This is a subject that I always like to hear about.

I dont want a membership count of every band, mainly because there is a huge difference between numbers on paper and numbers actually regularly playing.

What im looking for is some information about the band/organisations you belong to. About your current activities and what your plans are for the future.

Just now im heavliy involved with the GMCFS Pipe band not only as a piper in the grade 3 band, but also helping Niel in the Grade 4 band by teaching some of the learners.

We are now winding down for christmas with only a few practices left now, however we are pretty busy when we come back from our break. Infact the band is out at least once every month through to the following November!!!

January - Burns Night
Feb - Solos
March - Trios
April - St Patricks Day
Mini Bands
Inivational
May - Outdoor Season Begins

October - Outdoor season Ends
November France/Belgium Trip


this is jsut a general overview of my life in the pipe badn world as it is just now, i would like to hear the same from anyone else whos listening


Rick

Last year, sheffield band was out once, sometimes twice a month as we were seriously fundraising to buy new kilts and newer drums. We have achieved this but now we need lots of other bits and bobs, and new jackets were also mentioned. so basically, if the band want something, then we have to go out and earn enough money to sort it out. I have found though, that I have a centre core in the band who work all the time with me, then other people join in and out as they can or want. I know a lot of absences are caused by work or family, and that not everyone is as obsessed with piping as myself, which is why I try to limit band jobs to just one a month. The band was out every weekend in December mostly promoting the new tartan, but it meant that personally, no xmas shopping was done until last minute. I was beginning to panic, so i can understand band members families getting a wee bit upset. The plan this coming year is to hopefully relax a wee bit and take it a bit easier, although looking at the calendar filling up already , it doesn't seem that way. I keep thinking there must be easier hobbies, but would I really want one. So here's to another year of squealing chanters and blocked drones. Theresa x

St Patricks Day, (being the best day of the year) is in March.
Richard, u Twonk,
not April!!!!

sorry mate wouldnt want to insult u