2012 News Archive
AGM a Success. PPBSO Ball this Weekend, and Facebook
Posted October 23, 2012
Holy Crap, Batman! Has it been a month since an update? Sorry. Here's the rub: I work in places where my internet access is thru my iPhone (which rocks, btw) and our site uses Adobe Flash for the whole editing suite. Now, because Steve Jobs had a wee issue a few years back with Adobe, he kinda banned his products from using Flash. And so updates aren't so easy.
Anyway, the AGM was a HUGE success. If you missed it, you can come to the AGM next year and review what happened, or ask someone in the band for info.
The band joined Facebook. Might not seem like a big issue, but you can now get feeds from there instead of having to come here and check manually. Just join us on Facebook (search for Grand Celtic Pipe Band), and when something happens here, there will be a link sent to fb, which will then ping you from your fb feed. Cool, eh?
OK, on to this weekend.
We (meaning the Champion Supreme guys in the Grade V band, and a few select players from Grade IV) will play the Highland Ball at the Best Western No-Tell-Motel this coming Saturday (the 27th). We play at 7:00pm. You MUST BE THERE BY 5:45pm AT THE LATEST. The set is:
Bonnie G./Rowan Tree (walking-in tunes and form a circle, with dancers in tow)
Invitation to Dance/Steamboat (twice over for the dancers)
Medley
Laggan Love/Mairi's (twice over for the dancers)
Wings/Murdo's (to get out of Dodge, dancers again in tow).
Please be awesomely prepared. No issues with tape, pipe is wonky, stamina, can't quite remember how the tune goes, etc.... This is for winning this year. We want to put the best show on.
WEAR WHITES.
Now, directions:
19 Holiday Drive
Brantford
519-753-8651
Link to map: click here
Anyway, the AGM was a HUGE success. If you missed it, you can come to the AGM next year and review what happened, or ask someone in the band for info.
The band joined Facebook. Might not seem like a big issue, but you can now get feeds from there instead of having to come here and check manually. Just join us on Facebook (search for Grand Celtic Pipe Band), and when something happens here, there will be a link sent to fb, which will then ping you from your fb feed. Cool, eh?
OK, on to this weekend.
We (meaning the Champion Supreme guys in the Grade V band, and a few select players from Grade IV) will play the Highland Ball at the Best Western No-Tell-Motel this coming Saturday (the 27th). We play at 7:00pm. You MUST BE THERE BY 5:45pm AT THE LATEST. The set is:
Bonnie G./Rowan Tree (walking-in tunes and form a circle, with dancers in tow)
Invitation to Dance/Steamboat (twice over for the dancers)
Medley
Laggan Love/Mairi's (twice over for the dancers)
Wings/Murdo's (to get out of Dodge, dancers again in tow).
Please be awesomely prepared. No issues with tape, pipe is wonky, stamina, can't quite remember how the tune goes, etc.... This is for winning this year. We want to put the best show on.
WEAR WHITES.
Now, directions:
19 Holiday Drive
Brantford
519-753-8651
Link to map: click here
Photo of Grade V
Posted September 25, 2012
After much deliberation on my part (and with Jennifer's help).... the photo. I know it is not of the whole band, but it reflects the band well in terms of age and focus. Plus it's not the usual standing a circle thing. I already sent it in, so if you have complaints, win again next year and send me a better one.
Hi Folks! AGM, the Ball, and other matters of measurable import...
Posted September 24, 2012
Wow. What a season. We have been invited to the PPBSO Highland Ball. This year it is in Brantford, on October 27. Details on the specifics will follow, so be patient on that. The Grade V band has free access and gets to play. All others get to pay. Sorry, but that's how it goes. In order to play well, and you will want to play the best you ever have, and as such we need to be up and running. So get the pipes and fingers sorted out, drums tuned, heads fixed, and anything else you can think of. First practice will be the day of the AGM, which this year will fall on Saturday, October 13. My notes have the AGM starting at 1:00. This might change a little, as we need the Grade V practice to be at least one hour long. Me thinks the AGM could be pushed to around 3:00, with the practice at 1:00, giving the Grade Vs muchos tiempo to get their fecal matter in gear. AGMs have been nice and short in the past, and I would like to encourage this trend to continue. Maybe one hour tops, including award ceremony.
