On stepping in for the Pipe Major

Back in mid-August, I wrote an entry regarding standing next to the Pipe Major (Top Ten Reasons Not to Stand next to …). Little did I envision stepping into his shoes and running a band practice. Now there is an example of irony. Crazy? Yes, I know. But fate has a way of taking us out of our comfort zone.

There are times in a band’s year that the Pipe Major and Pipe Sergeant are both out. We have several members of the piper corp. capable of running a practice. Based on what is needed that evening, the effort could be a fun time or a challenge. If it is chanter work on new or existing tunes, tuning the band member’s pipes, then playing tunes in the circle, then it can be managed. Even if a piper is capable, he or she, may not want to. I think that it comes down to confidence to lead and competency on the pipes.

So that’s where I found myself a couple weeks ago. I had direction from the PM as to what he wanted accomplished, so my job was to follow through on his outline. The first time stepping up to leading in the circle is an interesting one. The first question: where is the PM starts the evening followed by a simple announcement that I was asked to run the practice. Done. So let’s get going. Chanters first, pipes second (warm up, tuning to 480 hz, drones tuning, circle up leaving room for drummers, tuning sequence, etc.), then on to playing new and old tunes (bring your music if they aren’t memorized yet). Add drummers, and now the bass drummer and lead side drummer are watching my foot for tempo. You just can’t think about it. Lead in the moment; but remain very much aware of what is happening.

Just as I wrote about the PM hearing my playing, now, the band can hear and see my playing; some are even following my fingering, and, I am more aware than ever of others and their playing. Nervous? Yes. So I focus on playing and keep the tempo as even as I can and the evening moving forward. I’m ever more aware of phrases where the tempo can run away, and they do… arghhh! Stop, recognize it and repeat. Everyone learns from it. Add a little humor.

I thinks PM’s are unconsciously trained on certain praises and actions. Set the tempo; humming the first couple bars of music; ask younger pipers “How many beats of ‘E’” at strike in; stop if early ‘E’ is sounded; encourage control of your instrument; “Good cut-off”, or “watch the cutoff”; “It’s 1, 2,3 off”; we are in this to improve our music; listen to your neighbor for tuning, etc.

The evening flies by, guaranteed! At the end, words of encouragement to all and the DM announces “dismissed”. Then comes the questions and suggestions. I listen to them all and relay how the band did at practice to the PM. Interestingly enough, I hope that I will be asked to substitute again. My thanks goes out to the band for patiently following my lead.

“Irony is just honesty with the volume cranked up.” George Saunders (US Author)