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It all begins with curiosity. Maybe you want to publicly perform. Maybe you want to tap into your ancestral heritage. Maybe you want to compete. Learning how to play is the first step on the journey to musical expression.
The Great Highland Bagpipe
All pipers begin instruction on a practice chanter, an instrument that emulates the finger holes and spacing of the bagpipe chanter. Most students move from the practice chanter to the full pipes after about 12 months of private instruction, although all pipers continue to use practice chanters for much of their practicing. Lessons are given on Tuesday afternoons and evenings at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton, Ohio. The lessons provided by the band are free, with the understanding that students will play in the band when they're ready..
Bagpipe Instruction
Our Resident Bagpipe Instructor, Greg Martin, has mentored and taught many students for over a decade. We are truly thankful for all his hard work teaching. He will guide your bagpipe journey from learning on the chanter, all the way to competing in sanctioned competitions.
Snare, Tenor, and Bass Instruction
Perhaps you march to the tune of a drum, rather than pipes. We can oblige you with that as well. Without a drum corp, a pipe band isn’t a pipe band; it is just a gathering of pipers. Pipers rely on the steady beating of the corp to keep time and accent the singing melodies that come from pipes.
The bass drum provides the underlying beats and texture that drive the band. Adjusting and accenting the main beats to provide a full sound for the band.
The tenor drums provide visual and tonal accents for the band. The tenors provide accents to the bass and snare drums while also flourishing their mallets during the tunes.
Snare drums provide some of the most technical phrasings that lift and drive the rhythms. Unlike the Bass and Tenor drums, the snares do not have much resonance so they require strong rudiment fundamentals as they will play significantly more strikes compared to the other drummers.
Join our drum corp and we would love to teach and march along side you.
Greg Martin, Lead Bagpipe Instructor
Few things compare to the sound of a well played Great Highland Bagpipe. When played they can add an air of solemn dignity to a memorial or a unique flare to any celebration; be it a remembrance, a wedding, a dinner party or any other event you might imagine.
— Robert MacDermott
The sight and sound of 15+ pipers and drummer marching towards you will give you chills regardless of how many bands you have seen in person. It is such a fun and unique experience to be a part of. I love the memories I have made over the past two decades.
