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W I L L I A M S T O W N R. S. L. P I P E B A N D
HOME PRACTICE TUITION BOOKINGS NEWS HISTORY REPERTOIRE MEMBERS LINKS T U I T I O N TUTORS BAGPIPES DRUMS T U T O R S The pipe tutor and Pipe Major of the band is Ross Bates, formerly of the Victoria Police Pipe Band, who won the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championships in 1998. The band has a number of pipers who teach learners, all of whom are highly experienced. The snare drum tutor is Brett Staley from the Victoria Police Pipe Band. Greg Fraser, formerly of the Australia Highlanders Pipe Band, looks after our learner snare drummers. The tenor and bass drum tutor is Wayne Dennehy, formerly of the Victoria Police Pipe Band. Additional tuition is also provided by drummers from within the band. Each pupil receives a combination of one to one tuition and group practice. Tuition focuses on correct technique, musical expression, tone and tuning. B A G P I P E S To get started, prospective pipers will need to purchase a practice chanter. This is a smaller, quieter version of the bagpipe chanter. These are used right throughout a pipers career, both for the initial learning stages and for practicing new tunes. Prices start at around $120 for a quality instrument. All documentation and learning material is provided free of charge by the band. The learning program is structured to help pipers begin to play simple, recognisable tunes as soon as possible. Eventually, when you have progressed to the right stage, the purchase of a set of bagpipes will be necessary. For more information, click on the following link. GETTING STARTED ON THE BAGPIPES D R U M S Prospective drummers need only to buy a pair of sticks, and in the case of side drummers, a drum practice pad as well. The band owns a complete set of drums that the drummers use. Pipe bands utilise 3 types of drums: SNARE DRUM The snare drum, or side drum, produces a very high, crisp tone, due to the use of metal snares underneath a top head that is wound down tightly. This, combined with the use of wooden drum sticks, enables side drummers to play intricate patterns that complement the piping tunes. BASS DRUM The bass drum produces a soft, deep tone and provides the foundation for the beat of each tune. In effect it is the band's metronome. The drum sticks are quite large with one end covered in lambs wool. TENOR DRUM Tonally, the tenor drum is similar to the bass drum except it is higher in pitch. The rhythm patterns are usually more complex as well, with flourishing of the sticks also being a feature. The drum sticks are medium in size and also have one end covered in lambs wool. Williamstown R.S.L. Pipe Band Inc., 11 Vivid Court, Tarneit, Victoria, Australia, 3029 Phone: 03 9749 5723 EMAIL - SECRETARY EMAIL - PIPE MAJOR ABN - 63 578 773 610 Inc. no. - A0021634H Webmaster Last Updated: 27/07/2008 |