Lastly, a pic was required of the Grade V band for the plaque. I know everyone would like their own visages on the plaque, but what I would like is a more artful pic of the band going on the field, instead of the standard circle-jerk shot of bands competing. I wanted the action and the drama and the tension, so I am leaning to chose this pic... I think we're walking up to the line in Fergus. Ashley is weirdly in the back... I can photoshop her out....
Lastly, a pic was required of the Grade V band for the plaque. I know everyone would like their own visages on the plaque, but what I would like is a more artful pic of the band going on the field, instead of the standard circle-jerk shot of bands competing. I wanted the action and the drama and the tension, so I am leaning to chose this pic... I think we're walking up to the line in Fergus. Ashley is weirdly in the back... I can photoshop her out....
End of Season
Posted August 20, 2012
Hey all. I'm finally back from Algonquin. And fireworks in Niagara. Now I'm off to Timmins of all places to go blow up stuff there. Strange but true. Grade IV sheets from Fergus are now posted. Does anyone have my nice black umbrella? I'm pretty sure I left it at the campsite.... That's all. Stayed tuned to your email (and this site of course) for info on the Guelph Scottish Festival. That's all she wrote.
Fergus
Posted August 13, 2012
Congratulations to all for a great season! It would seem Grade V won the season - and to win in Fergus to clinch it was fantastic. What a year.
There was a wee bit of mild panic this morning as having video of Sunday's performance on YouTube may have been a bit of a problem. I received part of an email communication regarding our playing time, and that there was something or other peculiar about it. So I promptly deleted anything pertaining to Fergus from YouTube and changed the password for uploading. The issue, it seems, was a glitchy time-clock, and there are no issues. So, if folks want to load the video back to YouTube, go ahead. The new password is Highland2012. User is still GrandCeltic. Do keep the video private, and just email the URL for the video to everyone.
I put the Grade V sheets up. Grade IV will have to wait til I get back from the wilds of Algonquin.
There was a wee bit of mild panic this morning as having video of Sunday's performance on YouTube may have been a bit of a problem. I received part of an email communication regarding our playing time, and that there was something or other peculiar about it. So I promptly deleted anything pertaining to Fergus from YouTube and changed the password for uploading. The issue, it seems, was a glitchy time-clock, and there are no issues. So, if folks want to load the video back to YouTube, go ahead. The new password is Highland2012. User is still GrandCeltic. Do keep the video private, and just email the URL for the video to everyone.
I put the Grade V sheets up. Grade IV will have to wait til I get back from the wilds of Algonquin.
Post-Maxville Stress Disorder, and other Random Musings
Posted August 6, 2012
By now everyone should be home, and feeling somewhat rested. Kathy, Riley and Rachel took photos at the games. Those pics are now happily visible on our gallery page. A video is being loaded as I type this to YouTube of Grade IV, with a minor edit for posterity. It is now on the video page when it finally loads (video link is on the drop-down tab from Gallery). Good show. Congrats to Grade V - we were a mere two points from first place. Or only one point, if you look at it this way: split piping with Lindsay (2, 1- 1,2 instead of 1, 1 - 2,2) and then we tie at 10 pts with ensemble the break for a win. Or split the drumming (5-5 instead of 4-6) with the same result. Damn close. Anyway, 2nd in Maxville rocks for what was, I think, the first time there for about 95% of the band. It could be a very long time until you get that far up the podium again. All it takes is a wee slip here, an early E there, or some random weather to change the tuning, and POOF!, it's gone again. Lindsay is up on YouTube. Go listen. I made it halfway thru and then had to stop out of pure boredom. I want the video of Grade V playing Maxville. I know it's out there, so cut a disc or put it on a stick for me. Or load it to YouTube. Slainte.
