Joining the Band
Membership in the NWT Pipe Band is open to any piper or drummer or anybody who is interested in learning how to play the pipes or drums. The band includes members of all levels, from beginners to former Grade One pipers.
Previous musical experience is unnecessary and the band will provide training for all beginners. Would-be pipers and drummers, however, must be prepared to practice at least 15 minutes every day!
Members are required to purchase their own bagpipes and practice chanter or drumsticks and practice drum pad. Practice chanters, drumsticks and practice pads may be purchased from the band. The band has bagpipes it will loan to members who are making the transition from the practice chanter to the pipes and do not yet have a set of their own.
New members are usually recruited in the fall. The band will advertise locally to advise potential new members of the date and time for a band information meeting At other times of the year, please contact the NWT Pipe Band for information on membership.
The band practices Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings at the Weledeh Catholic School.
Getting Started: Learning to play the pipes & drums
Pipes
New learners will start on the practice chanter. The chanter is where the piper puts their fingers when playing the bagpipes. The practice chanter is like the pipe chanter, but without the bag. The practice chanter allows you to concentrate on learning the proper fingering for the bagpipe. It is also much quieter than playing the full pipes. Even after they get on the bagpipes, pipers usually continue to use the practice chanter for personal practice, to learn new tunes, etc. You will begin by learning the basics of the scale, some simple tunes and typical ornaments. You will also receive instruction on how to read music. After you have become comfortable with playing a range of tunes on the practice chanter, you will be ready to move to the pipes.
Making the shift from the chanter to the bagpipes will be another learning experience and will also take some time. Now, besides just playing the notes on your chanter, you will also hae to get used to tuning and playing with drones, as well as inflating and squeezing the bag.
Drums
New learners will start with a practice pad. This is a small rubber pad designed to imitate the feel of playing on a real drum, only much quieter. Most drummers continue to use their practice pad for personal practice and for practicing with the rest of the drum corps. You will usually only use the drums when playing or practicing with the pipers.
You will begin by learning how to hold your drumsticks using the traditional grip, some basic strokes and how to read a drum score. As you grow more comfortable with your sticks you will start to learn some of the more typical combinations (called rudiments) used by drummers in almost every style of music.
When you have mastered the rudiments-you will be ready to being learning the beatings or scores to the tunes the band plays and on your way to playing with the full band. The band will provide you with a drum when you are ready to play with the band.
Previous musical experience is unnecessary and the band will provide training for all beginners. Would-be pipers and drummers, however, must be prepared to practice at least 15 minutes every day!
Members are required to purchase their own bagpipes and practice chanter or drumsticks and practice drum pad. Practice chanters, drumsticks and practice pads may be purchased from the band. The band has bagpipes it will loan to members who are making the transition from the practice chanter to the pipes and do not yet have a set of their own.
New members are usually recruited in the fall. The band will advertise locally to advise potential new members of the date and time for a band information meeting At other times of the year, please contact the NWT Pipe Band for information on membership.
The band practices Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings at the Weledeh Catholic School.
Getting Started: Learning to play the pipes & drums
Pipes
New learners will start on the practice chanter. The chanter is where the piper puts their fingers when playing the bagpipes. The practice chanter is like the pipe chanter, but without the bag. The practice chanter allows you to concentrate on learning the proper fingering for the bagpipe. It is also much quieter than playing the full pipes. Even after they get on the bagpipes, pipers usually continue to use the practice chanter for personal practice, to learn new tunes, etc. You will begin by learning the basics of the scale, some simple tunes and typical ornaments. You will also receive instruction on how to read music. After you have become comfortable with playing a range of tunes on the practice chanter, you will be ready to move to the pipes.
Making the shift from the chanter to the bagpipes will be another learning experience and will also take some time. Now, besides just playing the notes on your chanter, you will also hae to get used to tuning and playing with drones, as well as inflating and squeezing the bag.
Drums
New learners will start with a practice pad. This is a small rubber pad designed to imitate the feel of playing on a real drum, only much quieter. Most drummers continue to use their practice pad for personal practice and for practicing with the rest of the drum corps. You will usually only use the drums when playing or practicing with the pipers.
You will begin by learning how to hold your drumsticks using the traditional grip, some basic strokes and how to read a drum score. As you grow more comfortable with your sticks you will start to learn some of the more typical combinations (called rudiments) used by drummers in almost every style of music.
When you have mastered the rudiments-you will be ready to being learning the beatings or scores to the tunes the band plays and on your way to playing with the full band. The band will provide you with a drum when you are ready to play with the band.