Bevan
9 competitors

George Low's winning Grade 5 Slow Air:

Event 05 - Grade 4 2/4 March
1. Bill Urquhart - USA
2. John Campbell - Wales
3. Carraig New - USA
4. Matthias Kuehn - Switzerland

Judge: Alan Bevan
7 competitors

Bill Urquhart's winning Grade 4 2/4 March:

Event 08 - Grade 3 Strathspey & Reel
1. Ramsey Blissex - USA
2. Kevin McSwiggan - USA
3. Colleen Poe - USA
4. Gwendolen Rowe - USA

Judge: Alan Bevan
6 competitors

Ramsey Blissex's winning Grade 3 Strathspey & Reel:

Event 11 - Grade 1 March, Strathspey & Reel
1. Kirk Brunson
2. Graham Thompson
3. David MacNeil
4. William Woods
5. Graeme McCombe
6. Ryan Morrison

Judge: Alan Bevan
11 competitors

Kirk Brunson's winning Grade 1 March, Strathspey & Reel:

More Online Competition Results!

2011-02-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

Here's the second batch of results are in for the first-ever BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition. With these new results, two-thirds of the results are out. The list of prizewinners and the number of competitors are listed below. The judge's comments sheets have been individually emailed to each competitor.

Event 01 - Beginner Slow Air (practice chanter)
1. Frederick Arnold - Canada
2. John Hanlon - Scotland
3. John Taylor - USA

Judge: James MacHattie
3 competitors

Event 04 - Grade 5 2/4 March
1. Karen Webb - Australia
2. George Low - USA
3. Russell Prewitt - USA
4. Guido Riedemann - Germany
5. Kuno Zimmermann - Switzerland
6. Brian Pack - USA

Judge: James MacHattie
7 competitors

Karen Webb's winning Grade 5 2/4 March:

Event 06 - Grade 4 Strathspey & Reel
1. Bill Urquhart - USA
2. Henrik Idoff Hornhaver - Denmark
3. Carraig New - USA
4. John Campbell - Wales
5. Alexander Radionov - Russia

Judge: James MacHattie
5 competitors

Bill Urquhart's winning Grade 4 Strathspey & Reel:

Event 10 - Grade 2 Jig
1. Ernesto Góngora Acosta - Mexico
2. Nicola Sharp - Australia
3. Claus Reiss - Denmark
4. Andrew Donlon - USA
5. Miranda Boath - Australia
6. Jonathan McIntyre - Australia

Judge: James MacHattie
9 competitors

Nicola Sharp was runner up in the Grade 2 Jig:

The final batch of results should be out this week, including the overall winners in each grade and some special prizes for Best Dress & Deportment and also for Best Background!

The First Results Are In!

2011-02-14T10:18:00.000-08:00

The first batch of results are in for the first-ever BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition. The list of prizewinners and the number of competitors are listed below. The judge's comments sheets have been individually emailed to each competitor.

When all of the results are in, we'll be announcing the overall winner in each grade and also some special prizes for Best Dress & Deportment and also for Best Background! Also, we'll be asking some of the prizewinners fo permission to post their videos for everyone to see.

Congrats to everyone who participated -- not only the prizewinners but to everyone who joined this first-ever historic event. Thanks to the judges and the competitors and stay tuned for more results as they come in!

Event 02 - Beginner March (practice chanter)
1. Frederick Arnold - Canada
2. John Hanlon - Scotland

Judge: Andrew P. Hayes
2 competitors

Event 07 – Grade 3 2/4 March
1. Colleen Poe - USA
2. Kevin McSwiggan - USA
3. Ramsey Blissex - USA
4. Irene Alcántara - Mexico
5. Victor Serrano - Mexico
6. David Hester - USA

Judge: Andrew P. Hayes
7 competitors

Colleen Poe's winning Grade 3 2/4 March:

Event 09 – Grade 2 March, Strathspey & Reel
1. Andrew Yu - Hong Kong
2. Claus Reiss - Denmark
3. Andrew Donlon - USA
4. Ernesto Góngora Acosta - Mexico
5. Kyle Banta - Canada
6. Nicola Sharp - Australia

Judge: Andrew P. Hayes
9 competitors

Andrew Yu's winning Grade 2 MSR:

Event 12 – Grade 1 Jig
1. David MacNeil - Canada
2. Graeme McCombe - Canada
3. Graham Thompson - USA
4. Ryan Morrison - USA
5. Ross Wilson - Canada
6. William Woods - USA

Judge: Andrew P. Hayes
11 competitors

David MacNeil's winning Grade 1 Jig:

Online Piping Competition Update: Judging Begins!

2011-02-04T15:41:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all the pipers who entered and submitted their recordings for the first-ever BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition! We received entries from six continents (any pipers from Antarctica?) and a great turnout for all 13 events.

The recordings have been compiled and have been handed out to our esteemed adjudicators:

Andrew P. Hayes of Ottawa, Canada - Inverness Gold Medal Winner 2010
Alan Bevan of Abbotstford, Canada - Inverness Gold Medal Winner 2008
James MacHattie of Prince Edward Island, Canada - Canadian Gold Medal Winner and Director of Piping at Canada's world-famous College of Piping.

In a few days we have the results compiled and the results will be posted and the comments sheets and prizes will be emailed to the competitors.

Thanks to the judges and all of the competitors! Stay tuned!

In the meantime, please help us improve future competitions by filling out our Post-Online Competition Satisfaction Survey.

Online Piping Competition Update

2011-01-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

Just a few days ago, we announced the world's first-ever online piping competition. In these few days, the response has been incredible. Entries have come in for all the events and grades from around the world, including from the U.S., Canada, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Australia, Russia, New Zealand, and the U.K.

Each event is limited to only 20 competitors, so send your entry in today!

I've received additional interest from pipers who are not interested in competing against other pipers, but they are interested in receiving a comment sheet from the judges. So, today I'm excited to announce the addition of a new, first-of-its-kind ungraded, non-competitive, evaluation-only event.

Special Event #13: For this event, you will enter and submit your recording just like the other events. Your performance will be evaluated by a judge who will write a complete judging sheet for you, but you will not be compared to any other pipers. This event will have no official prize winners, but if your goal is to get good, honest, positive feedback from one of the world's top pipers... you win!

Enter now!

This is event is open to pipers of any ability level, from beginner to advanced. You may submit any tune, except for Piobaireachd. So, marches, strathspeys, reels, jigs, hornpipes... you name it!

We thrilled to have two top pipers on board as judges: Alan Bevan and Andrew P. Hayes -- both world class pipers and Gold Medal winners. Additional judges to be announced soon!

Learn more and send in your entry today!

First-Ever Online Piping Competition

2011-01-05T07:50:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

We've had a number of firsts here at BagpipeLessons.com.

We were the first to offer online lessons via webcam and Skype.
We were the first to create Tune and Video Lessons for instant download.
We had great success with the first-ever Thirty Day Practice Challenge.
Last month, we had tremendous interest in the first-ever Online Piping Master Class.

Today, an exciting opportunity to test your piping skills against pipers from around the world and another first... the worlds first-ever BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition.

For those pipers familiar with the competition scene, the BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Competition will have many similarities, but a couple of differences. Here's how it will work.

Pick the event you want to compete in (see below)
Send in your entry (each event limited to 20 competitors)
Make a recording (either video or audio) -- this is your competition entry!
Submit your entry and recording by February 1.
Wait for the results!

Events:

1. Beginner (practice chanter) - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)

2. Beginner (practice chanter) - Any March (2 or 4 parts)

3. Grade 5 - Slow Air (at least 2 parts)

4. Grade 5 - 2/4 March (4 parts)

5. Grade 4 - 2/4 March (4 parts)

6. Grade 4 - Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)

7. Grade 3 - 2/4 March (4 parts)

8. Grade 3 - Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)

9. Grade 2 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)

10. Grade 2 - Jig (at least 4 parts)

11. Grade 1 - March, Strathspey & Reel (each tune at least 4 parts)

12. Grade 1 - Jig (played twice, at least 4 parts)
13. Ungraded - Any tune (except Piobaireachd) *NEW* This is a non-competitive, evaluation event. Your performance will be evaluated by a judge who will write a complete judging sheet, but you will not be compared to any other pipers. Submit as many tunes as you like.

