Just a short update today. Success! A mid-season regrade from IV to III.
I'll need to change my registration for the RI Games now.
I
visited a local pipe band and sat in on their competition group's
practice earlier this week. I have a good feeling about it, and am going
back down next week to sit in on the full band's practice. With any
luck, I'll be back to band playing soon.
Friday, May 4, 2018
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Starting to Record
One thing I've been sorely neglecting has been recording my
practice sessions. It's difficult with my equipment, but I'm slowly
getting there. I ordered a Zoom recorder (which will hopefully be here
this week).
Recording is a frustrating thing. I've been out of practice for two years, and I hear every bit of it. Not only that - I'm on a new instrument that I'm still getting used to. That being said, I do have flashes where stuff comes back to me.
I need to build my repertoire up again. I feel like I only have a handful of pieces I can play really well, with a bunch that I can (kind of) half play. That being said, as of 4/15/18 I'm ranked #6 in P4Sr., based on two out of three events. I should (temporarily) wind up #4 once they post the third event. Not bad for my first foray back.
Recording is a frustrating thing. I've been out of practice for two years, and I hear every bit of it. Not only that - I'm on a new instrument that I'm still getting used to. That being said, I do have flashes where stuff comes back to me.
I need to build my repertoire up again. I feel like I only have a handful of pieces I can play really well, with a bunch that I can (kind of) half play. That being said, as of 4/15/18 I'm ranked #6 in P4Sr., based on two out of three events. I should (temporarily) wind up #4 once they post the third event. Not bad for my first foray back.
Monday, April 9, 2018
New Hampshire Indoor Scottish Festival
First competition down! I drove down to New Hampshire for the Indoor
Scottish Festival in Nashua. I promptly had a freakout upon learning I
was up first for the 2/4 march, and I had arrived a few minutes after
the scheduled start time for the piping competitions. I'd also forgotten
how difficult it could be to tune inside when there are a lot of other
pipers around! After a few minutes of warm up (not enough to get the
pipes settled down and locked in, unfortunately), I was off to the
races.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with how I did - first in the 2/4 and piobaireachd, second in the 6/8, and two AGL marks. Had I been settled down and warmed up better, I think I probably could have gotten an AGL for the piobaireachd as well. I'm comfortable I made the right decision picking up the Naills and reeding them with Ezee tenors and a Henderson bass. Two judges commented on the drone sound, one giving a "great instrument" comment. Not bad for a $400 set of pipes I've had for about two months. One of the judges took a few minutes to talk with me right after I played, leading off with "You're from Maine right? Who the hell is there in Maine to teach you to play like THAT?!" They also suggested I petition for a regrade. I think John would be proud.
After wandering around and listening a little, I think I'm a step ahead of where I thought I was playing-wise. I've sent an email off to the EUSPBA to figure out if I can petition for a mid-season regrade. If I'm lucky, I may end my first year of competition in Grade 3, with an eye towards Grade 2. The next competition on the docket for me is the Rhode Island Highland Games in June. I've got a month and a half to get ready, and to work up a competition strathspey and reel set in case I get moved up.
***Update: 4/14***
They're letting me petition for a regrade, and I'm anxiously awaiting the results. If I'm lucky, maybe I'll know before the registration info for the Rhode Island games is up.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with how I did - first in the 2/4 and piobaireachd, second in the 6/8, and two AGL marks. Had I been settled down and warmed up better, I think I probably could have gotten an AGL for the piobaireachd as well. I'm comfortable I made the right decision picking up the Naills and reeding them with Ezee tenors and a Henderson bass. Two judges commented on the drone sound, one giving a "great instrument" comment. Not bad for a $400 set of pipes I've had for about two months. One of the judges took a few minutes to talk with me right after I played, leading off with "You're from Maine right? Who the hell is there in Maine to teach you to play like THAT?!" They also suggested I petition for a regrade. I think John would be proud.
After wandering around and listening a little, I think I'm a step ahead of where I thought I was playing-wise. I've sent an email off to the EUSPBA to figure out if I can petition for a mid-season regrade. If I'm lucky, I may end my first year of competition in Grade 3, with an eye towards Grade 2. The next competition on the docket for me is the Rhode Island Highland Games in June. I've got a month and a half to get ready, and to work up a competition strathspey and reel set in case I get moved up.
***Update: 4/14***
They're letting me petition for a regrade, and I'm anxiously awaiting the results. If I'm lucky, maybe I'll know before the registration info for the Rhode Island games is up.
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Last weekend before the 2018 competition season
Well, this is the last weekend before the 2018 competition season. I
went to my practice spot early in the morning, since there's a storm
moving in this afternoon. I spent most of the session running through The Field of Gold.
It's not particularly challenging, but my left ring finger tends to
lock up when doing edres off of C. Overall, a good practice session. I'm
feeling ready to compete.
I also took some time over the last few days to work with my drone reeds. I really like my current setup of Ezeedrone tenors and a Henderson Harmonic Deluxe bass - smooth, balanced, and powerful without being overbearing. However, I wanted to make sure I didn't have something else that would work better. Long story short - out of what I have - that's the best setup for me. I tried various combinations of Kinnaird Evos, Crozier carbons, Ezeedrones, and Henderson Harmonics, and kept coming back to the Henderson Harmonic Bass and Ezee tenors. I think that's what I'm sticking with this season, although I may pick up more reeds to try over the summer. The biggest difference between my current setup and the others?
I'm eagerly awaiting a new blowpipe stock from Dunbar, since the Naills came with a stock that had in a built in tube trap that was pretty well dead. When it arrives, I'll finally be able to use one of my bottle traps with the Naills. It should go a long way towards extending the Naills' stable playing time. If I'm lucky, the stock will show up before next weekend. If not, it should be here well before the next competition in April.
EDIT 3/11/18
The Dunbar stock came in time. It looks good - better than the split stock that came with the pipes. Unfortunately the contest was cancelled due to a nor'easter impacting travel for the judges. It looks like I'll be getting going in New Hampshire next month instead.
I also took some time over the last few days to work with my drone reeds. I really like my current setup of Ezeedrone tenors and a Henderson Harmonic Deluxe bass - smooth, balanced, and powerful without being overbearing. However, I wanted to make sure I didn't have something else that would work better. Long story short - out of what I have - that's the best setup for me. I tried various combinations of Kinnaird Evos, Crozier carbons, Ezeedrones, and Henderson Harmonics, and kept coming back to the Henderson Harmonic Bass and Ezee tenors. I think that's what I'm sticking with this season, although I may pick up more reeds to try over the summer. The biggest difference between my current setup and the others?
I'm eagerly awaiting a new blowpipe stock from Dunbar, since the Naills came with a stock that had in a built in tube trap that was pretty well dead. When it arrives, I'll finally be able to use one of my bottle traps with the Naills. It should go a long way towards extending the Naills' stable playing time. If I'm lucky, the stock will show up before next weekend. If not, it should be here well before the next competition in April.
EDIT 3/11/18
The Dunbar stock came in time. It looks good - better than the split stock that came with the pipes. Unfortunately the contest was cancelled due to a nor'easter impacting travel for the judges. It looks like I'll be getting going in New Hampshire next month instead.
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