Last week I shared my thoughts on a pipe band CD that inspired me, this week I want to share another that continues to inspire my passion for pipe band drumming.

The Simon Fraser University (SFU) Pipe Band from Vancouver, Canada, have set many new benchmarks for pipe band performances in the last twenty years.  Each CD they release highlights their musical innovation from a piping and drumming standpoint.

As a young pipe band drummer, I recall listening to the Alive in America CD on repeat.  The Stars and Stripes CD cover gave me the impression that the SFU pipe band had a glitzy and glam appeal – and that they did!

One of the great things about this CD is the raw sound, unaltered and un-edited. What you hear, is what was played. The music is simply outstanding with lots of drive and passion.  Reid Maxwell got the most magnificent sound out of the Premier Percussion HTS Snare drums, they really complimented to the overall band sound. A snare response to die for.

There are only a small handful of CD’s that I frequently enjoy listening to, as a form of inspiration. Alive in America has so many great highlights for me.

1) The Callum Hannah composition, the Big Wee Man Drum salute is fantastic – with lots of dynamic touches and phenomenal execution.  The drum kit jazz groove is particularly groovy.

2) Andrew and Colin Lee – this hornpipe is sublime : a drummers dream. It’s a technically challenging tune but epic all the same. Considering the concert was recorded in Chicago, it was very fitting that the band played the “Windy City” to follow Andrew and Colin Lee.

3) Blackie MacLeod.  This hornpipe has evolved into a signature SFU pipe band tune. SFU is renowned for finishing concerts with Blackie, and also walking off after the Worlds! Again, a technically challenging tune – but one of Reid Maxwell’s finest scores.

If you haven’t got this CD, get onto iTunes and download it. It will be sure to put a smile on your face. It’s a pipe band classic – and one that everyone should enjoy.  The modern-day crowds are pretty tame in comparison – the Gateway Theatre erupts in cheering and applause during many of the tracks. 

Thanks to the SFU Pipe Band for this great recording.

Come2Drum.com is offering you the chance to win the drum pictured below, it is a Silver Sparkle Premier Percussion HTS 800 Snare Drum. It has diamond chrome metalwork, with some of the best features a drum can have.

Come2Drum is putting all of its Studio members into the prize draw, to be drawn in January.  So if you sign up for a one year membership (only $99 NZD), you will get access to professional Scottish Drumming Instruction Videos, Scottish Drumming Audio Lessons, The Complete Guide to Pipe Band Drumming Collection, Scottish Drumming music AND the chance to win this beautiful Snare Drum.

Check out the website to find out more, or get your membership today and be in to win!

Regards,

J

Come2Drum offers the Worlds most comprehensive educational package for Scottish Snare Drumming. If you want to learn Scottish Drumming, become a drummer in a pipe band or just simply challenge your personal rudiment skills, then you should check out Come2Drum.

Come2Drum.com

Scottish Drumming Instruction Videos

Scottish Drumming Skype Lessons

Scottish Drumming Books

Scottish Drumming Music

Get your pair today!

That’s right, you can pick up all of the essential drumming skills you will need to master the basics of Scottish drumming.  Come2Drum is the Worlds leading online educator for Scottish drumming. Check out the E-Books, Video Lessons, Skype lessons & more at Come2Drum.com

Go to COME2DRUM and check out :

Step-by-Step Guides to Pipe Band Drumming

Structured Video Lesson Series’

Skype Lessons for Scottish Drumming

Good luck on your journey of musical fulfilment!

Make sure and “tap” into your potential.

August – I went to Scotland for the World Pipe Band Championships and also attended a few other highland games whilst I was there.  Canterbury Caledonian Pipe Band, the band I am part of, ventured on the long journey to Scotland for a second year running.

September – Drumming Workshops in Noosa and Canberra were on the cards in September, alongside Jim Kilpatrick, Tyler Fry, Jori Chisholm and many others!

October – I am the luckiest man on earth, as I married Lisa Campbell.

Currently I am in Scotland, rehearsing for the World Solo drumming championships this Saturday.  It will be great to play a tune or two and also catch up with all of my pipe band drumming buddies….

Check out the pipe band drumming Book series!!!!

The Canberra College of Piping and Drumming hosted their annual Workshop for bagpipers and drummers. This special event brought in players from all over Australia, U.K and New Zealand. The Worlds top piping and drumming experts offered their advice, skills and knowledge.

