Learn to Play
The Band is always open to accepting new students: for piping & drumming, please contact us. If you want to check us out – please come out to a Band Practice and see what the band is all about or reach out to us through our Contact page. There are no costs for lessons, however, students pay a one time $100 fee for a practice chanter or drum pad/sticks and music books.
Band practices are normally held at the Private David Kejick, DCM, Armoury (formerly the Kenora Armouries) located at 116 Artillery Way, Kenora on Monday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. which include table and marching practices. During the summer months (in good weather), the Band practices are moved outside at the Harbourfront and at other parks around the community from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Learn to Play the Bagpipes
The Kenora Scottish Pipes and Drums is a community band as well as a teaching band and is always on the lookout for new students. Lessons are free, however students are required to purchase their own practice chanter and music books – cost is a onetime $100.00 fee.
Depending on the number of students or the student’s preference, lessons are individual or in small classes with a maximum of 3 students in a class. Lessons run 20 to 30 minutes per week for individual students and 30 to 60 minutes for group lessons. Individual lessons can be scheduled to fit the student’s available time and lifestyle.
Piping students generally require 6 to 12 months working on the practice chanter before they graduate to full highland bagpipes. Beginning students will learn the fundamentals of bagpipe music including:
- How to read bagpipe music
- Proper blowing and fingering techniques
- How to recognize and play bagpipe movements
- Musical timing and how to play to a metronome
- Bagpipe exercises to improve playing
- Standard bagpipe tunes
Students are encouraged to develop and maintain their own practice routines, which would typically consist of 15 to 20 minutes of practice per day, 3 to 5 times per week in the beginning. As students progress, this time should be increased to 30 to 40 minutes per day. This will allow the students to build on the skills that they learn during their lessons and to increase their stamina for longer sessions. Students who practice regularly will develop their abilities quicker and find it easier to improve their playing.
Once the instructor feels that the student has mastered the fundamentals (typically after 6 to 12 months of lessons), students will be introduced to the Great Highland Bagpipe. The transition from practice chanter to bagpipes can be difficult, but with the support of the instructor, students will eventually find that the many hours of practice are worth the effort.
Students are required to purchase their own set of bagpipes (average cost $900 to $2500 – depending on maker and ornamentation) – however the Band does have a small supply of instruments that can be rented or purchased over a 2-year period. In general students require about 6 months or more of practice on the full bagpipes before they are ready to play with the Band, depending on the student’s skill and dedication to practice.
Instruction in piping is provided by experienced members of the group. From time to time the band will sponsor piping workshops and bring in qualified teachers and workshop leaders to provide additional teaching time for all players. Outside instructors and workshop leaders are highly skilled players and band leaders, many of whom play or have played with world class Grade 1 pipe bands.
Whether you are 10 or 80, it’s never too early or too late to learn to play the bagpipes. Playing bagpipes can be a lifetime pursuit and an introduction to a whole new world of great music and fabulous musicians. Pipe bands are like families and we invite you to take the first steps in joining our band family.
Learn to Play the Drums
The Kenora Scottish Pipes and Drums is a community band as well as a teaching band and is always on the lookout for new students. Lessons are free, however students are required to purchase their own practice drumpads and music books – cost is a onetime $100.00 fee.
Our band consists of bass drummers, tenor drummers and snare drummers. Lessons are provided for each kind of drum.
The bass drum has the easiest scores to learn; however, it is the heaviest drum and requires great timing along with the ability to maintain a steady beat.
The tenor drum score is a little more complex, but the challenge comes in learning to flourish (spin) the tenor mallets. Flourishing is choreographed for all tenor players in the band.
The snare drum is the loudest drum. It also involves the most complex scores and rhythms. Learning to play the snare drum takes the longest amount of time compared to the length of time it takes to learn to play the bass or tenor drums.
Lessons typically run 20-30 minutes each week. We begin by learning proper grips and basic rhythms. Lessons are a mix of drumming exercises and playing basic drum scores.
Once new drummers become proficient on the drum pad and are able to play 2-3 standard scores, then they are able to use one of the drums and carriers belonging to the band. All instruments and carriers remain property of the band, while players are responsible for maintaining them.
Please contact the band if you are interested in learning to play the drums with the Kenora Scottish Pipes and Drums. We always welcome players of all ability levels.