Rules: Your recording must be made on or after January 15 and no later than the deadline of February 1. Use a video camera or audio recorder. Take as many tries as you want to make your competition, but all recordings must be made in one complete take (no editing!). If you are making a video recording, position the camera so that your entire body (head to toe) is visible. Entry fee $5.00 per event.

*UPDATE* Judges:
Andrew P. Hayes, Inverness Gold Medal Winner 2010
Alan Bevan, Inverness Gold Medal Winner 2008
Additional judges to be announced soon!

Enter here today for events #1-12:
Enter here today for Special Event #13:

Last Minute Gift Idea!

2010-12-22T04:24:00.000-08:00

It's not too late to give the perfect gift for the piper on your list. BagpipeLessons.com Gift Certificates are available in any amount and make it easy to finish your last minute shopping. Shop from the comfort of your own home -- no driving, no crowds and no hassles.

Pipers, forward this link to friends and family to give a hint for what you want this year!

Buy a BagpipeLessons.com gift certificate now!

Your gift certificate can be redeemed for anything at BagpipeLessons.com and also for the revolutionary new Bagpipe Gauge.

Discover how this incredible tool can help you learn to blow your pipes like a pro. More info at BagpipeGauge.com.

Buy a BagpipeLessons.com gift certificate now!

BagpipeLessons.com Online Piping Master Class

2010-12-20T04:24:00.000-08:00

Last week I announced an exciting new feature at BagpipeLessons.com -- the first-ever online piping Master Class. The response has been fantastic. I received many, many excellent student recordings and here are the first three. Thanks to you all for your contribution to the online learning community here at BagpipeLessons.com.

If you would like take part in future BagpipeLessons.com Online Master Classes, please sign up for my email list and join the BagpipeLessons.com facebook group.

The concept of the Master Class has been around for generations. It is similar to a regular private lesson in that the student performs for the instructor and receives immediate, personalized feedback complete with suggestions for improvement, practice strategies, practical exercises, and more. The Master Class adds to the further dimension of an audience of other students who can listen and learn from their fellow classmates.

So, have a listen to these tunes and join the discussion. Consider the three main skill areas:

Tone: the sound of the instrument, tuning, reeds, blowing, maintenance, reed set up, and more...
Technique: doublings, gracenotes, crossing noises, beat placement of embellishments, clarity of short notes, and more...
Musical Expression: tempo, rhythm, dot/cut, beat emphasis, and more...

What went well? What needs further improvement? For each student who provided a copy of their sheet music, I have made notes right on the sheet music.

Tune #1: Abercairney Highlanders

Our first piper is Steven Giles from Birmingham, Alabama USA. Steven has been piping for 10 years and takes lessons intermittently. He plays with a Grade 4 band and competes in Grade 2 solos. His tune is the big 2/4 competition march Abercairney Highlanders. He's working on refining the tune and getting it 100% ready for competition.

Read the comments on Steven's tune and the marked up copy of his sheet music.

Tune #2: Donald MacLean's Farewell to Oban

Our next piper is Sebastián Geymonat from Montevideo, Uruguay. Sebastián has been piping for 6 years, starting at age 18 and plays with his local Riverside Pipe Band. He doesn't play solos. He is interested in being the best piper he can be and also to eventually teach others in Uruguay. His tune is the 2/4 competition march Donald MacLean's Farewell to Oban. He's interested in any comments, but especially about how to play 2/4 marches with proper expression.

Sebastián provided the sheet music for his tune, but he didn't know the source of the tune other than it was from an unknown internet source. Modern bagpipe computer programs make it easy to typeset tunes, but it also make it easy to alter and distort the music. Pipers often unwittingly download sheet music not knowing that it is full of mistakes, wrong gracenotes, missing parts, and more. They spend hours learning an incorrect or incomplete version of their tune. Top pipers know that to learn a tune properly, with all the proper notes, rhythms, and gracenotes the music should be obtained from a respected, trusted source. That was one of the reasons I created the BagpipeLessons.com Tune Lesson Downloads, to provide correct sheet music for many of the most popular pipe tunes ever written.

I've marked up Sebastián's sheet music with my comment and indicated the places where his copy of the tune is incorrect.

Read the comments on Sebastián's tune and the marked up copy of his sheet music.

Tune #3: The Banjo Breakdown

Our next piper is Bruce D., who is originally from South Africa currently living in Ghana. He's been piping for 20 years but currently mostly learning on his own due to his location. He's played with bands in the past but not now (again due to his location). He's never competed solo. Bruce is hoping to improve his technique so he can join a higher level pipe band in the future. His tune is the classic jig The Banjo Breakdown and he's looking for pointers on how to get the tune up to speed and keep it clean and controlled.

The sheet music for the Banjo Breakdown, along with mp3 and a recorded lesson are available from the BagpipeLessons.com Tune Lesson Downloads page.

Comments on Bruce's tune:

Bruce, nice job overall. You are definitely on the right track with this tune. The key to good jig playing is a steady tempo and consisten delivery of the triplet rhythms. There's much less to talk about regarding expression in jigs compared to other styles of pipe tunes (marches, strathspeys, reels, etc.). When you listen to the best players of jigs you hear clean, clear technique, a dead steady tempo, and complete control throughout. Unlike our other types of tunes, we don't need to talk about holding and cutting certain notes, we just want to work towards consistent, smooth rhythms.

I think you would benefit from slowing the tune down a little and working get 100% consistent on your rhythms, especially the GDEs. These three gracenote combinations are everywhere in jigs, and they easily get compressed which leads to rushing the beats and loss of control of your tempo. Good jig players are masters at GDEs. Another section to watch out for is the closing phrase of each tune: A-C-E HiA-E-C A. This arpeggio like pattern is quite easy to speed through, again causing an increase in tempo. In parts 3 and 4, there are many strikes. I would work on the strikes, focusing on consistency and control, which will lead to greater confidence, which in turn leads to even more consistency and control.

Jigs are perfect tunes for using your metronome. You played the tune around 105 beats per minute. I think a good strategy would be to play it at a slower tempo, 85-90 bpm, and aim for achieving 100% control of every triplet and beat in the tune. Then gradually build up the tempo. I wrote previously about using a metronome, during our first-ever BagpipeLessons.com 30 Day Practice Challenge. If you don't have a metronome, try this free one online.

Questions? Comments?

What your thoughts about these videos? Have you faced similar challenges in your playing? What are you favorite tips or tricks for working on your tunes? Please join the discussion and add your comments below.

If you have an idea for a future BagpipeLessons.com Online Master Classes, please let me know!

Give the Gift of Bagpipe Lessons

2010-12-13T06:55:00.000-08:00

Looking for the perfect gift for the piper on your list? Give the Gift of Bagpipe Lessons!

With gift certificates available in any amount, BagpipeLessons.com makes it easy to find a great gift for the piper or future piper on your list. Shop from the comfort of your own home -- no driving, no crowds and no hassles.

BagpipeLessons.com is the premier online site for learning the bagpipes. Your gift certificate recipient can redeem their BagpipeLessons.com Gift Certificate for any of the following:

• Downloadable Video and Tune Lessons: A comprehensive learning solution at a great value! Video Lessons include high-quality video recording with a clear, step-by-step demonstration of your topic. Tune lessons include a studio-quality recording of a tune, professionally-typset printed sheet music, a detailed audio instructional lesson. Also included: an additional sheet of BONUS written instructional materials. For beginners, I recommend the Learn the Pipes Video Series. Learn more about Video and Tune Lesson Downloads and check out the complete list of tunes.

• SKYPE Webcam Video Lessons: Live one-on-one lessons from the comfort and convenience of home. Just like regular in-person lessons but we meet via Skype. I have taught many people around the world with this technology and it works great! Learn more about Skype Webcam Lessons.

• Lessons by Tape/CD/mp3: A great long-distance learning solution. The student sends me a recording of their tunes on tape, CD, or mp3. I listen to your recording and record a custom lesson for the student, with a complete assessment of the tunes, suggestions for improvement, playing demonstrations, and a practice plan to help the student achieve their goals. Learn more about lessons by tape/CD/mp3.

• In-Person Lessons: For students who live nearby, or are willing to travel to my teaching studio in Seattle. Learn more about in-person lessons.

