Lessons
Lessons
Piping
& Drumming
Highland Dancing
Form
The St. Andrew's Society of the
River Plate Pipe Band will gladly teach piping and drumming to
everyone who is interested,
but we will give priority to those interested in joining the Pipe Band.
Lessons are normally once per
week and have a duration of one hour. We consider that given a good commitment level,
pupils can be playing in the Pipe Band (at a beginners level) after
9-12 months of
lessons. The Band has practices and events for all levels. All pipers
and drummers playing in the Pipe Band are in teaching conditions, and we will
train all pupils to eventually reach this stage.
Full Pipe Band practices are
carried out during Saturday mornings in Olivos, but most of
the lessons are usually held during the week and at
the teacher's home. Our pipers and drummers live in the
northern suburbs of Buenos Aires and Greater Buenos Aires.
We offer individual and group lessons. In either case
we expect a commitment level that will maximize the invested time and
effort. Our instructors reserve the right to charge the
lessons in specific cases, and the fees are agreed
previously with each instructor (there is no fixed fee).
Piping pupils need a practice chanter. This is a very simplified
version of the bagpipes (without drones and bag). This is needed for the initial stages of all pipers,
and it is also used for learning and
practicing tunes, as well as for teaching. Pipe band supply stores (many
are available through the Internet) offer various models of practice chanters.
Click here for the SASRP Pipe Band's Recommended Pipe Band Suppliers.
Feel free to contact us for assistance.
Snare drumming
pupils need a practice pad and a pair of pipe band snare drumsticks.
Practice pads are easily available at any local store of music or percussion
supplies, but the drumsticks are available at pipe band stores.
Click here for the SASRP Pipe Band's Recommended Pipe Band Suppliers.
Feel free to contact us for assistance.
For people interested in tenor and bass drumming (known as the "mid
section" of the pipe band), although this is a speciality in itself, we recommend to start with either piping and/or
snare drumming first, and later shift to the mid section.
If you have reached this point, we assume that you are fluent in the English
language. Although this is not necessarily a requirement for playing
music, it will be most needed for future development as a piper or drummer,
given that most sources of pipebanding information
are in English.
The Pipe Band instructors (lessons can be given in English or Spanish)
will give you the basics, but we will expect you to evolve in your piping
and drumming without the need of a translator.
Please
fill in the form below in order to help us match the best
teaching locations and timetables.
Highland Dancing Lessons
The St. Andrew's Society of the
River Plate Pipe Band will gladly teach Highland (and Scottish National) Dancing
to all interested,
but we will most likely give priority to those interested in eventually dancing in the Pipe Band.
It is highly recommended, although not excluding, to have previous dancing
experience (in any style).
The lessons are
for a nominal fee. The fees are set by each instructor (there is no fixed
rate). At all times we expect a commitment level that will maximize the
invested time and effort from both sides.
The Highland Dancing lessons can be held on an individual or group basis, normally once per
week and have a duration of 60 minutes. We consider that given a good commitment level,
pupils can be dancing in the Pipe Band (at a beginners level) after 9-12 months of
lessons. Throughout the learning process, dancing pupils are encouraged to
compete at dancing contests. All dancers in the Pipe Band are in teaching conditions and we will
train all pupils to eventually reach this stage.
In spite of the fact that the Pipe Band practices are
carried out during Saturday mornings in Olivos, the lessons are usually held during the week and at
a previously designated location.
For the lessons pupils will need a
pair of black dancing pumps (half-point ballet style) and clothes comfortable
for dancing. These pumps are needed for the initial stages of all dancers,
and they are also used for continuing learning and
practicing beyond, as well as for teaching. Half-point ballet pumps are
available locally, but pipe band supply stores (many
are available through the Internet) offer various models specially designed for
Highland Dancing.
Click here for the SASRP Pipe Band's Recommended Pipe Band Suppliers
If you have reached this point, we assume that you are fluent in the English
language. Although this is not necessarily a requirement for dancing, it will be most needed for future development as a
highland dancer, given that all sources of Highland Dancing information (and related material)
are in English.
The instructors will give you the basics (lessons can be given in
English or Spanish), but we will expect you to evolve without the need of a translator.
Please
fill in the form below in order to help us match the best
teaching locations and timetables.