There's a parade this Thursday in Fergus. Me thinks it's at 7:00, but I'm not 100% sure, so stay tuned. But we meet at the Tourist info centre by Victoria Park - perhaps at about 6:00, pending when the parade starts. This will be a practice for the weekend as well. Parade is short and ends at the Legion, so I would park near the Breadalbane or some such place and walk up to the park. Stay tuned for a map, times, etc...
Next weekend is Fergus. Final test of our mettle this year. Although we did beat Rob Roy this weekend, they have the faintest hope for still getting into first place. We obviously can't let that happen. So keep the energy level up, keep on eye on your instrument, let someone know now not later about blown drum heads, crap reeds and anything else that appears wonky. I would like to win in Fergus. I don't know what that is like, so please do your bit.
Oh, and the sheets are up. Yes, you can offer to buy me a beer the next time you see me.
There's a parade this Thursday in Fergus. Me thinks it's at 7:00, but I'm not 100% sure, so stay tuned. But we meet at the Tourist info centre by Victoria Park - perhaps at about 6:00, pending when the parade starts. This will be a practice for the weekend as well. Parade is short and ends at the Legion, so I would park near the Breadalbane or some such place and walk up to the park. Stay tuned for a map, times, etc...
Next weekend is Fergus. Final test of our mettle this year. Although we did beat Rob Roy this weekend, they have the faintest hope for still getting into first place. We obviously can't let that happen. So keep the energy level up, keep on eye on your instrument, let someone know now not later about blown drum heads, crap reeds and anything else that appears wonky. I would like to win in Fergus. I don't know what that is like, so please do your bit.
Oh, and the sheets are up. Yes, you can offer to buy me a beer the next time you see me.
Maxville - What to Do and See at the Games!
Posted August 2, 2012
Here's the address for Algonquin College:
1385 Woodroffe Avenue
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
(613) 727-7698
Please arrange yourselves to get to the College before 8:00 pm on Friday evening. Drive to the residence, check in under the GCPB and use the name associated with your room. No changes or deviations to the room listing please. All rooms have been reserved under my charge card so keep that in mind. At your earliest convenience, and not in pennies, please reimburse me for your room, a rounded up $82.50 per night. You guys figure out who owes what and then pay me for each night stayed. That weekend preferably. Towels, bed sheets, shampoo, soap as well as a micro/fridge and small kitchen are included. There is a BBQ area in the courtyard of which I will be using for sure.
Now this is the detailed part where you need to hold onto the rope, Maxville. Grade 4 needs to be at the park for 8 am. Neil and I will be there just before because the band meeting is at 8 am sharp for grade 4. Grade 5 people need to be at the park for 10 am at the latest. Massed bands are ???? but sometime before noon. But where to meet in the huge park? Read on, minions.
For you Geo-cachers, here is the meeting point: 45.293569,-74.849478. Here's the link for that GPS co-ord: Where to meet in Maxville.
I don’t have much more to say other than take care of your instruments, make sure they are in good working order, tunable (clean tape that is good) drum keys, fresh batteries in meters help, spare reeds, drum heads and snares, etc… You all know the drill. I will expect everyone to know it, contribute and support everyone in a positive way. If we can do what we have been doing, in the case of grade 4 what we did at last practice we can win. Let’s give it our best.
Best of luck to all, safe travels and I look forward to seeing all of you Thursday night or Friday night, whenever you are arriving.
Here's a pic of the park. The mark A and the little down arrow are the area to go find everyone.
