Utah bagpipe band plans to open school for pipers

SALT LAKE CITY -- The story is told of a Scot who visited America. Upon his return home, a friend asked about his trip.

"Americans are the rudest, loudest, most obnoxious people I've ever met," he said. "In New York, for example, I stayed at a fine hotel. But all night long, people were in the hall, boisterous and noisy. By 10 p.m., there were screams, shouts, and people pounding on my door. By 11, they were banging on my walls, and by midnight, there was pounding on my ceiling from the room above and on my floor from the room below."

"What did you do?" asked his friend. "Nothing," said the Scot.

"I minded my own business and just kept practicing my bagpipes."

The stories and jokes about bagpipes are legion. There's the one about why pipers march while they play (it's harder to hit a moving target). And the difference between a bagpipe and an onion (no one cries when you chop up a bagpipe). And what you have when a piper is buried up to his neck in sand (not enough sand). And hundreds more.

"We don't mind," says Mike Postma, drum sergeant for the Wasatch & District Pipe Band. "We even tell some of them ourselves -- especially we drummers!" Bagpipes are a unique instrument, he acknowledges. "It seems like people either can't stand them or they love them."

Members of Wasatch & District, naturally, fall into the second category. "There's nothing quite like standing in a circle with other pipers," says Marc Pehkonen. The swirling, forceful music. The tradition it represents. "I just really, really love it."

"There's no other instrument like it. You're in elite company when you play the bagpipes," adds Mike Page, who has been with the band for about a year.

Wasatch & District, which was started in 2004, actually has two pipe bands, one junior and one advanced, each with 28 members. The advanced band has competed nationally and internationally, earning a Grade 3 classification.

Bands are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5, explains Pipe Major Ross Morrill.

"There are only two Grade 1 bands in the U.S. and only eight Grade 2 bands. We are the highest-graded band within a 400 to 500 mile radius."

They earned their upgrade in 2007 when they competed in the North American Pipe Band Championships, in Ontario, Canada, and took fourth in their division. Then they participated in another competition the next day in Montreal, against many of the same bands, and took first place. "That was one of our proud moments," says Morrill.

Next year, they will compete at the world championships in Glasgow, Scotland. This year's championships recently took place, with a total of 237 bands participating from all over the world. "That would be something to see," says Postma. "We're very excited to be going next year."

They are also excited by a new venture they are starting this fall: a piping and drumming school. The eight-week course, taught by members of the band, will start Sept. 14 and will cost $130.

Classes are open to men and women (about half of Wasatch & District pipers are women), as well as girls and boys of all ages. It's a great chance for anyone who has ever had an interest in playing bagpipes or drums, says pipe sergeant Justin Howland.

Learning to play the bagpipes takes both patience and commitment, he says. It takes about a year to get any degree of proficiency.

"You start with a practice chanter, which is just a piece of the bagpipes," he explains.

There's only one scale, only nine notes. But that sounds deceptively simple. What complicates it are the embellishments.

Then, when you add the full pipes, "it is very physical," says Morrill. "You have to blow, regulate pressure and think about the music all at the same time."

Like any quality musical instruments, bagpipes are not cheap; a good set starts at about $1,000. So there is a financial commitment, as well, says Morrill.

But "we do it because we love bagpipe music. It's a great hobby and something that we feel is important to share with others."

The school is the first that they know about in Utah, although there are a lot of individual teachers, says Daniel Schneider, drummer and president of Wasatch & District. "But the school is part of the mission of our organization, which is to educate as well as to entertain. We believe there is a lot of good in the world, and music is a part of that. It makes people's lives better. By developing our talents, our creativity, we bring enjoyment to ourselves and to others."

In this area, he says, "there is a lot of interest in bagpipes, and there's a lot of talent."

There are annual festivals and a lot of people with Scottish heritage. Although that is not required, it does draw a lot of people to the music. But there are many reasons why people play the pipes.

"I've got Scottish blood lines on both sides," says band member Doug Hunter. "I always wanted to play the bagpipes, and when I became a grandparent, I decided if I was ever going to do it, I had better do it. I tracked down a local piper and asked him to teach me. It's been an awesome ride ever since."

Mike Page also "got a late start." He noticed a pipe band that came to his local cemetery every Memorial Day. "Finally, something just clicked, and I thought, I want to do that. I taught myself to play. That is not a recommended method."

Pehkonen got into piping when his mother gave him a teach-yourself-bagpipes kit as a joke Christmas present. But he tried it out. "It had a CD that offered some instructions. When it was obvious that I needed a better teacher, I went to a Highland Games in Buffalo, N.Y., where I lived at the time, and asked a piper to teach me. I've been involved in music since I was little, but this is by far the most fun thing I've done."

Paul Brunner is one of the younger members of the group. He learned to play in honor of his grandfather, "who was a big supporter. He always wanted me to learn. I love it."

Being in the band "is a very social thing," says Postma. "It's a very family-friendly organization and a great group of people. We rehearse two hours a week, give concerts on four or five weekends, march in a few parades. But it's very fulfilling and a lot of fun."

