SCOTTISH WEEKEND - ALDEN BISEN 2010
1000 EURO TRAVEL BURSARY

21st December 2009

The Scottish Weekend celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2010 for the Pipe Band Championship! You’ll find us in Alden Biesen as usual.

This year, Scotland is the central theme for this event on the 10th, the 11th, and the 12th of September 2010.

For this occasion, the organization is offering €1000 towards the travelling costs, exclusively for  each of the first 30 Scottish Pipe Bands which register to participate in the Belgian Pipe Band Championship 2010.

Subscription can be done on www.scottish-weekend.be

The program will be on:

Friday evening September 10th

• International Folk evening

Saturday September 11th

• The Belgian Pipe Band Championship
• Grade 4-Grade 3-Grade 2-the open Grade

Sunday, September 12th

• The Solo Piping & Drumming Competition M/S/R-H/J

Celebrate with us and the organization of the Scottish Weekend in Belgium our 25th anniversary!

If you are being interested in the whole program, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Gust Battain (member of the P.B.C.B –working group )
PB-Coordinator - Pannehoeve 58, B-3290 Deurne-Diest
Tel. 0032 (0)13 66 60 73 -  Fax.0032 (0)14 86 25 25 - E-mail: mail.pbcb@scarlet.be

PR/Press information: Rudi Schils 0032 (0)478 98 2303 – E-mail: rudi.schils@schotsweekend.be

NATIONAL PIPING AND
PIPE BAND QUALIFICATIONS LAUNCHED

22rd November 2009

Monday 23 November saw another major milestone in the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board (PDQB) qualifications project, with the launch of the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s nationally validated versions of the PDQB’s Piping and Pipe Band Drumming awards at the Radisson Hotel, Argyle Street, Glasgow.  The launch was opened by members of George Watson’s College Pipe Band and the introduction of the new awards was fully supported in a video message from Mike Russell MSP, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Culture. For the first time ever we now have national standards for Piping and Pipe Band Drumming which are recognised jointly by the SQA and the 5 PDQB partners  - The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming, The College of Piping, The National Piping Centre and the Piobaireachd Society.

The SQA awards reflect the same requirements of the syllabus which was published when the PDQB qualifications were introduced in 2007 but the qualifications will now be known as National Progression Awards (NPAs) and Professional Development Awards (PDAs) within SQA’s national qualifications structure. There are 5 levels of NPA in Piping and 4 Levels in Pipe Band Drumming, each level covering both Solo Performance and Theory; and there are two higher levels of PDA in Piping, each also covering both Solo Performance and Theory. All have a level and credit points within the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

The following chart shows the new structure in relation to the previous PDQB levels and the NPA, PDA and mainstream school/higher level qualifications within the SCQF:

The qualifications will be available only through the 4 PDQB Examination Centres, all of which have been approved as SQA Centres. The Centres are:

• The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association
• The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming (for Armed Forces personnel only)
• The College of Piping
• The National Piping Centre

In future candidates must register for the examinations with one of the Centres and the Centre will appoint the Examiners/Assessors. All assessments will be conducted under PDQB/SQA procedures. The Certificates for successful candidates will be issued by SQA reflecting their national status.  Candidates may take the Performance and Theory Units of the qualifications separately and these can be certificated separately by SQA.  To achieve the full qualification at each level, however, candidates must achieve a pass in both Performance and Theory Units.

RSPBA courses leading to the PDQB/SQA qualifications will continue to be organised at Branch level in line with past practice.  It will be the responsibility of the Branch to register candidates with RSPBA Headquarters (i.e. the SQA Centre).  Some adjustments are being made to the PDQB syllabus to reflect the new titles etc and further details will appear on the RSPBA and PDQB websites in the near future.

Work in developing a new Pipe Band Studies Certificate is also still in progress by the PDQB and details of this award will be publicised as soon as possible.

Below, a mini band from George Watsons College play at the launch.

Alistair Aitken OBE

WORLD SOLO DRUMMING
THREE IN A ROW FOR BARRY

24th October 2009

World Solo Drumming pictures courtesy of Photographer Scott Campbell.

The Andante Sponsored World Solo Drumming took place again at the Glasgow Caledonia University on Saturday 24th October.

The event was again free for all events apart from the adult final which was a complete sell out. The day saw 213 performances across all 4 grades.

The Juvenile One section was won by James MacNeil from Robert Malcolm Memorial, Canada. This was only James second attempt at the World Solos after coming 3rd in 2008.

The Juvenile Two section was won by Grant Cassidy from The House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead.  Grant was playing in Juvenile Two for the first time after winning the Juvenile One title in 2006, 2007 and 2008.  Grant was tied with fellow Shotts youngster Steven Shedden and it took an Adjudicator Preference to decide the winner after both finished with 4 points.

The Juvenile Three section was again won by Craig Brown from Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia. Victory gave Craig his 5th World Solo victory in 6 years. Craig was placed first by 3 of the 4 judges taking victory by 5 points over John Stewart from Killeshin, Eire.

The Adults started the day with 74 qualifiers in 4 heats looking to progress into the semi finals to meet last years finalists, one of the largest entries recorded in recent years in the Adult event.

For the third year running Barry Wilson from Scottish Power was victorious with 5 of the 8 judges placing him first over both events. Barry won the MSR event by 5 points from another previous champion Steven McWhirter.  The Hornpipe and Jig was won by Gordon Brown but with Barry only 1 point behind he finished 9 points clear and once again World Champion.

The summaries from all events are available by clicking here. 

The next event on the RSPBA Headquarters calendar will be the AGM on March 13th 2010.  All branch activities will be in full flow over the coming months.  Why not get along to your branch meetings and AGMs and support your branch.  Once again our Chairman and I will be trying to get around as many as possible.