• CDs: Check out my long-awaited and Album of the Year nominated solo piping album Bagpipe Revolution, and listen to sample tracks and check out the amazing cover art.

The BagpipeLessons.com Gift Certificate makes the perfect gift for any occasion! Thanks for your support and send me a note if you have any questions!

First-Ever Online Piping Master Class

2010-12-11T02:21:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited to announce a new feature here at BagpipeLessons.com -- the first-ever online piping Master Class.

The Master Class has been used for generations by premier level instructors in other musical disciplines. The Master Class is similar to the typical individual lesson but with the addition of an audience. The members of the audience enjoy the benefit of listening to the student's performance and to the teacher's detailed comments.

Today, we're taking the traditional Master Class to the next level -- online!

I'm looking for volunteers for the first-ever BagpipeLessons.com Online Master Class. Sound fun?

Here's how it works:

You submit a recording of your playing a tune (either video or audio). A video posted to YouTube is perfect.
I'll create a customized and detailed lesson for you, complete with suggestions for improvement, practice strategies, practical exercises, and more.
Your recording and lesson will be posted online here for others to watch, listen, comment, and learn.

I'm looking for pipers of all ability levels! If you are interested or have any questions, drop me a note.

Big or Small Gracenotes?

2010-12-05T05:46:00.000-08:00

A common question for pipers concerns the size of gracenotes. Should your gracenotes be as small as possible? As big as possible? How big should they be?

If you look around online, you'll find lots conflicting information on this topic. But if you watch and listen to top players, you'll see they all play their gracenotes the same way.

Check out this new video BagpipeLessons.com Secrets of top Players: Gracenotes.

Concert in Copenhagen, Denmark

2010-11-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'll be performing a solo concert in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Tuesday, December 14 • 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Martinskirken
Martinsvej 4
Frederiksberg, Denmark

Tickets are 50 DKK. You may purchase tickets in advance here:

Tickets are also available at the door.

Check out the facebook page for more information.

Please pass along this message to any others who might be interested.

Thanks!

BagpipeLessons.com Celebrates Eleven Years of Success!

2010-10-28T01:36:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your continued support of BagpipeLessons.com. This week marks eleven years since I started the site. My goal was to create the world's best site for information on learning to play the pipes. In 2003, BagpipeLessons.com was the first site to offer webcam lessons. In 2006, we launched the incredibly popular Tune Lesson Downloads, a complete learning solution to help learn tunes faster than ever before. Earlier this year, I created Video Lesson Downloads with high-quality video demonstrations of all the basics of bagpipe fingering, including the Learn the Pipes series for pipers starting at Day 1.

Check out the complete list of ninety-two Tune and Video Lesson Downloads -- all available for instant download individually or in discounted multi-packs.

BagpipeLessons.com has become the world's premier source for information on learning the pipes. For beginners to advanced players, the site has grown to offer something for pipers of all levels and interests. As high-speed internet and webcams have become more popular, so have the webcam lessons by Skype. Now pipers around the world can receive individualized top-level instruction regardless of where you live.

Learn more about face-to-face lessons using Skype and a webcam.

It has never been easier to keep in touch with other pipers and stay connected.

Are you on Facebook? Join BagpipeLessons.com on Facebook.

Are you on Twitter? Follow BagpipeLessons on Twitter.

Check out BagpipeLessons.com and keep coming back to the BagpipeLessons.com Blog for the latest news!

We've got some great new things in store for the upcoming months, so be sure to check back. If you have a suggestions for what you might like to see please drop me a note! Some of my best teaching ideas have come directly from my students.

Thanks again for your continued support of BagpipeLessons.com. You have made it possible to build and grow the site into what it is today and you have helped me imagine what the site can offer in future.

Happy Piping!

Jori Chisholm

Founder & Chief Instructor

BagpipeLessons.com

Scotland Bound!

2010-08-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

Is it August already? It's been a busy and fun summer, and it is hard to believe that my annual trip to Scotland is here. This year will have more competitions and performances than ever!

Friday August 6 - Concert with SFU Pipe Band and FMM Pipe Band. Belfast Waterfront Hall. More info.

Saturday August 7 - World Premiere of the documentary film "Battle of the Bagpipes" on CBC Television. Check you local listings! More info and movie trailer.

Wednesday August 11 - SFU Pipe Band performance at George Square, Glasgow. 1 pm. Part of the Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival. More info.

Saturday August 14 - The World Pipe Band Championships. Glasgow Green, Glasgow. Watch live around the world on the BBC Scotland Website. More info.

After the Worlds, I'll be touring Scotland competing solo at some of the bigger and smaller highland games around the country.

I'll be posting updates here on the blog, on my twitter page, and on facebook!

Summer Games are Here

2010-06-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

The local Highland Games competition season is well under way. Check out the calendar at the BC Pipers site for all of the details. The local circuit takes us to the end of July and then it's over to Scotland for the World Pipe Band Championships and the top solo competitions.

Hope to see you around the Games!

Solo Bagpipe Show at NW Folklife

2010-05-19T22:54:00.000-07:00

I'll be playing my solo show on the big main stage on Fisher Green on Friday May 28 at 4 pm.

NW Folklife is the largest free folk festival in North America with thousands of performers and volunteers and over 250,000 spectators! http://www.nwfolklife.org/

Join me at the show and get a great start to the Memorial Day long weekend. For more info on my music, check out my website: http://www.bagpipelessons.com or my CD: http://www.bagpiperevolution.com/

RSVP at the event page on facebook!

http://is.gd/ch4IC

See you at the show!

Day 30! CONGRATULATIONS!

2010-03-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

We made it! And congratulations on being a part of the first-ever BagpipeLessons.com 30 Day Practice Challenge. Way back on Day One, I posed this challenge:

I invite you to join me and my students on a 30 Day Practice Challenge this month. The goal is to practice every day for 30 days straight. I have found through experience with my own piping and by teaching my students that a dedicated, sustained practice routine leads to big breakthroughs.

Here are the details:

Commit to practicing EVERY DAY for 30 days.

That's it.

And here we are at Day 30, the finish line. We covered a lot of ground over the past 30 days. But the main focus was to make your daily practice a priority and just put the time in each and every day for 30 days.

How did you do?

I'd like to offer my personal thanks to all of you who joined me on this 30 Day Challenge. Thanks to all of you who stuck with it and gave your 100% over the past month. And thanks to those who contributed through their comments and posts. I know the rest of you were following along and practicing at home.

Thank you!

New VIDEO Lesson Downloads!

2010-02-11T09:44:00.000-08:00

Just a few days ago, I announced a new feature on BagpipeLessons.com -- Video Lesson Downloads. Today, I'm thrilled to added three more videos -- Taorluath, Birl, and Grip -- bringing the total to five new videos.

Right now, you can download these video lessons instantly and watch them on your computer or take them with you to watch on your iPod or iPhone!

BagpipeLessons.com Video Lesson Download: Taorluath
Here's a clearly detailed step-by-step lesson on how to play the Taorluath:

Learn the secrets to making a perfectly timed and executed Taorluath.
Learn the important difference when playing the Taorluath from D.
Discover how the Taorluath is similar to the Grip.
Watch and listen to the two Taorluath exercises played perfectly.
Play along with the video to perfect your Taorluath and build consistency.

Includes a BONUS pdf one sheet with a full written description of the Taorluath, expanded notation of Taorluath to Low A, to B, and to C, and the two Taorluath exercises demonstrated in the video.
========================================================

BagpipeLessons.com Video Lesson Download: Grip
Here's a clearly detailed step-by-step lesson on how to play the Grip:

Learn the secrets to making a perfectly timed and executed Grip.
Learn the important difference when playing the Grip from D.
Watch and listen to the two Grip exercises played perfectly.
Play along with the video to perfect your Grip and build consistency.
Understand the terminology of the Leumluath vs. the Grip.

Includes a BONUS pdf one sheet with a full written description of the Grip, expanded notation of the Grip played from all notes, and the two Grip exercises demonstrated in the video.

========================================================

BagpipeLessons.com Video Lesson Download: Birl
Here's a clearly detailed step-by-step lesson on how to play the Birl, one of piping's most important finger embellishments.