The teaching line-up included Jim Kilpatrick, Tyler Fry, Jori Chisholm, Greg Wilson, Stuart Liddell, James Laughlin, Brenton Earl, Richard Hawke, Grant Cassidy and Ken Maltman.

Pipe Band drumming lessons were offered to students of all levels.  People arrived, wanting to know how to play the Scottish drums, and they left with all the skills and ability to play the pipe band drum!

What topics were covered at the pipe band drumming workshop ?

Drum Rolls

Paradiddle Development

Rhythmic Exercises

Playing drum scores

And way more!

James Laughlin released his new book, Learn Pipe Band Drumming Volume 2, at the Canberra piping and drumming workshop. You can get your hands on a copy here.  If you are just starting to learn pipe band drumming, then James Laughlins Guide to Pipe Band Drumming Volume 1 would be the best option for you!

Don’t forget to check out the C2D Studio – the worlds first and only digital scottish drumming studio.

The Scottish Side Drum ( also known as the scottish snare drum, the high tension side drum or the pipe band snare) is the high-pitched drum with a very high-tension system.  The top head is made of Kevlar (Remo Cyber max and the Andante Core Tec are the two main brands) and the bottom head is made of mylar(Remo Ambassador is the main brand).  The key drum manufacturers are Andante Percussion, Pearl and Premier. They all make a great drum but they all offer different benefits. 

The Scottish Tenor Drum is a much lower and richer sounding drum than the side drum. It is also played with different mallets (the TyFry Tenor Mallet is the most commonly played mallet universally) that produce a much softer and more subtle sound.  Tenor drummers also create a very cool visual effect by flourishing or “twirling” the sticks. Check out this video to see for yourself.  Both the top and bottom head are made from mylar (Remo PowerMax and Aquarian Hosbilt are the main brands).

The Scottish Bass Drum – this is a much larger (usually 28″ by 16″) drum and produces a very rich and deep sound in comparison to the other drums.  Again, this drum is played with a mallet – much softer than the side drum sticks.  The Bass drum is considered the “heart-beat” of the band. Both heads are also made of mylar and are often decorated with logos.  Hosbilt, Andante, Pearl and Premier all manufacture quality bass drums.

To find out more about pipe band drumming please contact james@come2drum.com or visit www.come2drum.com 

There are also some learning options for those of you who would like to learn Scottish Drumming.  You can download the “Guide to Pipe Band Snare Drumming” instantly from www.come2drum.com

So what is available to those who want to learn more about Scottish drumming?

Learn Pipe Band Drumming Book and MP3′s – Available as an INSTANT DOWNLOAD or a hard copy book. The perfect start for any snare drummer. Whether you are an absolute beginner, an intermediate player trying to improve the basics, or a drummer with a different background dabbling in scottish drumming for the first time, this 65 page e-book and 43 track MP3 accompaniment outlines snare drumming from the very basics of learning how to hold the stick, understanding basic theory, developing basic rhythms, mastering the essential rudiments and learning your first drum settings.

Scottish Drum Scores to Download –

The collection of pipe band drum scores are all composed by James Laughlin.  James focusses strongly on the ensemble aspect of composition, all drum scores match and enhance the bagpipe melody to offer the listener a balance of excitement and swing. Click on your favourite pipe band drum score and have it instantly in your inbox with a clearly written drum score, and a high quality recording!

Free Pipe Band Drum Socres –  Enjoy 100 + Free Scottish drum scores at http://www.come2drum.com

Online Pipe Band Drumming Lessons – Scottish drumming lessons available to anyone in the World who wants to enjoy quality tuition from a World Champion drummer.   The drumming lessons are performed over Skype with web cam and mic – the results have been amazing!

You can also check out the following Youtube, Twitter and Facebook pages to keep you informed with information about Scottish drumming and the Pipe Band scene :

C2D Scottish Drumming Facebook Page

C2D Scottish Drumming Youtube Channel

C2D Scottish Drumming Twitter Page

Brought to you by http://www.come2drum.com

- Your Pipe Band Drumming Supplier and Educator

The World Pipe Band Championships, held in Glasgow Green, hosted a day-long event with 100′s of pipe bands from all over the World.  2010 saw my 12th attendance at the Championship, every year brings a different result, different atmoshphere and different tune.  No matter what Sunny Scotland delivers in the way of weather, Glasgow Green always puts on an amazing day of music, highland events and dancing.

If you were fortunate enough to be there for the big day, then you can re-live some of the Grade 1 pipe band highlights on the BBC website. St Laurence O’Toole, Dublin’s finest, took the title for the first time, they also took the drumming prize for the second time.  Check out the full World Pipe Band Championship results on the RSPBA website.

