THE TUNE UP NEWSLETTER OF THE LAUNCESTON RSL PIPES & DRUMS Issue 1 RSL PIPE BAND AT THE 2012 CAMPBELL TOWN SHOW

Transcription

1 THE TUNE THE TUNE UP NEWSLETTER OF THE LAUNCESTON RSL PIPES & DRUMS UP Newsletter of the Launceston RSL Pipes & Drums RSL PIPE BAND AT THE 2012 CAMPBELL TOWN SHOW Welcome all to the inaugural edition of the City of Launceston RSL Pipes & Drums weekly newsletter THE TUNE UP With the input from band members and friends I hope to keep informed all band members of upcoming events such as band practices, band meeting dates, band engagements. Also add a bit of fun with funny stories and pipers jokes about drummers. Oh sorry Josh Ha Ha. Pipers jokes are also welcome but maybe subject to the editors discretion. Another helpful use would be to inform member s information arising from monthly meetings. I am hopeful that this newsletter may prove a valuable source of information about not only our band but all things Highland. I think this letter may also prove helpful in the ongoing musical improvement of the band through helpful playing tips submitted by band members for all to see and absorb. There is a massive amount of helpful info both from our own musicians and from the wealth of collective knowledge on the web. So I encourage all to submit these gems of knowledge to THE TUNE UP newsletter for the benefit of all. The success of THE TUNE UP is up to the input from members. It is intended as a light fun interaction between members sharing not only band administrative information but by swapping funny stories from band engagements trips etc. (remember! what happens away gets put into THE TUNE UP!) I am also looking for fellow editors to look after a segment(s) of his or her choosing perhaps the jokes (Graeme) or pipe maintenance or searching the web for interesting web sites. Swapping links to YouTube and Highland suppliers. What do you want to see in your newsletter? Of course anything that is submitted would first be checked by the editor so as not to possibly offend anyone such as a questionable joke. But as this newsletter is for band members only I do not see any problems there. I would also like to mention that as I am keen to edit the newsletter each week, it may be appropriate to elect an editor.this I will leave open for discussion. IN THIS ISSUE John Farden Welcome to our new Piper John Farden An accomplished piper with years of musical experience certain to be a very welcome member of the pipe corp. Wedding anniversary Performance While performing at Campbell Town the band helped celebrate an 60 th wedding anniversary.

2 2 GETTING OUR NAME OUT THERE! To raise our profile in the community it was decided at the last band monthly meeting to produce a business card also to set up a band web site. This has been achieved with a web site at a dedicated address at ltonrslpad@yahoo.com.au and finally a Facebook page at I hope for these three advertising methods to assist in getting RSL Pipe Band name well known in the Tasmanian community. Also I see the benefit by being able, through each of these methods, to quickly pass on tunes and there changes, lists of tunes to be played at the next band engagement. This newsletter will also be sent out through the band and also the web site using a member s only area. I understand that not all members have access to the internet so a paper newsletter will be made available. The web site has a contact us" page which has already put us in contact with two young playing pipers looking for a new band. Both pipers watched our performance at Campbell Town Show and introduced themselves to the band.

3 3 WEB SITES LINK PAGE Welcome to piping karaoke. Welcome to piping karaoke. Bagpipe Star lets you be a bagpipe hero. You play along to fully-produced backing tracks to the world s favourite piping tunes. Its bagpipe karaoke, with the sheet music scrolling on the screen as you perform. Experience playing lead bagpipe with full rock, folk and brass band accompaniment. You ll sound just like famous police bands, the Scots Dragoon Guards or the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. It s perfect for pub performances, busking, karaoke sessions with your pipe band friends, playing on laptops with electronic pipes, or just making solo practices more interesting. Backing tracks tuned to the Highland Bagpipe. Bagpipes are notoriously difficult to tune to other instruments, but BagpipeStar takes the guesswork away by creating music tracks purpose-tuned to the Great Highland Bagpipe. BagpipeStar lets you choose from a range of tunings, expressed in the Hertz (Hz) value of your pipe chanter s Low A note. 440 This is the tuning of orchestral A (the A4 note on a piano keyboard). This tuning is for smallpipes, some practice chanters, the Technopipe in midi mode and for other instruments that play in the key of A. 466 This is an orchestral B flat (the black note above A4 on a piano). This is designed for pipers who have electronic bagpipes, the Shepherd Orchestral Chanter, or other B flat instruments like tin whistles etc. 470 This is the standard traditional pipe band tuning of Low A. 472 Slightly sharper tuning for bands and soloists. 474 This is for sharper chanters and for those playing UniversalPiper software with electronic chanters (Upipe default tuning is 473.8Hz). 475 Traditional chanter on a hot day. 480 Modern competitive pipe band tuning. 483 Slightly sharper competitive pipe band tuning. 486 For sharp chanters. 489 For very sharp chanters. I have ordered the dvd/cd package to play on TV or on the computer. Though it is not a serious training piece of kit I do think it will provide some serious fun listening to pipers having a go. Any fun things like this or any other sites of interest can be added to THE TUNE UP also they can be posted on the band Web Site. Well that s the ad that I found linked to the Perth Highland Pipe Band. I believe it is produced by their Pipe Sargent Malcolm MacLean.

