Online Piping Competition Update: Judging Begins!

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

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

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!

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 BagpipeLessons.com, BagpipeGauge.com, BagpipeRevolution.com, or PipeBandTunes.com.

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:

How many events do you want enter?

Two events $10.00 One event $5.00

Which event numbers?

Enter here today for Special Event #13:

How many tunes do you want to submit for evaluation and receive a judge's comment sheet?

Five tunes $25.00 Four tunes $20.00 Three tunes $15.00 Two tunes $10.00 One tune $5.00