Teach Yourself Bagpipes by Lindsay Davidson

bringing quality 'piping instruction to you for free
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Introduction

In 2007 the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association introduced set tunes for pipe bands competing in Grades Novice, 4A and 4B. They  also introduced arrangements for these tunes.

Not all of the arrangements include the whole tune as traditionally played, and this point is mentioned briefly by the RSPBA in their introduction to the tunes.

Each tune is given here with the arrangement exactly as published by the RSPBA. Five learning comments, or points of discussion for you or your band are given. Five exercises designed to specifically address areas of potential difficulty are included under each tune. Video files of the tunes in the given arrangements and exercises at two pitches and in three tempi (full speed, half speed and quarter speed) are also included. This means you can send your 'pipers home and they can practice a particular exercise all in an identical way, playing along with the midi file so that when you next meet as a band, you can be sure that everyone has been working on the same thing in the same way.

The list of exercises in this area will give all of the exercises generated for these tunes, organised in terms of technique being adressed and general ensemble technique. They can be found under this link.

In generating the midi files for the tunes, it is becoming more and more obvious that certain small stylistic compromises can be made to immensely enhance the unity of style that your band can play with. That is to say, the rhythmical interpretations are being made with a mind to building a band style of playing that will make future tunes infinitely easier to bring together. Whilst this means slightly less individualism in some tunes, it means maximum progress over the medium term of learning together.

As this is a very large project and the RSPBA keep adding tues to their list, please keep coming back. This area of teachyourselfbagpipes will need to be updated regularly until completed.  

The index of tunes arranged so far is below:

MarchesStrathspeysReels
Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering
Auchmountain’s Bonnie Glen
Australian Ladies
Campbell’s Farewell to Redcastle
Corriecholies’s 43rd Welcome to the Northern Meeting
Greenwood Side
I’ll Gang Nae Mair Tae Yon Toon
Jenny’s Bawbee
MacKay’s Farewell to the 74th
McKenzie Highlanders
Men of Argyll
Mhari Bhan
Pipe Major William Ross’s Farewell to the Scots Guards
Rantin’ Rovin’ Robin
Teribus
The 25th K.O.S.B.’s Farewell to Meerut
The 72nd Highlanders Farewell to Aberdeen
The Brown Haired Maiden
The Drunken Piper
The Earl of Mansfield
The Pipers Cave
The Sweet Maid of Glendaruel

Aspen Bank
Because he was a Bonny Lad
Campbeltown Kiltie Ball
Captain Horne
Colonel MacLeod
Dalnahassaig
J F MacKenzie
Lady MacKenzie of Fairburn
Lady MacKenzie of Gairloch
Louden's Bonnie Woods and Braes
Marquis of Huntly
McPhederan's Strathspey
Molly Connell
Munlochy Bridge
O'er The Bows To Ballindalloch
Orange and Blue
Seonaidh's Tune
The Inverness Rant
The Keel Row
The Market Place of Inverness
The Smiths a Gallant Fireman

Circassion Circle
Colonel MacLeod
East Wood Cottage
Famous Ballymote
High Road to Linton
Jock Wilson's Ball
Lord James Murray
Marion and Donald
Miss Girdle
Molly on the Shore
Piper of Drummond
Sleepy Maggie
Tail Toddle
The Ale is Dear
The Fairy Dance
The Silver Spear
Willie Murray



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