Proper Pipe Band Decorum

[OC Richard]

The British hand Salute differs from the Yankee one greatly, as do most marching movements.

Where Massed Bands at American Highland Games get into trouble is when they're marching but not playing. How high to swing the arm?

It varies in different bands. Some bands want everyone to do it the British way, some bands want everybody to do it the American way, most bands don't think about such things, and when the band is marching but not playing you'll see a variety of styles.

To me, since the Pipe Band thing started with the British military, it looks best for all pipe bands civilian or military from any country whatever to follow the British model. Then when you get 30 bands together for a big Massed Bands everyone will look the same.

Here it is, in 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWarWgZhmh8

By the way, I do notice in old film from WWII and into the 1950s that Scottish soldiers, more often that not, do not do the high (horizontal) arm-swing, but a lower one like American soldiers do.

See for example here, in 1957, even when soldiers are marching past a distinguished officer (at :55 seconds)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejKzgyLLJHM

The victory parade of the 51st Highland Division in 1945. Note that nearly nobody is doing the high arm-swing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcA4ffFNiAk

A question for those familiar with both British and American military: how do Parade Rest and Right or Left Face/Turn differ?

[Reiver]

OC,
arm swing in the US 9" to the front 6" to the rear.

Parade Rest executed from the position of attention...'parade' the prepatory command 'rest' the command of execution. On the command of execution of rest the left foot extends to the left to approx. shoulder width. Simultaneously the arms move upwards/rearwards so that the hands, fingers extended and joined, cross and 'rest' in the small of the back fight hand over left. The elbows are forward with the arms at a 90 degree at the elbow.
The upper body and head remain as in the position of attention.

Right face from the position of attn. Right the prep. command face the command of ex. A two count movement.
On the command of face the soldier pivots on the heel of the right foot and ball of the left foot rotating 90 degrees to his right...the left foot will be slightly back on the pivot point. This is count one.
On the silent count two the left foot is brought smartly in line with the right foot so that the heels touch feet spread at a natural standing angle.
The upper body/arms remain as in the position of attn. thruout the movement.

You'll have to get a Brit to describe their movements but that are different as are the command repetition.