4 4 Welcome to The Chanter a page dedicated to the playing and enjoyment of the Pipes. I am looking forward to your articles and ideas on how to increase our playing enjoyment. As a band we all know that feeling of satisfaction that you have truly accomplished something pretty special. Just after the end of the Bundanoon display this year all band members knew something special had been accomplished. This was only accomplished by the numerous rehearsals by the Band. Thanks Rodney for use of your Yard for our final Rehearsal. The secret to success, both as a band and individually is P.P.P.P.P this means Proper Practice Prevents Poor Performance. Twenty minutes constructive practice is worth 2 hours of just playing tunes. So what is constructive practice? I think that if you start with a routine of simple exercises such as (I know it s boring) scales, start very slow then slowly quicken up. Then play every second note, third note etc. Followed by each of the main gracenotes GDE up and down the scale. Start slow then quicken up to a controlled tempo. But!!!!! Be honest with yourself if it s not clear and correct do it again till it is, over and over again. The Chanter Remember if you practice a mistake you will play a mistake all the time. Its sounds boring but being competent with the basics will make a very noticeable difference to all other aspects of your piping. Practice nights are designed for not only new tunes but asking questions on problems you might be noticing during your own practice times. These might include problems such as crossing sounds etc. Methods of fixing these types of playing problems can be shown at Band practice nights. Quite often the solution is a very simple modification to the way you practice at home. If you are having some annoying problem with your piping just ask one of your Piping officers such as our Pipe Major Ron Grant as he has Years and Years of teaching under his belt. Also try to fit in exercises on doublings etc. a couple times a week Once again starting slow but even, listening to ensure you are playing every note written in the embellishment. Tips and ideas for Lovers of Bagpipes

5 5 By The Centre, Quick Joke By Anonymous AROUND TOWN Jokes and Quotes Once again I need your help as I need lots of Jokes and Quotes for By The Centre Quick Joke page send them in please. Please if you won t show your mum the jokes don t send them in OK thanks. Funny Pics Same as Jokes and Quotes I need funny pictures relating to anything. Q. Why did the bagpiper get mad at the drummer? A. He moved a drone and wouldn't tell him which one. Murray: "Hey, Josh. How late does the bagpiper play?" Josh: "Oh, about a half beat behind the drummers." Did you know that you can tell a Scotsman clan by his kilts? Another method has come to hand, if you put tour hand up his kilt and you find a quarter pounder he is a McDonald.

6 6 Band Admin Page This page is dedicated to passing on important information relating to the running of the band. Such as practice times as well as any changes week to week, details regarding band monthly meetings, updates to contact details of any type. Also to inform members of any tune set changes including list of tunes to be played at the next band engagement. An update to up and coming band events including engagements, extra practices, band dinners, BBQs etc. Feel free to send in anything you wish to pass on to the band and it will be added to this page. Our next band engagement is on the 8 th July 2012 please meet at 10am for an start. I am planning on playing three times each of about 15 to 20 minutes each. Expected finish time around 3pm. A thank you to Pipers Ron Grant, Kim Henry, Laird Best, John Farden, Greg Parkinson and Craig Cooper also thanks to our Drummers Josh Sheppard and Ben Medcraft for their excellent effort at the Campbell Town 2012 Show. It was a cool to cold day but still a fairly good crowd. The band also performed at a 60 th wedding anniversary at a nearby residence latter in the afternoon. Our performance was well received as we were shown great hospitality in their home and given drinks and top food. The gentleman was born in Aberdeen and appreciated the music of the Pipes and Drums. I would also like to thank Laird Best for his constant work as our secretary. The following is a summary of the last monthly meeting held on the 16 th of May A Thank you letter From Matilda Scott, a piper from Scotch Oakburn College, who with her sister Charlotte, travelled to Bundanoon with the band in April. Matilda wished to thank the band for the opportunity to play with us saying how she enjoyed herself. Hope to see more of the Scotch pipers on parade soon. A Letter of resignation from Tony Rushton was received and was accepted by the band. We all thank Tony for his efforts during his time with the Band and wish him all the best for hi future. General Business. New Piper John Farden has been formally accepted into the Band. Welcome John, your piping experience is a much welcome addition to the Pipe Corp. Ron brought up the question of sun smart hats for the band. Something that will complement our smart uniform while being practical. Any ideas of where to source an appropriate headdress is welcome. Ron informed the band that Aileen Poynter Dance School has offered dances to perform with the band. Pipers will need to look at suitable types of tunes for the dances. Truly a welcome addition to our performances. Josh mentioned interest from the organizers of the Three Peaks race for us to perform at the start and end of the race. A Midyear dinner was suggested by Craig as a winter get together possibly at the Wok and Grill but open for suggestions. The dinner is an opportunity for the families to meet and become involved in the band activities. After some regular engagements being canceled, due to a rumor that the band had disbanded. It was suggested by Lyn that we need to maintain a Facebook site. Along with a Web site and a business card that our profile in the community would be raised. This has now been achieved with all up and running. The addresses to both are on page 2 of this letter. For more info please ltonrslpad@yahoo.com.au or ring Craig Cooper.

7 7 Could anyone who changes their contact details including please contact Craig Cooper so I can update our records. Band Practice times are from 7pm to 9pm each Wednesday night at the Launceston RSL building 1 st floor on Wellington Street. The and web sites will be monitored by both Craig and Laird. Please make the most of these resources to enhance our profile across Tasmania. Business cards will be handed out to members please contact Craig for some. On the subject of uniforms if you know of any previous member no longer active that has band uniforms could you notify Graeme so the uniforms could be returned. Pipe Sargent Craig Cooper is willing to provide extra tuition music or theory, at no cost, or just for some extra fun piping learning some show tunes, on week nights after 7pm at 26 Waroona Street Youngtown near the South Launceston Football Club ground. If you are interested please or ring Craig at cplcoops@yahoo.com or on MOB or after 6pm If any of your uniform needs maintenance or replacing please contact Graeme so that action can be taken. Our uniform is very smart looking and is a visual statement of our overall high standards.

8 THE TUNE UP Newsletter of the Launceston RSL Pipes & Drums [Street Address] Launceston Tasmania Australia

9 9 [Street Address] [City, ST ZIP Code]