1385 Woodroffe Avenue
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
(613) 727-7698
Please arrange yourselves to get to the College before 8:00 pm on Friday evening. Drive to the residence, check in under the GCPB and use the name associated with your room. No changes or deviations to the room listing please. All rooms have been reserved under my charge card so keep that in mind. At your earliest convenience, and not in pennies, please reimburse me for your room, a rounded up $82.50 per night. You guys figure out who owes what and then pay me for each night stayed. That weekend preferably. Towels, bed sheets, shampoo, soap as well as a micro/fridge and small kitchen are included. There is a BBQ area in the courtyard of which I will be using for sure.
Now this is the detailed part where you need to hold onto the rope, Maxville. Grade 4 needs to be at the park for 8 am. Neil and I will be there just before because the band meeting is at 8 am sharp for grade 4. Grade 5 people need to be at the park for 10 am at the latest. Massed bands are ???? but sometime before noon. But where to meet in the huge park? Read on, minions.
For you Geo-cachers, here is the meeting point: 45.293569,-74.849478. Here's the link for that GPS co-ord: Where to meet in Maxville.
I don’t have much more to say other than take care of your instruments, make sure they are in good working order, tunable (clean tape that is good) drum keys, fresh batteries in meters help, spare reeds, drum heads and snares, etc… You all know the drill. I will expect everyone to know it, contribute and support everyone in a positive way. If we can do what we have been doing, in the case of grade 4 what we did at last practice we can win. Let’s give it our best.
Best of luck to all, safe travels and I look forward to seeing all of you Thursday night or Friday night, whenever you are arriving.
Here's a pic of the park. The mark A and the little down arrow are the area to go find everyone.
Post-Kincardine Syndrome
Posted July 8, 2012
Tough weekend for the bands, boys and girls. Soloists are quite happy. Bands are confused. For Grade V, there was some talk from the crowd (some clown named Mike Baker) that we did play better in Georgetown, but from inside the circle I'm not so sure. Note that one pipe judge placed the band 2nd. Drummers took a beating (no pun intended). Me thinks we battled some pissy judging, not necessarily the other bands. Keep the chin up and we'll do fine. I'll leave Grade IV alone, as Calum wrote plenty in his early-morning missive/essay/memoir thing. Speaking of Calum, I include a pic of his solo score sheet, where he placed 1st in a field of one, with a particularly interesting comment circled...
I guess the small chokes are to be expected at our age!
Practice on Monday:
Practice will be held at the Fish Station on Monday evening. It will be a time of sober reflection and gut-retching humility. And then we'll have a few pops and all will be right as rain.
A Note on Maxville:
Calum would like you to send him an email so he knows who's going to Maxville and with who. This sounds insane to me, as he be flooded with mail... But that's what he wants. So, everybody email Calum. If you really want to make it fun, make sure all the details on the car-pooling are just a little off.
Sheets
Yes, the Kincardine sheets are up.
Til tomorrow...
Practice will be held at the Fish Station on Monday evening. It will be a time of sober reflection and gut-retching humility. And then we'll have a few pops and all will be right as rain.
A Note on Maxville:
Calum would like you to send him an email so he knows who's going to Maxville and with who. This sounds insane to me, as he be flooded with mail... But that's what he wants. So, everybody email Calum. If you really want to make it fun, make sure all the details on the car-pooling are just a little off.
Sheets
Yes, the Kincardine sheets are up.
Til tomorrow...
Cambridge
Posted July 22, 2012
Due to an unexpected delay to my camping trip, I had time to get the sheets posted up. A little robbery from a judge again. Crap. great work from the whole team though, keep the chins high!
I'm away this week, so there will be no info about Maxville on the site. But do know we are staying at Algonquin College. Somewhere on campus. When I know, and have time, I will let you know. Don't be afraid to email me info, Calum, so I can post all notices of measureable import here.
I'm away this week, so there will be no info about Maxville on the site. But do know we are staying at Algonquin College. Somewhere on campus. When I know, and have time, I will let you know. Don't be afraid to email me info, Calum, so I can post all notices of measureable import here.
