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"SOUND ADVICE" 2007 - NEWS

STEVEN MCWHIRTER JOINS STAFF

2006 World Solo Drumming Champion Steven McWhirter will be teaching at this year's Sound Advice! We are very pleased to have Doug Stronach and Tyler Fry returning in 2007. See the complete school staff here.

DATES CHANGE FOR 2007 SCHOOL

Sound Advice 2007 will be a week later than in the past two years. In part, this is to accommodate instructor schedules, and to avoid overlapping dates with major summer schools in other jurisdictions.

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.



Sponsors of Sound Advice

School Schedule

Sunday, July 15
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 16 - July 19
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 20
10
:00 a.m. - Noon
Watch for a new development this year as "Sound Advice 2005" takes to the streets in a big finale!

[Think music summer schools are all work? NO WAY!! Here, instructors, students and friends get into some serious "Strip the Willow" at the ceilidh, and there was MUCH more. We had the "Scotland vs. Canada Soccer Challenge," the "O'Hanlon's Pilgrimage," and a lot of social laughs and friendship among instructors and students.]


Scholarships 2007


Ceilidh Surprise Scholarships
Two scholarships are available to the value of $100 each to assist with tuition costs.To qualify for the scholarships,please attach a letter to your registration stating how your attendance at the school will benefit your local Scottish community or pipe band,and tell us about your piping/drumming activities so far.
Deadline for scholarship applications is June 1, 2007.

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, 2007.


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.



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.


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 $500 [$425 US] 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 $575 [$490 US] 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 $330 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.

[Gold medallist Stuart Liddell teaches a piping class on the lawn. Not only is Stuart a top performer and a great soccer player, but he is also an accomplished teacher in heavy demand at piping school saround the world. Stuart started a small piping program in his home town of Inveraray, Scotland that has grown tremendously in a few short years.]


James MacHattie is the curent pipe major of the Toronto Police Pipe Band, the 2004 and 2006 North American Pipe Band Champions. James is the former pipe major of the 96th Highlanders of Saskatoon, and a former mem ber of the World Champion SFU pipe band.

Institute of Piping Exams

If you would like to take Institute of Piping instruction and exams, you will need to register for that in advance. Information on the certificates and requirements is available on the school web site. If you have any questions, please send an email to the School Director.

Institute of Piping instruction and exams are FREE to players who are registered with an SPBA member pipe band. Fees for non-SPBA members are posted on the school web site.

The exam fees for non-SPBA members are as follows:
Level 1 - $20
Level 2 - $20
Level 3 - $40
Level 4 - $50
Level 5 - $100

Major Gavin Stoddart MBE, BEM [left] and Iain MacDonald [right] present Tom Schwartz of MN with his Institute of Piping certificate.

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