Learn the secrets to making a perfectly timed and executed Birl.
Learn the important difference between the many styles of the Birl, and the advantages of the different styles.
Discover how to play a birl from any note, including the challenging bottom hand notes B and C.
Watch and listen to the two Birl exercises played perfectly.
Play along with the video to perfect your Birl and build consistency.

Includes a BONUS pdf one sheet with a full written description of the Birl, expanded notation of the Birl with and without a High G gracenote, and the two Birl exercises demonstrated in the video.

========================================================

And don't forget the first two Video Lesson Downloads previously added to the collection: The D Throw and How to Tie in a Bag.

BagpipeLessons.com Video Lesson Download: The D Throw

Here's a clearly detailed step-by-step lesson on how to play the D Throw, one of piping's most common finger embellishments.

Learn the secrets to making a perfectly timed and executed D Throw everytime.
Learn the important difference between the two styles of D Throw.
Watch and listen to the D Throw exercise played perfectly.
Play along with the video to perfect your D Throw and build consistency.

Includes a BONUS pdf one sheet with a full written description of the D Throw, expanded notation of both the light and heavy D Throw, and the D Throw exercise demonstrated in the video.

========================================================

BagpipeLessons.com Video Lesson Download: How to Tie in a Bag

This hands on Video Lesson demonstrates every step of tying in a new bag.

How to remove your old pipe bag
Learn what tools and supplies you'll need to get the job done right
Tips for keeping your stocks permanently tight
The different ways to tie in the drones stocks vs. the chanter stock.

I'll be adding many more of these Video Lesson Downloads soon to cover all areas of piping. If you have a great idea for a Video Lesson Download, please send me an email or post it in the comments below.

New! BagpipeLessons.com VIDEO Lesson Downloads (UPDATE: Second Video and BONUS pdf added!)

2010-02-05T16:15:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm very excited to announce a new feature on BagpipeLessons.com -- Video Lesson Downloads. This new learning solution takes the Tune Lesson Downloads to the next level with high quality video!

It's been over three since years since I created the incredibly popular Tune Lesson Downloads. This innovative learning solution includes sheet music, an mp3 recording of the tune, an mp3 audio lesson on the tune, and bonus material. Pipers from all over the world have learned some of the best known piping tunes easier and faster than ever before.

Today, you can be one of the first pipers to experience the new Video Lesson Downloads, now available for instant download. Watch the video on your computer or even take it with you to watch on your iPod or iPhone!

BagpipeLessons.com Video Lesson Download: The D Throw

Here's a clearly detailed step-by-step lesson on how to play the D Throw, one of piping's most common finger embellishments.

Learn the secrets to making a perfectly timed and executed D Throw everytime.
Learn the important difference between the two styles of D Throw.
Watch and listen to the D Throw exercise played perfectly.
Play along with the video to perfect your D Throw and build consistency.

Includes a BONUS pdf one sheet with a full written description of the D Throw, expanded notation of both the light and heavy D Throw, and the D Throw exercise demonstrated in the video.

UPDATE! I've added a second Video Lesson Download...

BagpipeLessons.com Video Lesson Download: How to Tie in a Bag

This hands on Video Lesson demonstrates every step of tying in a new bag.

How to remove your old pipe bag
Learn what tools and supplies you'll need to get the job done right
Tips for keeping your stocks permanently tight
The different ways to tie in the drones stocks vs. the chanter stock.

I'll be adding many more of these Video Lesson Downloads very soon to cover all areas of piping. The added visual dimension of the video is perfect for demonstrating the essentials of many piping skill areas.

All the gracenotes, doublings, and embellishments
Tuning
Blowing steady
Setting up drone reeds
Making your pipes as efficient as possible
Tying in a new pipe bag
Maintenance
Expression
Piobaireachd
...and many, many more...

If you have a great idea for a Video Lesson Download, please send me an email or post it in the comments below. Thanks!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T21:56:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year and best wishes for a great 2010! Thanks for all of your support over the past year. It was a great year!

-some great reviews of my first solo CD, Bagpipe Revolution. It is selling all around the world.
-another successful competition tour in Scotland, including many great solo prizes and back-to-back World Championships with the SFU Pipe Band.
-continued success of my Tune Lesson Downloads.
-my third United States Gold Medal for Piobaireachd.
-launch of PipeBandTunes.com -- the first site to offer downloads of complete pipe band music, including pipe scores, drum scores, and bass & tenor scores.
-and many more!

This year saw the huge growth in popularity of social networking sites like twitter and facebook. As a result I didn't posted on the blog as as often this past year, but I've been very active on both of these sites.

On Facebook:

Jori Chisholm Facebook Fan Page
BagpipeLessons.com Facebook Fan Page
BagpipeLessons.com Facebook Group
Bagpipe Revolution (CD) Facebook Group
PipeBandTunes.com Facebook Group

On Twitter:
BagpipeLessons.com on Twitter
PipeBandTunes.com on Twitter

I'm working on more exciting stuff here at BagpipeLessons.com in 2010.

Cheers!

Home from Scotland!

2009-09-07T07:07:00.000-07:00

I just returned home from another trip to Scotland. What a month it has been! This year I posted regular updates of my travels and competitions on twitter (twitter.com/bagpipelessons).

I'll be posting more photos, stories, and details, but here are some of the highlights!

-1st Place Open 'A' Strathspey & Reel Cowal Highland Gathering (The McCallum Challenge Trophy) [first American Winner]
-1st Place Open Piobaireachd at Birnam Highland Games [two-time winner]
-1st Place Open Strathspey & Reel at Birnam Highland Games [three-time winner]
-1st Place Overall Most Points at Birnam Highland Games (The Sinagoca Cup) [three-time winner]
-Best Dressed Piper at the Cowal Highland Gathering [two-time winner]

And I played with the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band winning the World Pipe Band Championships for the second time in a row! We also performed a completely sold-out concert at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall which was recorded and will be released as a CD soon.

(Thanks to Michael O'Reilly for the photo!)

WORLD CHAMPIONS 2009!

2009-08-18T18:20:00.000-07:00

It has been a very exciting week. I traveled to Scotland with the SFU Pipe Band for two big events.

On Wednesday, we performed a sold out concert at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. The show was a big success -- a great response from the crowd and great reviews online. The concert was recorded and will be released as a CD recording soon.

On Saturday, we played at the World Pipe Band Championships where we repeated as World Pipe Band Champions! We won both events: the MSR (March, Strathspey, and Reel) and the Medley. Our drummers won the award for best drum corps, and we won the overall title. It felt great to play well in both events and very gratifying to be rewarded with great scores from the judges (we received 5 firsts, two seconds, and one third from the 8 judges!).

The BBC provided live streaming coverage of the event so our friends and fans around the world could enjoy the big event live.

There is a ton of media coverage online. Here's some for you to enjoy.

The news story and results from Pipes|Drums.

Documentary footage of the big day by SFU's own filmmaker, Thomas Buchan:

Article and video about the band's concert and preparing for the Worlds.

Video and article with footage of the Worlds and the celebrations!

High-quality video of the World Championship winning Medley from the BBC.

Interview with Pipe Major Terry Lee on CBC's As It Happens:

News video from Canada's Global News.

Scotland's SECC TV:

Donald MacLeod's Piobaireachd Field of Gold from the Concert.

SFU Pipe Band FREE Concert

2009-07-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

The SFU Pipe Band (my pipe band), will be giving a free concert on Sunday, August 2nd, on the Burnaby campus of SFU.  The concert begins at 2 P.M. Sunday on the Academic Quadrangle Lawn on the Burnaby Mountain campus.

Bring lawn chairs, sun umbrellas, hats, sunscreen, etc. 

It’s a warm-up for our sold out concert in the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall on Aug. 12—and then the World Championship on Glasgow Green on Aug. 15.

New Feature! Bagpipe Workout Videos

2009-06-18T15:17:00.001-07:00

I've started a new feature here on BagpipeLessons.com -- a series of Bagpipe Workout videos.

The goal of these short videos is to give pipers the most effective way to practice. These videos are based on the exercises that I have developed over the years and used with great success in my own playing and with my students.

Press play and follow along! You'll find you will improve immediately and keep improving as you keep practicing.

(The first video below has been posted via YouTube. In the future, the videos will be available for download so you can watch them on your computer, burn to CD/DVD, watch on your phone or iPod. Also, you'll be able to adjust the speed of the video clips to suit your level!)

