"SOUND ADVICE" 2008 - NEWS
SOUND ADVICE is almost here!
We are working hard on planning for the school, and we have some new twists for 2008, including a "band skills program" based on the RSPBA MAP requirements, trivia challenge with great prizes, a new concert venue, and some scheduling changes to enhance your school experience!
It's NOT too late for last-minute registrations. The school has a few spaces remaining. If you are interested, send email. |
Silent Auction for Fred Morrison Smallpipes!
 CONGRATULATIONS to Ken "The Captain" Eller who was successful in his bid for the Fred Morrison Smallpipes! Ken's generous bid topped the list, and he is the proud owner of this beautiful set of pipes! Be sure to check out Ken's web site.
Apart from all the great teaching and learning materials, his blog is worth reading regularly, and he has a whack of great sound files from major contests and events.
Thanks to MCCALLUM BAGPIPES for their sponsorship of the silent auction and SOUND ADVICE 2008!! |
2008 STAFF COMPLETE
Sound Advice is excited to announce that out staff is complete for the 2008 season! Be sure to look over the staff page to read about the great people we have coming to this year's school.
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2008 SPONSORS
Sound Advice has some great partners in running the school, including our long-term sponsor McCallum Bagpipes of Kilmarnock, Scotland. We are also happy to work with Cameron's Drumming Studio and The National Piping Centre, and new this year is Jim McGillivray's Pipetunes.ca. Of course, we are supported as always by the Saskatchewan Band Association and Saskatchewan Lotteries. See the sponsor page for complete details. |
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Join the Sound Advice Facebook group!
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School Schedule
Sunday, July 13
1:00 pm - 3:00 a.m.
Check-in and auditions for students
4:00 p.m.
A general meeting for all students and instructors.
7:30 p.m.
Piping & Drumming Recital
Featuring our exceptional instructional staff, plus special guests.
Monday - Thursday, July 14 - July 18
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Regular classes and band sessions.
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Evening workshops and individual lessons on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Thursday Night
7:30 p.m.
Student performances, followed by an informal ceilidh. The school has always had a ceilidh, but this year, the students are going to perform! This will be an "anything goes" session of music and fun. Bring your smallpipes, hand drums, guitars and pennywhistles!
Friday, July 19
10:00 a.m. - Noon
Finish off with a great massed band!
Scholarships 2008
The Saskatchewan Cadet Scholarship
Offered by Jim Glover of Montana, the Saskatchewan Cadet Scholarship is for a current member of a Saskatchewan cadet corps who would like to improve his/her piping or drumming skills. The scholarship is $200. To qualify for the scholarship, please attach a letter to your registration from your Cadet Corps confirming your membership, and your participation in regular cadet activities.
Deadline for scholarship applications is June 1, 2008.
The Regina Highland Games Scholarships
The Regina Highland Games is offering two scholarships to the school, each one valued at $300. The scholarships will go to "The Most Promising Piper and Drummer" of the day, as chosen collectively by the judges.
The City of Regina Pipe Band Scholarship
The City of Regina Pipe Band is offering four scholarships for $100 to members of the Conservatory of Performing Arts Pipe Band.
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Piping and Drumming Classes
All participants will have a full day of piping or drumming tuition. Classes are organized according to skill level, and students will experience a variety of instructors during their stay at the school. The emphasis at the summer school will be to give you the information and tools you need to be a better solo player, regardless of your current skill level. There will also be a renewed emphasis at the school on band skills-learning to be good band players, and learning what makes a good band.
Fun and Friendship
Every year, students and staff at Sound Advice form friendships with other musicians, and 2006 was no exception. These guys look like trouble, but they were part of an excellent and supportive student body that makes the school a great place to learn and have fun.
Other Bagpipes and Traditions
Each year we offer classes where students get the chance to hear and try smallpipes, lowland (border) pipes, and uilleann pipes, and learn about the music and traditions of these instruments. We are enhancing these programs significantly, and encourge students to bring their smallpipes, shuttlepipes, and other instruments. Don't forget to throw in the bodhrans, djembes and other percussion for the sessions and the ceilidh at the end!
If you own shuttlepipes, smallpipes, or other kinds of pipes, be sure to bring them! We will have an opportunity for people to improve their skills on these instruments, have some fun, and learn a new tune or two.
Your Evenings Are Full!
At Sound Advice, we have a feature workshop each night. Topics have included traditions of piping in the British Army, illustrated with a number of tunes on the pipes. Stuart Liddell and James McHattie discussed techniques for building a repetoir of tunes to play in public, and they played a number of sections from their recital lists. Calum MacCrimmon and Doug Stronch did a session featuring Gaelic music, ceilidh performance, and playing pipes and drums with other instruments. In 2006, we had a class and demonstration on techniques for playing MSRs, a percussion section on Brazilian Drum Rhythms, and other great stuff.
A Concert You'll Remember
The first night at the school, you'll get to hear a concert featuring the outstanding instructors that we have assembled for the week. Some of the top solo and band players in the world will perform, along with some surprise guests. Your concert ticket is part of your registration package, and extra tickets will be available at the door.
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School Fee Packages
#1 - Tuition, Accommodation and Meals [double occupancy]
This package includes tuition and special events, a shared room, and three meals each day. Your fees cover accommodation at the school Sunday through Thursday night, and meals from Sunday at supper to Friday at lunch. Fees are $520 US/CDN and payment in full is due at the time of registration.
#2 -Tuition, Accommodation and Meals [single occupancy]
This package includes tuition and special events, a single room, and three meals each day. Your fees cover accommodation at the school Sunday through Thursday night, and meals from Sunday at supper to Friday at lunch. Fees are $585 US/CDN and payment in full is due at the time of registration.
#3 -Tuition and Lunch
This package includes tuition and lunch only. Your fees cover lunch from Monday to Thursday. Fees are $340 and payment in full is due at the time of registration.
All packages also include a school t-shirt. Be sure to indicate what size you would like.
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Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board Exams
[formerly Institute of Piping]
If you would like to take PDQB instruction and exams, you will need to register for that in advance. Information on the certificates and requirements is available HERE. If you have any questions, please send an email to the School Director.
Download the syllabus.
NEW: There is a non-refundable $40 registration fee for anyone wishing to take a PDQB or SPBA Drumming exam.
There are no additional fees for these exams for players who are registered with an SPBA member pipe band.
The exam fees for non-SPBA members are as follows:
Level 1 - $30
Level 2 - $30
Level 3 - $50
Level 4 - $60
Level 5 - $100
SPBA DRUMMING CERTIFICATES
The school features an opportunity for drummers to obtain certification. The snare syllabus is complete, and can be downloaded here.
The Tenor/Bass syllabus for Levels 1 and 2 can be downloaded here. |
