Scotch College

New club pipes up with vigour

Words: Mr Stewart Wallace

Thanks to the drive and tenacity of Andrew Scott (’68), Jono Quay (’98) and Brian Symington (’65), and active support from a number of others, the Old Scotch Pipes and Drums Club is now holding regular monthly practice sessions, attracting a modest but growing membership of Old Boys.

The band recently achieved a key milestone with its formal incorporation, setting the scene for further growth and development in 2009. With that foundation, the band has secured seed funding from OSCA to help with equipment and uniforms, and members are most grateful to the association for its generous help.

With the key office-bearers of president, vice-president and treasurer elected for 2009, nominations for additional committee members and key roles are being sought, so we can get the band fully functioning – and also secure more hands to help with administrative and organisational tasks.

Each month it is pleasing to see around 10 to 12 pipers and drummers getting together to rediscover playing skills, refresh memories and dust off old repertoires. While a foundation of standard band tunes is now being honed, the members are also enjoying the challenge of working on a number of new pieces.

Practice sessions are typically held on the second Sunday of each month at 10am in Pipe House, Morrison Street, Hawthorn. The band will also schedule additional practice sessions if a special event is coming up, such as its proposed debut on Anzac Day this year. The nominal dates for 2009 practices are 19 April, 17 May, 14 June, 12 July, 9 August, 13 September, 11 October, 8 November and 13 December. So, if you’re an old pipe band member, mark these dates in your calendar and come along – all skill levels are very welcome.

Because it’s new, the band is continuing to actively encourage additional pipers and drummers to join. Currently we are very keen for more drummers – snare, tenor and bass – to join the typically very friendly and enjoyable band practice sessions. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t played for 40 years – you won’t be alone! The committee urges you to come and have a go.

To help members, the band provides a two-CD set that includes not only the sheet music, but also sound recordings of all the tunes forming the basic repertoire. The band CD set comes as part of the annual subscription, and is a useful aid to resurrecting playing skills and remembering melodies.

While drum scores are not yet included on CD, the band has access to drum tutors who can refresh your memory and provide relevant written scores. We hope to include these scores on the CD set later this year.

As a condition of providing our initial funding, the OSCA Council has asked the band to make itself available to play at various OSCA events such as the Annual Dinner, the annual general meeting and the OSCA President’s and Past Presidents’ Dinner, along with occasional performances for the Old Scotch Music and Drama Club. There will be lots of opportunities for members to catch up with other long-lost Old Boy mates, and, with a bit of practice, show that they’ve ‘still got it’ when it comes to piping and drumming skills.

For more information please contact club president Brian Symington on 9818 8414, or committee member Stewart Wallace on 0409 022 334. GS