Certificates for Pipers, Pipe Band Drummers and Teachers of Piping
Seven Certificates of Piping ability, four Certificates of Pipe Band Drumming ability, three Certificates in Pipe Band Studies and two Certificates for teachers of Piping are available. Details of the syllabus for each examination are provided in this document.
The organisations represented on the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board (PDQB) are:
- The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming
- The College of Piping;
- The National Piping Centre;
- The Piobaireachd Society
- The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.
Enquiries and applications to take examinations should be addressed to the following Approved Centres:
The National Piping Centre
30-34 McPhater Street
Glasgow, G4 0HW
SCOTLAND
Email: reception@thepipingcentre.co.uk
Website: http://www.thepipingcentre.co.uk
The College of Piping
16-24 Otago Street
Glasgow, G12 8JH
SCOTLAND
Email: college@college-of-piping.co.uk
Website: http://www.college-of-piping.co.uk
The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association
45 Washington Street
Glasgow, G3 8AZ
SCOTLAND
Tel: 0141 221 5414
Website: http://www.rspba.org
The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming
Inchdrewer House
299 Colinton Road
Edinburgh, EH13 0LA
SCOTLAND
Tel: 0131 310 5561
(For Armed Forces Personnel only)
Arrangements can be made to examine in other centres via PDQB accredited examiners.
A candidate may present himself/herself for any Certificate without necessarily being the holder of the Certificate which comes earlier in the syllabus. In this case, however, they may also be examined on the syllabus of the earlier Certificates. Candidates should seek guidance from any of the approved examination centres on their ability to sit various certification levels.
Tests for all Certificates (less the Performers’ Certificate) will consist in each case of a practical, oral, and written examination. Candidates must obtain a pass in both the practical and written examinations before a Certificate can be awarded. The tests for the Performers’ Certificate will consist of practical and oral examinations. Candidates are advised to contact any of the approved examination centres for an indication of the suitable standard of tunes to play at respective levels.
