Scottish Piper
Scottish Piper was started in 1999
with the intention of providing free bagpipe tuition to anybody that really
wanted to learn, regardless of their financial background. Since then the
company has never looked back. John and his pupils go busking regularly
and appear at various hotels presenting their own show. All the money raised
is banked and used to supply chanters, reeds, music and even bagpipes for
the pupils. We also have a good social life with regular days out plus at
the end of the year the kids get a percentage of the money raised. This
year we bought an amplifier and a laptop, both batery operated, so that
we can have our own custom made backing tracks for the “show”
tunes as well as drum beating for the more traditional tunes.
When asked why he started the company
John explained that he was invalided out of his work with chronic Pyoderma
Gangrenosun and hospitalised a lot – “during that time the one
thing I could still do was pipe so I decided that I would start teaching
again but as I was not charging I would be able to pick and choose pupils
and only teach those kids that really loved the pipes. I didn't and still
don't worry about the standard they can reach as long as they really love
the instrument but I have to be honest and say that I've been very lucky
as all the kids have turned out to be great pipers”. “ I would
also like to thank the people of Edinburgh for all their support
for our school"
John Main:
Qualifications:
Best moment :
Kieran Davies:
Calum Chapman:
Cammy Paton:
Ewan Main
Lauren Davies
Ross MacNaughton
Started
piping when he was 6 years old. Been taught by many famous teachers including
P/M George Stoddart MBE and Captain John MacLellan Head of the Army School
of Piping
Has performed at the city's top “Scots Nights” and has presented
and produced his own shows at many of the Capital's top hotels
Teacher's Certificate, Senior Teacher's Certificate
plus the prestigious
Diploma of Piping from the Institute of Piping.
2008 World Solo Piping Champion
2008 British Legion Scottish Champion
Watching the kids perform in pupblic for the first
time and seeing them bloom. Plus winning the World Championship with a
clean sweep of all four competitions.
Kieran is the senior member of Scottish
Piper. He started piping when he was 9 years old and is now “nearly”
fifteen.His piping career has included winning piping competitions, playing
in pipe bands at Edinburgh Castle and playing at shows with John. He has
also presented the shows when John can't make it. He is a great role model
for the younger kids being a kind and considerate person as well as a good
piper.
Calum has been playing for 3 years
now and like Kieran has played in pipe bands, competed successfully and
enjoys playing at shows.. He attends a music school and uses the bagpipe
as one of his main instruments. He is a talented musician and will go far
with his music.
Cammy started piping when he was
8 and is now, at 10 years old, an experienced performer at shows and weddings.
He likes to be known as “the cute one.” He is a talented young
lad who has also played in Edinburgh Castle and is also the joker of the
school having the great ability of being able to make everybody laugh with
a single comment.
Ewan has been piping for just over
2 years. He has played at Edinburgh Castle and the shows. He is a talented
musician and has been performing on stage from a young age. He is calm under
presure and this calmness spreads throughout the group.
Lauren started piping when she was
10 years old. Not only is she a talented piper having competed solo and
played in pipe bands – she is also a prize winning Highland Dancer
. With all that talent you can see why she is a regular at shows!
Ross only started piping 5 weeks
ago and is already playing a number of tunes on the minature bagpipe. He
has played at shows as well as looking after the computer and amplifier.
Album
(to follow)