Kincardine
Posted July 5, 2012
Good evening, jazz fans. Kincardine approaches! Show time for everyone is 10:30, as usual. Grade IV (competition starts at 1:00 and you're 7th) plays before Grade V (competition starts # 2:00 and you're 8th). Needless to say, Calum is going to be run a little ragged with timing like this, so try to come with your game face and focus on the Big Guy. Now, here's the other info you need:
The band meets and sets up at a house on the corner of Princess Street and Durham Market St. South. On the map below the house is marked with a red dot. Ignore the 'A' - it's what Google does to say this is Kincardine. The closest you can get to the band site in your car is drive up Durham Market S. from Queen to the fence that will then stop you about 30' from the house. Unload, then move your car to the parking down over by Lambton Street. This lot is nestled in behind all the the little stores. It's that easy.
Lastly, nobody seems to have any idea on a gift for the Ferguson's, except Pat, who thought his old Ross bag would make a charming present. So, tomorrow, I'll get something and I don't want to hear a peep from anyone that, had they thought about it, they would have gotten something else.
The band meets and sets up at a house on the corner of Princess Street and Durham Market St. South. On the map below the house is marked with a red dot. Ignore the 'A' - it's what Google does to say this is Kincardine. The closest you can get to the band site in your car is drive up Durham Market S. from Queen to the fence that will then stop you about 30' from the house. Unload, then move your car to the parking down over by Lambton Street. This lot is nestled in behind all the the little stores. It's that easy.
Lastly, nobody seems to have any idea on a gift for the Ferguson's, except Pat, who thought his old Ross bag would make a charming present. So, tomorrow, I'll get something and I don't want to hear a peep from anyone that, had they thought about it, they would have gotten something else.
Embro Update and Kincardine
Posted July 3, 2012
Good morning, jazz fans. Three points of measurable import for you today:
Embro sheets are up in the usual spot. Congrats yet again to Grade V. Three in a row. But read the sheets. If the things that Gail wrote about the pipe corp continue to occur we won't be coming home saying we won. The games get bigger and uglier now. And the competition is getting annoyed. They want to knock us down. Think of the first hundred or so rounds of the Stanley Cup, or if you're a baseball nut like me, the dog days of August.
And now on to Kincardine... For the new guys: Kincardine works differently than the other games, as bands are hosted by a local family in their yard. The games are held in the town itself, not on a field in the middle of nowhere. This makes it - by far - the nicest and most pleasant games of the year. Massed bands occurs, but there's no marching about. There is a cool drum salute (Duthart's) at the end of the day. Kincardine rocks! I will put a map up of Kincardine with an X of where our host home is. It's quite a nice spot. Having said that, parking can be a gamble as a large part of the town is closed off to traffic. There is an accessible street that gets really close to our site, but then you have to get your vehicle out of there. And there is, basically, one parking lot in town that is close to our site. The moral of this story is easy: the earlier you get to Kincardine, the better off your parking will be.
Lastly - we'll need a card and a small gift for our hosts, the Ferguson's. Email me suggestions and I'll take care of it. The card is easy, not sure about a gift. And don't say a bottle of scotch. Maybe I could get something from the Scottish shop in Fergus? I dunno... [email protected] is the email...
Embro sheets are up in the usual spot. Congrats yet again to Grade V. Three in a row. But read the sheets. If the things that Gail wrote about the pipe corp continue to occur we won't be coming home saying we won. The games get bigger and uglier now. And the competition is getting annoyed. They want to knock us down. Think of the first hundred or so rounds of the Stanley Cup, or if you're a baseball nut like me, the dog days of August.
