School dates
- Spring School - 7th to 11th April 2008
- Summer School 1 - 30th June to 4th July 2008
- Summer School 2 - 21st to 25th July 2008
- Summer School 3 - 28th July to 1st August 2008
- Autumn Piping School - 13th to 17th October 2008
Tuition
The daily programme will cover all aspects of performance on the Highland Bagpipe including practice routines, technique, musical expression, timing and tuning.
Students will be taught in small group of similar ability for 3 - 4 hours per day. Some individual lessons may also be included.
The course commences daily at 9am and will finish at approximately 4.30pm.
Timetable and student information pack will be issued on the first morning.
Workshops
Workshop topics will include reed-making, maintenance, theory, tuning, pipes of the world, playing in a folk group, bagpipe music writing software.
Other topics may be scheduled at students’ request where relevant and availability of resources allows.
Other activities may include
Teachers Recital
Student Concert
ScottishPower Pipe Band Visit
Course Fees - 2008 prices
| U-16 | Adult | |
| Non Residential | £165 | £195 |
| Residential Single | £415 | £445 |
| Residential Shared | £330 | £355 |
| Residential Additional Guest | £100 | £100 |
The residential fee includes the cost of bed & breakfast at the National Piping Centre for the student. Any additional person(s) boarding in the room and not enrolled on the course would be required to pay £20 per night for bed & breakfast. An adult must accompany children under the age of 16 residing at the Centre unless parental consent has been given. Please note that students may be asked to share accommodation.
Residential fee includes all tuition, accommodation and breakfast.
* There is now a 10% discount on available on all RG Hardie and Co products purchased at the National Piping Centre by students of any seasonal school.
Help grade yourself before attending the course
| Level 1 Complete Beginner |
No experience at all. Have not played any scales or exercises. |
| Level 2 Learner |
Progressing towards or can play a simple tune(s). Has played some scales and simple exercises - e.g. G gracenote, strikes, D throw. |
| Level 3 Lower Novice |
Able to play most movements including doublings, birls, grips, taorluaths and can play several tunes quite competently with a reasonable sense of timing. Has not yet started on pipes. |
| Level 4 Novice |
Can competently play tunes of varying time signatures including Marches, Strathspeys and Reels on the chanter. Is starting or has started on pipes and can perform some simple tunes. Needs assistance tuning. Developing finger technique. |
| Level 5 Intermediate |
Working on 4 parted Marches, Strathspeys and Reels also can play some hornpipes and jigs. Can perform all on the bagpipe. Perhaps ready to progress to Piobaireachd. Can tune pipes reasonably well or attempt to tune. Technique quite developed but needs some work. |
| Level 6 Advanced |
Fluent with all aspects of light music. Able to play some Piobaireachd on the bagpipe. Can tune pipes accurately. Perhaps ready to compete in solo competition or able to attain that standard at good junior level or beyond. |