So what’s in store after all of these pipe band events that we have had on offer? Well, this month in Canberra Australia you will have the opportunity to attend a Pipe Band Workshop with top bagpiping and scottish drumming instructors – Tyler Fry, Jim Kilpatrick, James Laughlin, Richard Hawke, Greg Wilson and Jori Chisholm.  Another workshop will also be taking place in Noosa with James Laughlin, Tyler Fry, Jori Chisholm and Richard Hawke. Check out both sites below for more details on how to register for these unique pipe band workshops.

Next month offers up a treat for your piping and drumming fanatics – the World Solo Drumming Championships, The Glenfiddich Championship and the Silver Chanter contest.  Check out the RSPBA website for more details on the World solo drumming event.

What’s new at Come2Drum? Well, since July we have put on a sale on the “Learn Pipe Band Drumming” Book and MP3 recordings - get in soon to enjoy the half-price sale.  We have also launched the C2D Hand Towel – this is particularly suitable for drummers or musicians who experience sweaty palms before or during a performance.

More and more people have enjoyed learning Scottish drumming using our instant downloads from www.come2drum.com. The downloads are quick and easy to access – you can start learning or improving your pipe band drumming with the click of a button.

Needing pipe band supplies?  Check out our online shop for a wide range of  Scottish drumming products.  You can shop from the comfort of your own home, and we deliver direct to anywhere Worldwide.

Canberra Piping and Drumming Workshop 2010

Noosa Piping and Drumming Workshop 2010

Brought to you by COME2DRUM – the internet’s premier resource for pipe band drumming education.  Come2Drum is a leading supplier of pipe band drumming products and offers professional Scottish drumming tuition.

A very bold move indeed, but maybe this is the direction that pipe bands need to be headed? What are your thoughts on this? Leave a comment below.  Also, check out the video of Shotts from Dumbarton – http://bit.ly/dzGz2h

What will be on the cards next? Three Bass Drums? Other forms of hand percussion?  The sky’s the limit!

Hosbilt Drums – You can now order the new and updated Hosbilt drum.  An amazing product with an amazing sound! You can order your Hosbilt Bass and Tenor Drums through Laughlins Pipes N Drumz.  For prices please contact James Laughlin on james@come2drum.com.  14,16 and 18 ” Tenor Shells with any depth and any finish are available.  Any size bass drum, any depth and any finish also available. More tenor shell sizes to be added shortly!

There are now many options out there for people wanting to learn the bagpipes or Scottish snare drumming.  Jori Chisholm has established a fantastic business that offers pipers many different options to enhance their piping skills.  For all you drummers out there, COME2DRUM offers exciting new learning options.  These options include interactive drumming lessons online with World champion Scottish drummer James Laughlin, Pipe Band Drumming Lesson downloads and an extensive “Learn the Scottish Snare Drum” book with MP3 recordings.

The Come2Drum T-Shirt - also available in Baby Blue!

We are giving away a free Come2Drum T-Shirt! For your chance to win please subscribe to this blog using your email address.  We are also giving away a free pair of J.Reid Maxwell drum sticks if you follow Come2Drum on twitter.

Brought to you by -

www.come2drum.com - The internet’s premier resource for pipe band drumming education, scottish drumming products, pipe band drum lessons, advice and lesson downloads.

Warrnambool and District Pipe Band Logo

Come2Drum.com is delighted to announce the release of DRUM LESSON DOWNLOADS! They are the most comprehensive pipe band drumming learning solution ever.  James Laughlin’s drum lesson downloads utilise visual, kinesthetic and auditory methods to enhance your learning experience.  Scottish Drummers, Kit Drummers and Orchestral Percussionists are enjoying this tool to improve their technique, stick control and dynamic range.  Check it out at www.come2drum.com.

Two years ago, COME2DRUM released the very cool, super popular C2D Tee!  The T-Shirt sold out at the Ozzie National Pipe Band Championships in Sydney, at the New Zealand National Pipe Band Championships in Christchurch and at other C2D drumming events.  We are delighted to announce that we have the Black and White Tee back in stock.  NEW – We have just released the Light blue C2D Tee  (a limited stock).  Email us directly if you would like your own Tee!  James@come2drum.com

C2D Tee's

Only 3 months until the World Pipe Band Championships…keep posted for updates and news from around the globe.

Happy Drumming…and Piping!

Brought to you by www.come2drum.com – The internet’s premier resource for Scottish Drumming Lessons online.

