Piper's Persuasion - Bruce Gandy Interview

Piper's Persuasion is something that all pipers and drummers should be tuned in to. This blog is a collection of video interviews with the world's most influential players and is an important resource for anyone involved in the piping community.
Episode 10 features Bruce Gandy. He talks about his early piping days, schools, composing, winning the 1987 Worlds and Gold Medals, performance psychology, the mega important Bruce Gandy Bagpipe and Development Society and more.
Take some time to watch this. It'll be inspiring.

http://www.piperspersuasion.com/2010/10/17/bruce-gandy/

Jamie's Italy Part 1

This is the first post written by JP Troy. I wanted to post a few memories and pictures from my great trip to the Bagpipe Italian Group Gathering held this year in Urbania, Italy. I was extremely fortunate to be invited to this event, and I had no idea what to expect when Duilio Vigliotti, the organizer, contacted me to be a part of it. I also had no idea that there was such an enthusiastic and passionate community thriving in Italy for the bagpipes and Scottish music.
When I first touched down in Italy, I was greeted by Duilio and Gino Schioppa, both very fine pipers and excellent tour guides. I was treated to an unbelievable lunch in Rome, and then a whirlwind tour of the major sights. After that, we made our way to Isernia, where both Duilio and Gino live. I was honoured to be a guest at Duilio and his wife Rita's home. I felt very welcome and their hospitality will be remembered forever. A few hours after getting settled, Gino and I managed to get in a few games of pool in the downtown of Isernia.
After a good night's sleep, Duilio was kind enough to take me on a tour of Isernia, stopping in at a chocolatier and a winery. We then made our way up to Urbania, where the Gathering was to take place.

Please stay tuned for Part 2 and for some exciting developments in the shop.

All the best,

JP

Reed Manipulation by the PM Himself

The beauty of Facebook allows the ease of networking, re-connecting with old friends, gaining new ones, sharing pertinent information as well as the minutiae of your everyday life. On occasion, you get a gem of a post...case in point...



Many thanks to Kevin Wisehart (currently Pipe Sergeant of the Grade 2 Stuart Highlanders Pipe Band from Wilmington, MA) for posting this 1992 article on Manipulating Reeds by none other than P/M Tom McAllister! This is just scratching the surface of the wisdom that was handed down by the McAllister boys to the Troy boys.
Thanks for the great post, Kevin!