BagpipeLessons.com Bagpipe Workout - GDEs
These three gracenote combinations are an important part of all pipe tunes, but especially jigs, reels, and some Piobaireachds.

Bellingham Highland Games Recap

2009-06-08T07:34:00.000-07:00

I won the Professional Solo Piping Aggregate on Saturday at the Bellingham Highland Games, with a first in the Piobaireachd and fourth in the March, Strathspey, and Reel.

The band played twice in competition on Saturday and got all firsts from the eighth judges. The band played again on Sunday, a wee show of 10 or so sets.

Here's are some nice high res photos of the band in action:

And here are videos from the band's two competition sets....

The Medley:

The MSR:

Solo Bagpipe Recital at Folklife this Weekend!

2009-05-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

I'll be performing a solo bagpipe show at Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle -- the largest free music festival in North America.

Check it out!

http://tinyurl.com/folklife2009

Jori

Victoria Highland Games

2009-05-19T15:10:00.001-07:00

Here's a video of the band at the Victoria Highland Games over the weekend. Weather was breezy and sunny. Perfect!

We are playing our selection of tunes starting with Cosmos Cascade and ending with Mrs. MacLeod of Raasay.

Let the Games Begin!

2009-05-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

The outdoor Highland Games competition season begins this weekend in Canada.

I'll be posting updates via my twitter account here:

http://twitter.com/bagpipelessons

Interview in The Tartan Telegraph

2009-05-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

I was recently interviewed by Beau Buffington for the May 2009 issue of the Tartan Telegraph. Here's the entire interview:

A Conversation with Jori Chisholm at the Winter Storm Gold Medal competition this year, I was thoroughly impressed with Jori Chisholm’s focus, confidence and control on the platform: as I told him later, he seemed to perform with the attitude that “I came here to win.” Later that weekend, I was able to meet him and to ask him about doing an interview for the newsletter, and I was thrilled that he was agreeable with the idea. I was finally able to catch up with him on as he drove from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. to practice with the World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band (SFUPB) in Vancouver, British Columbia.

-Beau Buffington

Beau Buffington: So, when you practice with SFUPB, what sort of preparation does the band do? Do you just work on practice chanters or pipes? All the above?

Jori Chisholm: Only pipes. We almost never play practice chanters. I don’t know how it works in other bands, but from my experience, most other bands do much more practice chanter work. I think SFU has evolved over the years to just play on pipes. When we learn new music we’ll be playing it from music on overhead projectors, and we’ll just be reading off the overheads and sight reading.

BB: Wow.

JC: That tends to be my philosophy on individual practice as well: just play on the pipes. Maybe a little practice chanter work here and there. Everything that you can do on the chanter, you can also do on the pipes. There’s no reason for you to have a tune memorized before you play it on the pipes. Get a music stand, stick it on the wall, stick it on the fridge with a magnet…whatever, but just get the music up and start playing on the pipes. It’s multitasking: you’re working on learning the tune, memorizing the tune, working on the rhythms of the tune, working on your technique all the stuff you can do on the chanter AND you’re getting the physical workout of the pipes. You’re working your reeds in, getting comfortable, you’re working on your stamina–all that stuff. In a time where people have fewer and fewer free moments, you just try get it all in. So, what I recommend to my students is do as much practice as you can in on the pipes. When you get totally tired and want to keep going, then get your chanter out.

BB: Yeah. That sounds good!

JC: You know, when I cross the border here [..] I’ll head up to the university, and we’ll have practice in one of the big lecture halls. It’ll be right straight on the pipes, pipes out. The pipers and drummers are separate for maybe 45 minutes. We’ll work on unison playing and technique and maybe do some tuning. Then the drummers will join us on drums and we’ll do some of the full band stuff, ensemble work, then we’ll do a little bit of arranging between the pipers and the drummers.

BB: So, what about the players that actually commute from out of the country? Do they make it every week? How does that work?

JC: No, no, no. The way that the top pipe bands in the world have gone […] have sort of become all star bands. SFU is one of those, so we have players all over the world. We have a core ground of players in the Vancouver area who are sort of our in-town players. Then we have guys who are sort of semi-in town / out of town like me, I don’t come every week, but I’m within driving distance. Then we have guys who have to fly. We have guys who are from all over the U.S. who don’t come every week, but we will have these band weekends, 4-day weekends or we’ll have a band week around Spring break. And as many players who can fly out for that. We have a few of those get togethers every year, then in the summer players will come out. So, players who live in Scotland will come out for maybe the whole month of July. It’s quite a sacrifice for them, but we try to have the whole band in town for the lead up to the world’s. And then all the players in the band are top players anyway and they need to be totally prepared and they’re learning the music and we’re distributing the music online, so that when they arrive they know the material, their pipes are going and it’s just the fine-tuning that happens.

BB: As far the equipment, you’ve played long enough to see the changeover {…} from natural to synthetic, how do you think that affects the tuning and variability of the instrument?

JC: All of this new technology has made it really easier to have pipes that sound good and stay in tune. As a result, over the last 10-15 years, the rules have really changed for how competitions are judged. Whereas 15 years ago, even ten years ago under the old, all-natural setup, if your pipes were very slightly out of tune, you might get away with it. But these days, it’s almost like a zero tolerance policy: your pipes have to be absolutely perfect at the end – at the beginning – but also at the end to even be considered for the top prizes. The bar has just been raised so high because of technology. You used to regularly hear pipes going out of when you listened to a competition, drone reeds shutting off, and so on. Now, you hardly hear any of that at the top level. You hear really good, in-tune instruments for the most part all the way through. Of course players still experience what used to be considered very minor problems, but now everything is sort of magnified. I know there are still a few pipers playing the natural sheepskin bags and cane reeds. I tip my hat to them, because it’s a very challenging thing to do. Especially in a solo competition like a piobaireachd where you’re looking at tuning up process of 30-45 minutes plus another 20 minutes on the platform. Sheepskin and cane drone reeds can give a very rich tone, but the synthetic drone reeds and synthetic bags with modern moisture control have made it much easier to keep the pipes stable for long periods of time. For the casual player or lower grade competitor, these innovations have tamed the instrument and made it much easier to achieve great pipe tone. It also leaves you much more time to focus on your playing skill rather than pipe maintenance.

BB: I wanted to ask you about your students, in terms of the Bagpipe Lessons. Obviously, they’re not local, are they all over the country, or all over the world?

JC: Yes, I have students all over the world. I teach traditional lessons and have for many years – once a week or once every two weeks people come to my house and have an hour lesson. But then about seven or eight years ago just when broadband internet was first available and when webcams first came on the market, I started teaching online. Lessons by webcam are basically just like traditional one-on-one lessons, but we meet via the webcam either thru Skype or one of these other video chat programs. And it has been a really great thing for students around the world, because now you don’t have to have a teacher that lives locally, or you don’t have to spend a lot of time and effort and money traveling to your lessons. So, I have students all over the U.S., Canada, Europe. I’m teaching a piper who is retired and traveling around the world right now on a sailboat. So, when he pulls into the port somewhere that has Internet access, he sends me an email that asking, ‘Can we do a lesson this week’? We set something up and there we go, bagpipe lessons on your sailboat in tropical Port Who Knows Where. It’s really another example of how the internet is bringing people together and shrinking distances. I really enjoy the process of trying to find new and innovative uses for all of this exciting technology and find ways to reach and teach more pipers.

BB: So, what are your future goals for your teaching studio? Would you like to continue teaching that way? Do you have a 5 year plan?

JC: I’m going to continue to grow my website. I’ve got several different learning options on there, including these tune lesson downloads which I created a few years ago which allows pipers to download a tune lesson that includes the sheet music, an MP3 of me playing the tune on the pipes and you get an MP3 lesson of me teaching you the tune. The library of tunes include 70 tunes and four Piobaireachds and I plan to keep adding new tunes. I just launched a new website called PipeBandTunes.com that is the internet’s first place to download complete pipe band music. With each tune you get the sheet music and a recording of the pipe tune, and the sheet music and a recording of the drum score, and a recording of the combined pipe tune and drum score. For perfect ensemble! The drum music has been put together by my fellow SFU Pipe Band member and World Champion James Laughlin – a great instructor and superb musician. I feel very fortunate to have a teaching studio that has been growing steadily over the years, and my students have been incredibly loyal. It has encouraged me to keep adding to the site and to keep adding new content and to keep innovating. I get some really great feedback from people all around the globe saying that they really appreciate just the access to the material.