The school, he says, is a great opportunity. If you've ever wanted to play, it's a chance to find out what it's all about. "And if you think you love bagpipes now, just wait. You'll love them even more."

All those jokes notwithstanding.

President's notes June/July 2010

June-July Significant Notes

Wow, you missed something pretty special if you were not present either Friday or Saturday (June 11 & 12) at the Lehi Scottish Festival & Highland Games. Those of us on the planning committee experienced a mixed sensation as we watched in both amazement and pride while dedicated patrons kept streaming through the entry gates despite the whipping wind and pouring rain. I only half joked while welcoming everyone to our tent covered Friday night Tattoo that Scots were a resilient group who could muster the commitment to celebrate their ancestry regardless of a little inclement weather. The roar of cheers that rolled back to me from the audience was actually palpable!

Our 9 marvelous pipe bands and skilled drum major marched through the tented performance hall aisles bringing to us all the unique simulation of being in the middle of a performing pipe band. Several brawny laddies came up to me later admitting the damp eyes and lumps in their throats that occurred during that stirring performance!

The standing ovations given our musical entertainers, the respectful roar of approval for our competing athletes, the exuberant applause acknowledging our dancers and the heavy visitation to our clan booths demonstrated clearly that no one’s spirits had been dampened during Friday & Saturday! The less than perfect weather seemed to bring about its own magic as we all accepted its challenge and just went on enjoying ourselves immensely. Really, you should have been there!

And if you did miss that great event or are ready to celebrate again, don’t forget that our crew is busily preparing for the popular Cache Celtic Festival & Highland Games that will take place August 27 & 28 up at the American West Heritage Center in Wellsville in Cache Valley. Tell your friends and come on up for another great party!! Check out the links on our web page for more details.

And in addition to all the necessary planning and effort needed to host these huge and popular events, the board of directors continues to meet and work through the necessary details that keep this association well organized, financially stable and successful . A hearty thank you to all of them and the committee volunteers who work so hard so that the rest of us may continue to celebrate our Scottish heritage so merrily!

TO THE LASSIES! USU

"Women should rule the world." That's what former white House press secretary Dee Dee Myers wrote just two years ago. "If we were in charge," she writes, "things might actually change. Instead of posturing, we'd have cooperation. Instead of gridlock, we'd have progress. Instead of a shouting match, we'd have a conversation. A very long conversation. But a conversation nonetheless. Everyone would just hold hands and sing 'kumbaya'."

Or would they? what would it be like if women ruled the world, I began to wonder.

At this provocative suggestion, and recalling that it wasn't that long ago that the Democrats were seriously considering nominating Hillary clinton for president and the Republicans selected Sarah Palin as vice-president, I began to wonder as well.

If women ruled the world, would more things - like desktop computers, battleships or space shuttles - come in pastel colours?

Would baby-sitting, doing dishes, and making beds be considered "macho"?

Sould the hems of men's pants go up or down depending on the economy? Would men have to change shoes just because it was after Memorial or Labor Day?

Would 'Better Homes and Gardens' feature an annual "swimsuit" issue?

Would the men who design women's shoes be forced to wear them?

Would little girls read about "Snow White and the Seven Hunks"?

Would men bring drinks, chips, and dip to a bunch of loud, obnoxious women who had planted themselves on the couch all evening to watch the gold-medal round of women's figure skating?

Would all toilet seats be chained down?

would TV news segments on sports be limited to one minute?

As part of basic training, would all soldiers have to take care of a two-year-old for six weeks?

Would men be subjected to Menrichment night or "man" agrams?

Women would certainly do something about "mendicants" - "mendacity" - "manhandling" - "meningitis" - and all other kinds of "MENACES" beginning with the word "men".

What makes Dee Dee Myers think that women don't run the world already? They may not hold the white House of half the seats in Congress, but think about this, men. If women don't run the world, is it possible that they run the world as we know it?

Do they really need our help to open jars, get things down off shelves, or wire up stereo speakers? Probably not, but it's nice that they let us think they do. And this leads us to the best evidence that women actually fun the world - they have convinced us that we are truly the ones in charge.

To our mothers, our mothers' mothers, our wives, our sisters, and our daughters. Up on your feey, my laddies, and join me in a toast...

TO THE LASSIES!!!

TO THE LADDIES - JOYCE HOWELL

Toast to the Laddies

We do love the laddies, but I must share a few thoughts about them before we make our toast.

Men love to barbecue – but of course any man will cook if danger is involved.
Men who have pierced ears are the ones best prepared for marriage; after all they’ve already experienced pain and bought jewelry.
A successful lad is one who makes more money than his partner can spend and a successful lassie is one who can find such a man.
Now we all know that men hate to go shopping. That is why the men’s department is usually located on the first floor of a department store and is just inside the front door.
When the lads play their favorite game – golf of course – they yell “fore”, hit six, and write down four.

So ladies, let’s stand and drink a toast.
“To the lads we honor most.
They are our heroes, strong and Spartan,
Especially when they’re wearing the Tartan!”

Ladies, please raise your glasses for toast, to the Laddies.