An Old Dog and Some New Tricks

Ok... so I'm not that old... but stay with me...

I've been running the grade 2 corp for a number of years now, needless to say it's been awhile since I've seen a new rudiment I had to wrap my hands around.

But with each new year comes a lot of new opportunities. The Grade 2 band is heading to Maxville this year. We will not be in Scotland for the World's the week after. This, however, has opened up an opportunity for myself... At some point somewhere the Pipe Band God's were having a party, throwing a few back, and decided to trick the great Graham Brown into asking me to try out for his corp.

This results in me getting a chance rarely bestowed on pipers and drummers... The chance to play Grade 1. To be on the cd's and dvd's. To go to the show as Kevin Costner so aptly put it in Bull Durham (I think that movie was about pipe bands).

The next step? Don't screw it up!

I've nestled into a practice regimen that sees me practicing an hour before work and one to two before bed. I am deadly dedicated to St. Andrew's so I have to make sure I have that music cold before I delve to far into Peel's.

I am practicing them as a hybrid. Since both band's seasons overlap I have to be able to move from score to score without hesitation. Incidentally out of 4 MSRs (Two per band) Exactly 3 of the tunes are different both bands are playing the same marches and both are playing one of the same Reels....

But wow what music!

It's been three days and I've learned a ton. Haven't even been to a rehearsal yet. This is the education I desperately need, and many local drummers outside our corp have been kind enough to explain to me... But I'm loyal to my people, something a great piper once told me about Graham.

I love my corp, and it's my opinion that this experience will certainly make the big blue back end sound even better.

So away I go.


This blog will now become not only musings and news from Saspb, but a diary of my attempt to play in the bigs. A sort of days in the life of a grade 1 virgin if you will.

I hope you enjoy and follow along as we take this adventure on together.

Cheers

Sean
Saspb Lead Drummer
Peel Wanna-be

New Year, New Blog

Good morning fellow pipe banders and general clingers-on.

I hope 2012 finds everyone in good spirits. We at the Big Blue Machine certainly are!

There's a lot of news kicking around so I'll get right to it.

We welcomed a couple new family members before Christmas. Baby Graeme from the Ford clan joined us and the whole family is doing very well. Alan is slowly taking to the idea of not being the only kid in the house, and we're all adjusting to Papa Al!!

We also had a new Schneider Baby arrive December 8th!! Phil, Allison, and Isla brought baby Malcolm into the world and based on his size (9lbs, 21") he'll be carrying a bass drum around before pre-school. Everyone is healthy and happy and Malcolm is already arm wrestling with Dad!

So we entered the New Year with some sleepy parents but smiles all around.

We have had to make some tough decisions as a band this season. We had initially planned on another run at Scotland, but due to expense and holiday restrictions etc. we have decided now to go back to Maxville for the North Americans.

This was a tough decision and it wasn't made lightly. The game plan is Scotland 2013 and we've already begun planning.

Our annual concert has been booked. April 14 is the date, and a second show is being added April 15. Both shows will be held at the beautiful Franco-Manitoban Cultural Center (Centre culturel franco-manitobain) we hope to see many of your smiling faces.

I hope to have some more time now to spend blogging and keeping up with Pipe band things.

Take care and see you all soon!

Sean