BB: So, do your students do a lot of competing?

JC: Some do. I have a whole range of students from seven year old kids to retirees in their seventies. I teach complete beginners from day one all the way up to professional pipers – the whole range – from pipers who are really into competition and want to win at the highest levels to pipers who have never competed and have no interest in competition and are into the music from a hobbyist point of view. There are many reasons to be into the music. For me, I love competing but it’s not the only thing. If I could never compete again, I would absolutely play for fun and still continue learning new tunes, do my recordings and performances.

BB: So, what are your goals for the piping? Obviously, the Gold medal in Kansas City, you got that, what, that’s the third time this year?

JC: The third time, which is just a great honor. There were so many good pipers in that competition. And a great judging panel. MHAF of Kansas City has done such an excellent job creating an event and in less than ten years turning it into THE piping and drumming event on the continent. I’m looking forward to a great year, which includes playing with the SFU Pipe Band, competing in solo competitions and, of course, Scotland. I go to Scotland every August and plan to continue for a long time. I will compete at the World Championships with the band, that’s the pinnacle of the year for the pipe band world. I stay over for the rest of the month and go to as many of the Highland games as I can. I plan to compete at the Gold Medal in Scotland, at both Oban and Inverness. I would like to keep competing there as long as they keep letting me in. The pinnacle for solo piping is to win those gold medals in Scotland. That gets your name in the history books. I feel like every year I’m improving and sharpening my skills and every year putting out good performances. The rest is in the hands of the judges really.

BB: Does winning the Gold medal in Kansas City somehow put you a step towards qualifying to play in the medal events in Scotland?

JC: Not in any sort of official sense. The way the Gold medal works in Scotland is that every year you have to apply, and part of that application is your competitive track record from the previous year. So, winning the US Gold Medal will definitely go on my application, including who was in the prize list and who was judging. This means something, not in any official sense, but it just adds to my overall track record. I’ve been competing for the Gold medal in Scotland for a few years, I’ve place in the top placed in the top four twice, which is very encouraging. So I my goal is to keep playing well and just have that good, consistent track record so they keep
inviting me back. It’s getting harder and harder every year for players to get into that event, because it’s restricted to 25 or 30 worldwide. If you look at ,every year someone wins the Gold medal so they get moved out, but every year someone wins the Silver medal, which is a qualifier. So, that spot is filled. The number of pipers worldwide at a high level is just getting bigger and bigger. Top piping is definitely getting more international. Whenever I first went over to Scotland just as a spectator almost 15 years ago, there were very few non-Scottish players in the Gold medal competition. Then, just a few years ago, more than half were non-Scottish players. So it’s players from Canada, the US, New Zealand, and now countries in Europe: England, Ireland, Germany. It’s just getting tougher and tougher to get in. So you’ve got to get the competitive track record, and that comes from playing well, which in turn comes from being prepared and competing as often as you can. And I really enjoy competing. It’s not everything to me, but I do enjoy the process of preparation. The global standard of piping has been going up, but the American standard has been going up even faster. Without question, the standard of the U.S. has risen because of events like Kansas City, because you have absolutely top-notch teachers and judges, that’s key. I know from my own experience that my piping would not be where it is without exposure to the top level teaching that came at the Master of Scottish Arts school, at the Balmoral School[…]and it just builds. And also don’t underestimate the power of something like the internet, where now it doesn’t matter where you are, with a couple of clicks, you can listen to great pipers of the past who are no longer living, and you don’t have to be living in Glasgow to hear these guys. People are unearthing a lot of this old material, there’s people re-releasing this stuff that was on old, dusty cassette tapes which is just incredible. The access to good teaching and good, relevant material has never been better. So that in your iPod, you can have Brown, Nicol, MacFadyen, and Donald MacLeod. It’s amazing! And you can get online and have a webcam lesson. It’s a very exciting time to be a piper!

For more info visit Beau's site and download the full issue of the Tartan Telegraph.

BagpipeLessons on Twitter

2009-05-05T22:13:00.000-07:00

It's seems everyone is getting into Twitter these days, so we are too!

http://www.twitter.com/bagpipelessons

Twitter is free social networking and micro-blogging website that allows you to follow my short text messages. I will be using Twitter to post updates on what is new and interesting here at BagpipeLessons.com and to provide the latest info on competition results, share interesting web links, and more. It's a fun and informal format and I have started using it to post fun, spur-of-the-moment, whatever-is-on-my-mind sort of items.

Check it out and join to start following BagpipeLessons.com on Twitter!

New Bagpipe Learning Community

2009-05-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

I've created a new online learning community t0 help pipers learn faster and easier than ever before.

Check it out and join today (it's free!)

Visit Learn the Pipes at BagpipeLessons.com

BC and Las Vegas

2009-04-21T16:54:00.001-07:00

I'm just home from two weekends of back to back competitions. April 11 was the B.C. Indoor where I won first place in the Open Jigs. Here's a photo receiving the Jig trophy from P/M Alasdair Gillies.

This past weekend I was in Las Vegas. The pipe band won first place both days and I won the overall in the professional solo piping with a first in the Piobaireachd, first in the MSR, and second in the Hornpipe & Jig. Here's a video of the band's winning medley performance.

Piper Ear Protection

2009-04-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

A student recently asked me about wearing ear plugs while piping. My advice: YES!

Pipes are loud. Hearing damage is cumulative. It might be okay to be around loud pipes for a few minutes a day, but if you are practicing for longer sessions or playing in a pipe band, you'll definitely want to reduce the amount of sound hitting your ear drums.

Pipers used to argue that earplugs muffle or distort the sound, making it hard to tune the pipes or hear the playing. This is true with the cheap foam earplugs.

Today, there are a couple of great options that offer hearing protection specifically for musicians. They are based on the concept of flat attenuation, i.e., they reduce the sound equally across the whole spectrum of sound. This means you hear everything, just a bit quieter. Perfect!

Option #1 (less expensive): High Fidelity Hearos

These great earplugs are a great price (~$15 USD) and provide 20 dB sound reduction. You can buy them online and one size fits all.

Buy them online.

Option #2 (more expensive): Custom Fitted Musician's Earplugs

These great earplugs are more expensive (~$150-200 USD) and you can choose you level of sound reduction. These earplugs are custom fitted to your ears. You need to find a place that offers this product, I recommend you call around or search online for places that make hearing aids, etc. The professional takes molds of your ears and then the molds are sent off to a lab where they make your custom earplugs. I have had these type of plugs for several years and I love them. They work great (I use a 15 dB or 25 dB filter). They are comfortable (I wear them several hours a day while playing and teaching).

Visit Etymotic Research for more info.

To sum up: Yes you need hearing protection! Cheap foam earplugs block the sound, but if you are going to be playing pipes for a long time, you'll enjoy the sound much more with some earplugs designed for musicians!

New Website for Pipe Band Tunes!

2009-02-26T11:09:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share with you the exciting news that I'm launching a new website called PipeBandTunes.com -- the world's first place to find high quality pipe tunes and perfectly matched drum scores. I've been working with fellow World Champion pipe band member and drum instructor extraordinaire James Laughlin on this exciting new website.

We created PipeBandTunes.com to be a place where pipers and drummers can download the music for a pipe tune and the perfectly matched drum score, complete with recordings of the pipe tune, the drum score, and a combined recording. For perfect ensemble every time!

Then check out the site and the list of tunes:
http://www.PipeBandTunes.com/

Bagpipe Revolution Review

2009-01-30T18:58:00.000-08:00

My new solo CD, Bagpipe Revolution, has been out for a few months and getting great reviews. Here is the latest from the Irish American News.

"This is the best solo effort I have heard in quite a while."

"There’s a bunch of really fine new tunes to wrap your ear around, recorded and mixed with skill. Jori himself was the producer and he certainly turned out a CD to be proud of."

"For all you folks who appreciate good music and want to see the scope and range of the bagpipe expanded and developed, get a copy of Bagpipe Revolution and see for yourself what a great solo pipe recording sounds like."

