Learn Piping or Drumming with KHPB
The Keith Highlanders Pipe Band offers structured classes every Wednesday from 6:30-7:20pm, and several band members are also available for private instruction. We welcome new students of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds–no experience necessary!
Beginning students will learn the basic techniques of piping or drumming and will be able to play simple tunes at the end of a ten-week session.
When?
When in session the course will run every Wednesday evening from 6:30pm to 7:20pm.
Where
The classes are held at St. Thomas School in Medina in the school gym (map). Our band meets here weekly for band practice which immediately follows the lessons. Students will have the opportunity to stay and meet the band and observe practice if they choose.
Materials Needed
Each student will be required to have a practice chanter (pipers) or sticks and pad (drummers) for each class. These can be obtained from several online pipe supply stores; or use these links:
- Piping: Practice chanter
- Side Drum: Sticks
- Side Drum: Practice Pad (The Aurora Series “The Visitor” with “DarkMatter” surface with the standard magnetic Snare Puck for mounting–not the shaker version)
- Tenor Drum: Tenor sticks
Children with smaller hands should consider purchasing a child-size chanter. All other printed materials and music will be provided by the band and is included in the cost of the classes.
Cost
The cost of the 10-week course is $150 which is $15 per lesson – a real bargain!
Please bring payments payable to ‘KHPB’ to the first class.
Classes Offered
- Introductory Piping Class – for those with no previous experience. Students who successfully complete this class will be able to play all chanter embellishments as well as a few basic tunes on the practice chanter.
- Advanced Chanter Class – for those who have previous chanter experience and have learned all the basic chanter embellishments. This class will focus on the minimum repertoire tunes on practice chanter.
- Beginner Piping Class – for those who have learned several tunes on the practice chanter and are ready to move to the pipes. In this class the students will learn the skills necessary to play basic tunes on their pipes. Students will learn to master “pipes up”, strike-ins, steady blowing, and cut-offs. Note that each student is required to have their own set of pipes for this class.
- Introductory Side Drumming – for those with no previous exposure to side drumming lessons. Students who successfully complete this class will be able to play all drumming rudiments as well as a few basic tunes on sticks and pad.
- Advanced Side Drumming – for those who have previous side drumming experience and have learned all the basic side drumming rudiments. This class will focus on minimum repertoire tunes on sticks and pad.
- Introductory Bass/Tenor Drumming – for those with no previous exposure to bass or tenor drumming lessons. Students who successfully complete this class will be able to play all drumming rudiments as well as a few basic tunes on sticks and pad.
- Advanced Bass/Tenor Drumming – for those who have previous Bass or Tenor drumming experience and have learned all the basic drumming rudiments. This class will focus on the minimum repertoire tunes including flourishing.
If you are you are interested, please email us at khpb@khpb.org. We look forward to seeing you!
If you already have some experience with the chanter or pipes, just come to St. Thomas School in Medina on any Wednesday night, or email us at khpb@khpb.org.