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

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

Update: Registration deadline extended to March 10.  Sign up below.

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 10 (each event limited to 30 competitors).  Deadline extended!
• 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:

How many events do you wish to enter?

Nine events $90.00 USDEight events $80.00 USDSeven events $70.00 USDSix events $60.00 USDFive event $50.00 USDFour events $40.00 USDThree events $30.00 USDTwo events $20.00 USDOne event $10.00 USD

Which event numbers?

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

Official Rules:

Important Dates:

• Sign up before March 10, 2012.  Deadline extended!
• 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!