Read the whole review.

Read more great reviews at the Bagpipe Revolution site.

Gold Medal Video and Audio

2009-01-28T17:44:00.000-08:00

Here's the audio of my Gold Medal winning performance of Lament for the Dead.

(If you have video to share, please send me an email.)

Here's video of my two performances in the Ceol Beag.

The final:

The qualifier:

Triple Gold!

2009-01-18T20:38:00.000-08:00

I'm just home from Kansas City and the annual Winter Storm piping festival and U.S. Gold Medal piping competitions. I'm excited that I won the Gold Medal for Piobaireachd for the second year in a row and third time. I won the first Gold Medal back in 2004 and now I'm the first piper to win it more than once.

There were many people in the audience with cameras and recorders, so I'm hoping the performance will be up on YouTube shortly.

The sold-out champions concert of all the prizewinners and judges was held the night after the competition and there are already many videos up on YouTube. Just search for "winter storm 2009 concert"

Bagpipe Revolution news!

2009-01-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

My new CD, Bagpipe Revolution, received 26% of the votes in the PipesDrum Reader's Choice Poll for Album of the Year. That was enough to win the runner up spot. Thanks to all who voted.

Wilson Brown reviewed the CD for PipesDrums. He gave it 3.5 stars. You can read the whole review (subscription required) here: http://tinyurl.com/br-review

A few highlights:

"It is obvious from this recording that Jori is not only a very talented piper but is also a very creative musician."

"The Highland pipes are full and resonant and the mix of instruments work very well in creating an atmospheric sound."

"Evolution, a jig-style piece of music composed by Chisholm...is a cleverly constructed piece of music."

"Bagpipe Revolution is an enjoyable CD from a musician who has been willing to put together an album of contrasting styles, who has not been content to follow the usual format."

If you are a PipesDrums subscriber make sure to post your comments!

Cheers!

Jori

Happy New Year!

2009-01-04T13:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year and best wishes for a great 2009!

Thanks for all of your support over the past year. A few highlights from the past year.

-release of my first solo CD, Bagpipe Revolution
-another successful competition tour in Scotland, including many top solo competitions prizes and the World Pipe Band Championships with the SFU Pipe Band
-continued success of my Tune Lesson Downloads
-my tune composition published in new book of pipe music
-making new friends and keeping in touch with old friends at BagpipeLessons.com on Facebook
-my second United States Gold Medal for Piobaireachd
-and many more!

Here are a few photos from the past year.

Stay tuned for more exciting learning solutions here at BagpipeLessons.com in the coming year.

Cheers!

Limited Edition Autographed "Scottish Pipers" Book

2008-12-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

Last year, I was thrilled to find out I made it in to Colin Baxter's new photo book Scottish Pipers. Colin is probably Scotland's most famous photographer, you've likely seen his great images of castles, glens, and mountains on calendars, postcards, and coffee table books.

I have obtained a limited batch of books autographed by Colin Baxter himself!

They are for sale until they are all gone. These would make a great gift for a piper or a fan of bagpipes or anything Scottish. The new book is his first on pipers and it has some great photographs.

Limited Edition Autographed Scottish Pipers Book
$11.99

Send me an email if you are interested in getting a copy of the book.

Here are a few images from the book. The cover (with mandatory Royal Stewart tartan and feather bonnet):

The title page (yours truly piping at Glenfinnan. A rare day of glorious sunshine!):

Ten New Tune Downloads!

2008-12-13T10:14:00.000-08:00

I am excited to announce the addition of Ten New Tune Lesson Downloads available for instant download. The lessons are a complete learning solution, so you'll be able to learn these tunes faster than ever before. The lessons include a high quality mp3 recording of the tune, sheet music that perfectly shows how the tune should be expressed, a detailed audio lesson, and BONUS material.

This brings the complete list of Tune Lessons Downloads to seventy-four, including seventy of the best known piping tunes and four classic Piobaireachds.

The Tune Lesson Downloads complete collection includes:
• twelve 2/4 Marches
• seven 3/4 Marches
• ten 4/4 Marches
• five 6/8 Marches
• one 9/8 March
• twelve Slow Airs
• three Strathspeys
• two Reels
• seven Hornpipes
• nine Jigs
• two Other
• four Piobaireachds

The new batch of tunes includes:
• When the Battle's O'er
• King George V's Army
• The Minstrel Boy
• The Dawning of the Day
• The Barren Rocks of Aden
and more!

Check out the new tunes!

Vote for Bagpipe Revolution for Album of the Year!

2008-12-03T17:06:00.000-08:00

Great news! PipesDrums, the web's most prominent bagpipe news site, has nominated Bagpipe Revolution for Album of the Year. This year the winner will be selected by popular vote, so I need your vote for my album!

Click here to vote for Album of the Year!!!

The album has been out for a few weeks and the great reviews have been rolling in.

"fantastic stuff... bloody great!"

"we were completely mesmerized... LOVE IT!"

"not only great piping but very unique."

"a really broad and entertaining approach."

"enjoyed all the tracks which is pretty amazing really."

"the track that really hit me was the Piobaireachd with the harmony."

Visit BagpipeRevolution.com to read more reviews, listen to preview tracks, view artist and track details, see glimpses of the cover and artwork, and get your own copy of the CD.

Listen to the track 9, Evolution:

Bagpipe Revolution has Arrived!

2008-10-24T11:34:00.001-07:00

My new album, Bagpipe Revolution, has arrived. Check out the new website for more information on the CD, detailed artist notes, sample tracks, glimpses of the artwork, and how to order your very own copy of Bagpipe Revolution.

Listen to a sample track (Track 6 -- Jigs):

Take me to BagpipeRevolution.com!

Bagpipe Revolution on BBC's Pipeline

2008-10-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

My new album, Bagpipe Revolution, has been over 2 years in the making, and will finally be ready for worldwide release later this month. When I was in Scotland this past August I had a nice conversation with Iain MacInnes, producer of BBC's bagpipe-themed radio program, Pipeline. I gave Iain a preview copy of the CD, and I was thrilled to find out that a track has been selected for this week's show.

Pipeline is the world's most popular bagpipe radio show. You can listen to the entire show online. Check out this week's playlist. My appearance is about 35 minutes into the hour-long show.

Send email to bagpiperevolution@gmail.com to be notified when the CD is ready to ship!

In the meantime, here are a few photos of the CD artwork, by Toronto based graphic artist Tyler Fry (no relation to the drummer with the same name).

Home from Scotland!

2008-09-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

I'm back from Scotland and excited to be back home and teaching my students. In the next few days, I'll be posting some more photos and stories from my trip, but in the meantime check out the list of some of my competitive achievements this year.

-42 top-six placings in solo competition, including 20 firsts and seconds.
-1st Place Open 'A' Piobaireachd Cowal Highland Gathering (The Glen Caladh Trophy) [first American Winner]
-1st Place United States Gold Medal Piping Championship [first two-time winner]
-1st Place Open Strathspey & Reel Birnam Highland Games
-1st Place Overall Points at Birnam Highland Games
-1st Place Open Strathspey & Reel Glenisla Highland Games
-1st Place Overall Glenisla Highland Games (P/M James McGregor Glenisla Challenge Trophy for Piper of the Day)
-1st Place Open Marches at Invergordon Highland Games
-1st Place Open Strathspey and Reel at Invergordon Highland Games
-1st Place Overall at Invergordon Highland Games
-1st Place Hornpipe & Jig at R.U. Brown Piobaireachd Society of South Australia Championships
-1st Place Overall at R.U. Brown Piobaireachd Society of South Australia Championships

WORLD CHAMPIONS!

2008-08-24T03:48:00.000-07:00

Yes. We did it! As a member of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, we were crowned World Pipe Band Champions last Saturday August 16 in Glasgow. For video and audio, please visit SFU Tube. It's very exciting, and after several years of placing 2nd and 3rd it's great to back on top of the world! "The Worlds" is the pipe band world's version of the Super Bowl -- the biggest event of the year and the most prestigious to win. The news story at pipes|drums.

The Worlds is one of the biggest events of the year in Scotland with over 20,00 spectators. You'll find plenty of video of the competition and the victory march of the champions on here on YouTube.

