We are currently looking for pipers and drummers to join our ranks!

Always with the understanding that life sometimes gets in the way of piping and drumming, we expect our members to stay current with the music, attend practices and gigs, and practice at home. The Pipe Major and Lead Drummer determine when members are ready to perform with the Band.

The Band provides the uniform, with the exception of ghillies (shoes). The Band will also supply a pipe chanter and reeds. Pipers must supply their own pipes and practice chanter.

Drummers must supply a matching practice pad. The drum corps currently uses the 'soft' Hardcorps practice pad. The Band provides drums, harnesses, and playing sticks - the J. Reid Maxwell ISL-1. In 2007, the Band purchased all new Pearl drums and harnesses.

Lessons

We welcome beginners! Our area does not have many pipers and drummers and we are happy to teach. Many of our players learned to play through our teaching program before they joined the band.

A beginning pipe student starts on a practice chanter to learn the basic movements and the first tunes. The practice chanter is used throughout the piping career to learn new music.

Once the student has memorized several tunes on the practice chanter, he or she is ready for the pipes. Then begins the process to learn the blowing technique for the pipes and to transfer the skills learned on the practice chanter over to the pipes. The student also continues to learn new tunes on the pipes. Usually after approximately one year, the student is ready to start attending band practices. It often takes up to two years for a new player to become a strong band member.

A beginning snare student starts on a practice pad to learn the rudiments and first scores. A side drummer will always use the practice pad to learn new music.

Once the student has sufficiently mastered scores, the student can play on the drum. Pipe bands use special high tension snare drums with double snares designed specifically for pipe bands. Just like pipers, usually after approximately one year, the drum student is ready to start attending band practices. It often takes up to two years for a new player to become a strong band member.

See our Contacts page if you are interested in lessons!

Band Practices

The band practices Sundays from 2pm-5pm at the bank's branch in Mellott, Indiana. The branch is located at 206 S. Main Street, just off US 341. The public is welcome to observe our practices. Please contact us to arrange a visit and to get detailed information and directions.

A typical practice includes:

RECITALS: Each week, three members of the band are scheduled to play a tune in front of the band. This is usually a tune they are working on in their private lessons and/or working on for competition. Recitals help members cope with and eventually get over performance jitters.

CHANTER AND DRUM PAD PRACTICE: The pipers and the drummers separate to practice on chanters and pads. This time involves learning new music, going over and fine tuning the current repertoire, and working on exercises and unison.

BAND PRACTICE: This is a time for playing together as a band on pipes and drums. Here, we focus on unison within each corps and our general ensemble as a band.