Pipers, another bizarre question

[Barb T]

Our band (the Mohawk Valley Frasers) has a very long history of competition, and, in fact, if you play with our band, you must compete with the band. If you don't want to compete, you find a different band to play with. We field three competition sections, a Grade 3, a Grade 4, and a Grade 5 competition section (we have 34 pipers in the band, plus 24 snares, 3 base drummers, and a few tenors, so we have the numbers to do it). Membership in the Grade 3 and 4 competition sections is by blind audition. Anyone who can't play well enough for these grades or who chooses not to audition competes with the Grade 5. We do an average of 6-7 competitions a summer plus parade and performance gigs.

I'm not saying that all bands should do this, just that this is what we do. For me, personally, the expectation of playing in a competition band has made me a much better piper. I play harder music and I practice harder than I would if I were just doing gigs on the street.