Here I am with the Championship Trophy (aka The Spike).

And the entire winning team.

Additional great news, Seattle's own Keith Highlanders Pipe Band placed 3rd in the Grade 4B category at the Worlds. I have taught and coached the Keith Highlanders for several years and watched their dedication and improvement. A local news story on the band.

New Book of Pipe Music

2008-08-04T16:26:00.000-07:00

My composition, The Merry Wedding Hornpipe, has been published in Iain MacDonald's new book of pipe tunes, Along the Road.

I wrote the tune a few years ago for the wedding of my friends Colin & Inge Merry, and was very pleased to learn that Iain selected it for his long-awaited book of tunes. Iain was a friend and student of the legendary piper and composer Donald MacLeod. In this new book, Iain shares with the world several of Donald's previously unpublished compositions. Donald is considered by many to be the greatest composer of pipe tunes. He published six books of his own prior to his passing in 1982. Donald's pipe tunes have become classics. His strathspey Susan MacLeod (named for one of his daughters) was selected as the greatest pipe tune of all time by pipesdrums.com. So, the fact that this book brings new Donald MacLeod tunes to the light of day is an historical rarity and a remarkable event. That my hornpipe composition was chosen for the collection is a true honor.

More info and how to purchase on Along the Road.

The Merry Wedding Hornpipe is also available from my Downloadable Tune Lessons.

Scotland Bound!

2008-07-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

In two weeks, I'll be in Scotland for the World Pipe Band Championships and many other piping events. I'll post my full schedule shortly, but in the meantime here is a video from 2001 when we were World Champions...

New SFU Pipe Band Video and Audio

2008-06-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

The SFU Pipe Band (of which I am a long-time member) has just launched a new website with exclusive audio and video of the band. Check it out at www.sfutube.com.

Pipes|Drums had a nice little article about the launch of the new site.

Live from the Highland Games

2008-06-16T17:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a video of my March, Strathspey & Reel from the Bellingham Highland Games.

Let the Games begin!

2008-06-09T22:14:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and that means it's Highland Games season again. I will be performing at many of the local competitions this year. Comox, Victoria, and Bellingham have passed but many more remain. Coming up are:

Sons of Scotland Games - June 14
B.C. Games - June 28
Skagit Valley Games - July 12
Portland Games - July 19
Pacific Northwest Games - July 26-27

and then many, many more in Scotland (more info on those later).

Below is a photo from last weekend in Bellingham. The great shot was taken by my friend and piper and photographer Ken MacKenzie. Ken's bagpipe photo blog is Piperazzi (get it?)

Bagpipe Revolution Show at Folklife - May 24

2008-05-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

I will be performing at Northwest Folklife on Saturday May 24 at 12:20pm on the Fisher Stage. My new CD will be hot off the presses and I will have copies for sale.

Here are some sample tracks from the new CD:
http://www.BagpipeRevolution.com/

Folklife is one of the biggest and best folk music festivals in the world. And it's all totally FREE! (Donations accepted at the gate). It's at Seattle Center at the base of the Space Needle. If you've never been, you should check it out. Make a whole day of it, there are literally hundreds of performers on dozens of stages, indoors and out.

info on folklife:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Folklife

folklife website:
http://www.nwfolklife.org/

official schedule of events, directions, etc:
http://www.nwfolklife.org/P_F/festival.html

I hope to see you there!!!

Ten New Tune Lesson Downloads

2008-04-14T19:59:00.000-07:00

Live at Benaroya Hall

2008-03-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a video of me and Jack Lee playing together at Seattle's Benaroya Hall in January 2006 for the annual Masters of Scottish Arts Concert.

CD Sneak Peek

2008-03-09T21:50:00.000-07:00

The Bagpipe Revolution is coming soon...

I've posted a few tracks from the new CD here at BagpipeRevolution.com.

(Link takes you to the MySpace page with the tracks.)

Join the BagpipeRevolution group on Facebook!

Another Album Preview

2008-03-06T13:31:00.000-08:00

A second little preview from the upcoming album...

Bagpipe Equipment Survey

2008-02-17T12:03:00.000-08:00

I've created a little survey to learn more about the types of equipment that pipers use. Bagpipes, chanters, reeds, bags, etc.

Click Here to take Bagpipe Equipment survey

UPDATE: I will have a prize drawing for a limited edition autographed copy of the photo book Scottish Pipers by renowned photographer Colin Baxter. Read this post about my photo in this beautiful book. Winner of the drawing gets a copy autographed by the photographer and yours truly.

Album Preview

2008-02-01T15:28:00.000-08:00

A little preview from my soon to be released solo studio album...

Life lessons from learning the bagpipes

2008-01-30T17:29:00.001-08:00

I recently sent a note to the parents of one of my young piping students describing some of the many life lessons a person can learn from learning the pipes.

1. the ability to learn to perform under pressure (defined as any situation where your actions can directly affect the outcome)
2. the ability to take criticism without taking it personally (despite our focus on the positives, much of learning music is about what not working so well)
3. learning to meet deadlines, so you have to work hard even when you don't feel like it
4. learning to take disappointments in stride (when the outcome is determined by stranger, i.e., competition judge, you learn that some things in life are arbitrary)
5. learning to get back up once you've feel knocked down, instead of letting it keep you down.
6. learning to set long term goals and managing your practice schedule to meet those goals by finding more immediate short term goals.
7. learning to focus on many different things at one time (there's so many things involved in playing an instrument: timing, hand position, expression, unison, dynamics).
8. learning that positive thinking often leads to positive results; negative thoughts can have a self-fulfilling element to them.
9. learning that progress is not linear; sometimes you learn a lot of things quickly, othertimes you go through plateaus where things feel stagnant.
10. you learn to be good at something!

I've added to this list over the years, some are my own ideas, some are gathered from others. A great book to help stay motivated to practice is Not Until You've Done Your Practice by Philip Johnston. It's geared toward kids, but there are great tips for pipers of any age.

New Album Coming Soon!

2008-01-23T13:08:00.000-08:00

As you might already know, I've been working hard on my first solo studio album. It has been a tremendous experience and we are in the final stages. The music has been recorded, the tracks have been mixed, and the album has been mastered. There are a few details to be worked out with the cover art and package design and the album will be off to the printer.

Here are a few photos from the studio.

2007: What a great year!

2008-01-18T15:48:00.000-08:00

I'm a few days late, but I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! May it be filled with lots of exciting travels, great new tunes, and fun experiences.

I've updated my list of prizes from the past year. There were some real highlights.

Check them out.

Double Gold!

2008-01-15T13:45:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I was in Kansas City for the annual Winter Storm piping festival and U.S. Gold Medal piping competitions. I'm thrilled that I won the Gold Medal for Piobaireachd for the second time. I won the first Gold Medal back in 2004 and now I'm the first piper to win it twice.

You can watch my winning performance thanks to the modern day miracle of YouTube.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Give Green Bagpipe Gifts this Holiday Season!

2007-12-11T13:31:00.000-08:00

You've come to the right place if you are looking for a green bagpipe related gift for someone you know. Give a gift of Tune Lesson Downloads or Webcam Lessons which can both be enjoyed from the comfort of home with no travel or shipping required! Check out all the gift options or go straight to the Gift Certificates page.

Also, if you live in the Seattle-area and would like to give the gift of a bagpipe performance check out Waste Free Holidays. It's part of King County's annual program the offers discounts on gifts of "experiences instead of stuff." Check it out!

Hey Look! I'm on the cover!

2007-11-19T22:19:00.000-08:00

Well... almost!

I didn't make the cover, but I did make the title page of Colin Baxter's new book Scottish Pipers. Colin is probably Scotland's most famous photographer, you've likely seen his great images of castles, glens, and mountains on calendars, postcards, and coffee table books.

The new book is his first on pipers and it has some great photographs.

The cover (with mandatory Royal Stewart tartan and feather bonnet):

The title page (yours truly piping at Glenfinnan. A rare day of glorious sunshine!):

The back cover (more feather bonnets!):

BagpipeLessons.com Survey

2007-11-17T21:39:00.000-08:00

I hope you'll take a few moments to take my brief survey. I've got some great ideas for features I'm hoping to add to the site. Your response to a few questions will help guide the future of BagpipeLessons.com!

To take the survey click here.