Announcements

DELCO Workshop Update

February 4, 2010 - The DELCO Workshop is on as planned. The workshop staff is advising attendees to get on the road as early as possible, preferrably by early Friday. The hotel has offered to accommodate as many as possible. If necessary, contact Helen Harlow at 703-969-2804.

2010 Music Requirement Update

January 26, 2010 - The following was developed at the last music board meeting and ratified by the EC. These changes are effective for playing year 2010.

The QMM for grades 4 and 5 shall be defined as six to eight parts of march music, simple time, no time limit. The list of tunes provided for each grade is strongly recommended, but not required. The QMM should contain tunes that by tradition are considered marches (such as written in time signatures 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4) played in quick time. The QMM shall not contain bridges or reprises. The music should be structured traditionally i.e. 2/4 marches-8 bars/16 beats per part repeated, 4/4 marches 8 bars/32 beats per part not repeated, 3/4 marches 8 bars/24 beats repeated. The QMM is to include a traditional attack of two three pace rolls, with the chanters sounding E on the seventh beat.

Marches are to be played as written, and if a part is written with repeats, the repeat does not count as an additional part. So a QMM could consist of 6 parts with nothing repeated, 8 parts all repeated, or anything in between, as long as the tunes are played the way they were written. Additionally, other time signatures of non-compound time can be included, such as a 5/4. Compound time signatures of 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8, or any other time signature where the beat is divisible by 3, are not permitted.

Rules and Regulations Updated

Competition Rules and Regulations for 2010 have been updated and posted on the Resource - Rules page of this site. Includes the new requirements for Grades 4 & 5 March Set.

 

P/M George M Bell 1926-2010

January 16, 2010 - We are sorry to report today that Pipe Major George M. Bell passed awayat age 83, on January 16, 2010, after several years of intermittent illness. P/M Bell was one of the most important piping figures in the North America.

Bell emigrated from Glasgow to New Jersey where he founded the Kenmure Pipe Band in 1963. Under his leadership, the band won the Grade 1 Eastern United States Championships nine times. He was also an active and successful solo competitor.

PM Bell was instrumental in the beginnings of EUSPBA in 1964, and served our association in many capacities, including Chairman of the Judges Committee, where he worked to develop our judging accreditation program.

George Bell may be best known as a teacher, whose students included his sons Jimmy and Duncan, as well as Derek Midgley and Bobby Durning. His sons Gordon and Donald are prominent pipe band drummers.

Our condolences go to the Bell family and many friends at this sad time.

 

The Voice Editor 

The EUSPBA is seeking a new publisher for The Voice, the association’s quarterly magazine. EUSPBA members with experience in all facets of magazine production (writing, editing, advertising, photography and design) are invited to apply. To express interest, please contact EUSPBA President Jimmy Bell directly at president@euspba.org.

Progressive Certification Program

Updated syllabi for each level of piping, snare, tenor/bass and drum major are now available in the Music resources section of this Web site.

Regrading Results Now Available

December 13, 2009 - The grading committee has completed the task of carefully reviewing each and every regrading request. The results are now posted. In order to get the results out as quickly as possible, these results are subject to change. All who applied, whether approved or denied, will receive an official written confirmation in the mail.
(View Regrading Results) updated 01/04/2009 - 12:00pm

 

2010 Election Results

November 14, 2009 - The results of the 2010 Executive Committee election were announced this morning at the EUSPBA AGM. The results for the three seats are:

  • Officer at Large #1 - Helen Harlow (re-elected)
  • Treasurer - Jim Roberts (unopposed, re-elected)
  • Executive Secretary - Sheldon Hamblin

Outgoing Executive Secretary Carole Hackett was thanked by all for her 10 years of service on the EC. Thanks to all who took part in the election by voting or running for office.

 

2010 Season Membership Forms Now Available

You can also join or renew individual and family memberships online. Choose Join/Renew from the main menu.

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Read More News . . .

Current Events - Visit our Calendar Pages for events in your area

Membership Questions?

If you have questions about your membership, please contact Helen Harlow at the following email: membership@euspba.org.

Using any other contact will only delay your request, increase the workload for our executive committee, and take their time away from functions they could be doing.

Thanks for your cooperation!

 

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About EUSPBA

The Eastern United States Pipe Band Association (EUSPBA) is a non-profit, tax exempt [501(c)(3)] organization dedicated to improving all aspects of solo and band bagpipe and percussion music.
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