Ian Embelton
Chief Executive

WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
DEVELOPMENT GROUP STARTS UP

14th January 2010

The Development of the World Pipe Band Championships

In order that we can look at the development of this World Class event, we wish to seek the views of as many stakeholders as possible.  To be part of this process we would like to build up a database of interested people.

We need to be able to identify who people are, and what your experiences, opinions are of the format of the present World Pipe Band Championships. Also what are your opinions of the way the World Pipe Band Championship should be developed over the next few years.

To be part of this process we are asking you to register your interest by providing various details, you will then be contacted. This process is open to anyone in the World who wishes to voice an opinion.

Kevin Reilly
RSPBA Chairman

ST. LAURENCE O’TOOLE PIPE BAND
IN CONCERT 2010

13th December 2009

The St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band from Dublin returns to the stage at the annual pre-worlds concert which is promoted and hosted by the Phoenix Honda Glasgow Skye Pipe Band.

“The O’Toole’s” captured the hearts of many pipe band enthusiasts when they took to the concert hall stage in 2005 and recorded their first CD “The Dawning of the Day”.

Led by Pipe Major Terry Tully and Lead Drummer Stephen Creighton, the 2008 RSPBA Champions of Champions celebrate the centenary of the band with their concert “Evolution”. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness a world class concert which promises to be one of the highlights of the year.

Join the band in this historic celebration and enjoy what will truly be a momentous occasion.

Tickets are on sale at £19.50 and £17.50 and can be purchased online or in-person at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall box office.

Ian Embelton
On behalf of Pheonix Honda Glasgow Skye Pipe Band

MG ALBA SCOTS TRAD AWARDS NOMINATION
WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009

4th November 2009

The RSPBA are delighted to once again pick up a nomination for the MG ALBA Scots Trad Awards 2009.

The aim of these Awards is to highlight Scotland's wonderful traditional music in all its forms and to create a high profile opportunity which will bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media & public attention.

The voting process begins on Monday 2nd November and finishes on Friday 20th November so please encourage people to vote. It not only helps you but spreads the word about Scottish traditional music in general. This information is embargoed until 2nd November so all press activity happens at one time. People can vote (from 2nd November) by visiting the website and clicking on the voting link.

Ian Embelton
Chief Exectutive
 

2010 SEASON
GRADINGS RATIFIED BY NATIONAL COUNCIL

18th October 2009

The National Council of the RSPBA met on Saturday 17th October, amongst their many topics included ratification of the 2010 grading proposals of the Music Board who met the previous week.

The grading changes following the 2009 season are as follows:

Novice Juvenile – Juvenile
George Watsons College, Kintyre Schools, Johnstone, North Lanarkshire Schools

Grade 4B - Grade 4A
Thiepval Memorial, Ballyboley, Perth and District, Denny and Dunipace, William Kerr Memorial, Tullylagan, Lisnamulligan

Grade 4A – Grade 3B
Letterkenny and District, Quinn Memorial, Matt Boyd Memorial, Geoghegan, Stockbridge

Grade 3B – Grade 3A
Black Bottle Isle of Islay, Methil and District, Benoni MacTalla, Ulster Scottish, Castlerock

Grade 3A – Grade 2
Williamwood, Killen, Howard Memorial, Aughintober, Linlithgow and District

Grade 2 – Grade 1
Inveraray and District

There were no bands proposed for downgrading.

Kevin Reilly
Chairman

2010 MAP CHANGES
GRADE 4A STRATHSPEYS & REELS MUSIC

15th October 2009 - Update from September News

As already released towards the end of August the 2010 season will see the requirements for Grade 4A change to include the playing of Strathspeys and Reels in championships. Please now find enclosed links to the music for each of the tunes.

Strathspeys

1. Aspen Bank
2. Because he was a Bonny Lad
3. Campbeltown Kiltie Ball
4. Captain Horne
5. Colonel MacLeod
6. Dalnahassaig
7. J F MacKenzie
8. Lady MacKenzie of Fairburn
9. Lady MacKenzie of Gairloch
10. Lounden's Bonnie Woods and Braes
11. Marquis of Huntly
12. Mc Phederan's Strathspey
13. Molly Connell
14. Munlochy Bridge
15. O'er The Bows To Ballindalloch
16. Orange and Blue
17. Seonaidh's Tune
18. The Inverness Rant
19. The Keel Row
20. The Market Place of Inverness
21. The Smiths a Gallant Fireman

Reels

1. Circassion Circle
2. Colonel MacLeod
3. East Wood Cottage
4. Famous Ballymote
5. High Road to Linton
6. Jock Wilson's Ball
7. Lord James Murray
8. Marion and Donald
9. Miss Girdle
10. Molly on the Shore
11. Piper of Drummond
12. Sleepy Maggie
13. Tail Toddle
14. The Ale is Dear
15. The Fairy Dance
16. The Silver Spear
17. Willie Murray

A reminder that Grades 4B and Novice will play 4 x 2 Parted Marches only.  The 22 MAP marches for 2010 remain the same as 2009 and can be downloaded using the Music Board menu above.  The Strathspeys and Reels will be added to the menu over the coming days.

Jim Campbell
Music Board

2010 CHAMPIONSHIPS
DATES AND LOCATIONS

04th October 2009

We are pleased to announce the five major championships for 2010 will be as follows:

22nd May - Scottish Championships at Dumbarton

26th June - British Championships at Annan

31st July - European Championships at Belfast

14th August - World Championships at Glasgow

28th August - Cowal Championships at Dunoon

2010 also marks the first year in three year deals for the British Championships at Annan and the European Championships at Belfast. Dates are not set for 2011 and 2012 yet, but the locations are confirmed.

Ian Embelton
Chief Executive