For Pipe Band Products, visit our shop – www.come2drum.com

For Pipe Band Music Downloads visit – www.pipebandtunes.com

Last week, Andante Percussion released their new Pro Series Bass and Tenor drums.  This week, Hosbilt announced that it will now be offering Bass and Tenor drums again as part of its product range.  Hosbilt established itself as one of the leading manufacturers for top-quality sound back in 1994.  The turnbuckle system made tuning these great instruments very easy and efficient. Please stay tuned for more information on these new drums. You will be able to purchase through Laughlin’s Pipes N Drumz, or email James Laughlin at james@come2drum.com.

Tyler Fry and Jim Kilpatrick organised the Innovation weekend in London, Ontario last weekend. Snare drummer Nathan McLaren and tenor drummer Kyle Heaney were the co-winners, decided by audience vote, of the first Drumming for Drinks event held outside of Scotland, before a sell-out audience at the London Mocha Shriners Club.  Each prize winner received a Pearl drum and a Hardcase drum case. Overall winners split a cash purse and received a Remo Pro Pad.  Be sure to attend Drumming For Drinks in August at the Lord Todd Bar, Glasgow.

Canberra, Australia will be hosting an unforgettable pipe band workshop and recital in September 2010.  Participants will enjoy top  instruction from an unbeatable line up of World Champions, Gold Medallists and Clasp winners.  Instructors include Jim Kilpatrick, James Laughlin, Tyler Fry, Richard Hawke, Jori Chisholm and Greg Wilson.  This incredible event will take place at the Canberra Burns Club on the 24, 25 and 26 of September. Register online at www.canberracollegepipesdrums.org.au

Check out these scottish drumming and bagpipe downloads at Pipebandtunes.

Brought to you by COME2DRUM – The internet’s premier resource for online drumming lessons and products.

What options do you have?

Online Lessons for Scottish Drummers – You can enjoy lessons from current World Champion James Laughlin. All you need is a computer, a broadband internet connection, a web cam, a microphone and Skype.  Check out www.come2drum.com

Interactive Drumming Materials – You can learn from James Laughlin’s Guide to Pipe Band Snare Drumming.  This book covers all areas of Scottish drumming for beginners to intermediate drummers. This 65 page book is accompanied by 43 high quality MP3s. Go to pipebandtunes to download your copy now.

Download Pipe Band Drum Scores – You can learn in an exciting new way! Why not download a pack that allows you to get a high-quality MP3 recording and a high-quality PDF of a musically composed drum score. Famous composers have submitted their music including – Barry Wilson (of Scottish Power and Current world solo champion), James Laughlin ( ex Simon Fraser University and current World Pipe Band Champion), Ciaran Morduant ( highly renowned RSPBA adjudicator and clinician), Mike Cole ( Bass and Tenor Drummer with Inverary and district), and  Tano Martone (ex Shotts and Dykehead and currently SFUPB). If you want Side Drum Scores, Tenor Drum Scores or Bass drum scores then check out www.pipebandtunes.com

You heard it here first.….New composers to be added to pbtunes in April – Harold Gillespie (World Champion Lead drummer with Victoria Police Pipe Band) and Gordon Craig ( RSPBA adjudicator and clinician).

Happy Drumming! Stay posted for results and updates from the Australian National Pipe Band Championships this weekend.

Brought to you by www.come2drum.com – the internet’s premier resource for scottish drumming.

Hey all…

I’m back to posting and updating the page. I’ve been on holiday for a week and was sick the whole time – Murphy had a really screwed up sense of humour.

I’ve added more tunes to the Tunes Page… just some interesting stuff I found in the repertoire of the band that I thought I’d share.

The South African Tattoo is in two or three weeks time. I’m really looking foward to it! It’s the first of (hopefully) many annual military performances at Monte Casino in Fourways, Johannesburg… and it’s looking to be a cracker! We’ve been hard at work learning the tunes, and it’s been really helpful in getting my personal repertoire back up to what it used to be. I’ll add the tunes that we’ll play as soon as I have them coded.

My pipes are pretty much fixed and I got them back last week, but only played them over the weekend due to my cold/flu thingy… they seem fine. I just have to play with the drones to make them as economical as possible.

Thanks for all the comments and support lately guys… I hope you’re getting as much out of this blog as I am.

ps. Well done to SFU for winning the World Champs two weeks ago. I heard that the Shotts pipers turned to face the crowd in their Medley performance… must have been quite a show!