And now on to Kincardine... For the new guys: Kincardine works differently than the other games, as bands are hosted by a local family in their yard. The games are held in the town itself, not on a field in the middle of nowhere. This makes it - by far - the nicest and most pleasant games of the year. Massed bands occurs, but there's no marching about. There is a cool drum salute (Duthart's) at the end of the day. Kincardine rocks! I will put a map up of Kincardine with an X of where our host home is. It's quite a nice spot. Having said that, parking can be a gamble as a large part of the town is closed off to traffic. There is an accessible street that gets really close to our site, but then you have to get your vehicle out of there. And there is, basically, one parking lot in town that is close to our site. The moral of this story is easy: the earlier you get to Kincardine, the better off your parking will be.
Lastly - we'll need a card and a small gift for our hosts, the Ferguson's. Email me suggestions and I'll take care of it. The card is easy, not sure about a gift. And don't say a bottle of scotch. Maybe I could get something from the Scottish shop in Fergus? I dunno... [email protected] is the email...
One More Thing
Posted June 26, 2012
Maxville is only 38 days away. Not to freak out the Newbs, but here's a pic of the games. Me? I can't wait.
Embro - July 1st, 2012
Posted June 26, 2012
OK, Embro is this Sunday. Here's the link to the PPBSO site so you can see a little map and check the order of play. There are 6 bands listed as competing in Grade IV, with 4 bands in Grade V. This games is small, so it tends to run quick and on time. Chances are it will be hot, with UV high, and cut hay flying around from the field to the east.
As usual, for those of us not competing in solos, we like the band to be on site around 10:30am. There are a couple of reasons for this: a) it gives us time to settle into the day, relax a little, and a get a feel for the weather/site conditions, b) there is a PPBSO meeting at 11:00, and it is absolutely necessary for someone from the band to be there. News then gets delivered by that person to the band people that describes the info needed to get thru the day. The idea is that if you're around the site at 11:00 or so then you will be in the loop.
Lastly, Embro may be small, but it is also the longest running games in Canada - some 152 years now. They like their games, and treat it with great pride. (That little red hackle in my 'garry was bought at the Embro games some 44 years ago, for the princely sum of $2 - at least that is what the tag said when I found it in our closet.)
Directions to the Embro games: The games are at the intersection of 78 Road and the 35th Line, where the Embro Community centre is located. 78th Rd is the first road south of the town of Embro. I find it's better to go this route than across 84th (north of Embro) as you don't get held up by the parking lot guy at the community centre. Anyway, here's a map. Once at the games, it's advisable to enter onto the south parking lot (off 78) and get up onto the grass. On the picture below is a red X - that's where the band meets. There are trees (this satellite view is old and hides the true nature of the trees) and a grassy knoll that serves well to eyeball the competition. See you Sunday!
As usual, for those of us not competing in solos, we like the band to be on site around 10:30am. There are a couple of reasons for this: a) it gives us time to settle into the day, relax a little, and a get a feel for the weather/site conditions, b) there is a PPBSO meeting at 11:00, and it is absolutely necessary for someone from the band to be there. News then gets delivered by that person to the band people that describes the info needed to get thru the day. The idea is that if you're around the site at 11:00 or so then you will be in the loop.
Lastly, Embro may be small, but it is also the longest running games in Canada - some 152 years now. They like their games, and treat it with great pride. (That little red hackle in my 'garry was bought at the Embro games some 44 years ago, for the princely sum of $2 - at least that is what the tag said when I found it in our closet.)
Directions to the Embro games: The games are at the intersection of 78 Road and the 35th Line, where the Embro Community centre is located. 78th Rd is the first road south of the town of Embro. I find it's better to go this route than across 84th (north of Embro) as you don't get held up by the parking lot guy at the community centre. Anyway, here's a map. Once at the games, it's advisable to enter onto the south parking lot (off 78) and get up onto the grass. On the picture below is a red X - that's where the band meets. There are trees (this satellite view is old and hides the true nature of the trees) and a grassy knoll that serves well to eyeball the competition. See you Sunday!
Georgetown Results
Posted June 10, 2012
Congratulations to the Grade V band, which had an unprecedented day! Not only did the band win, but the drummers placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in their solo competitions. Grade IV survived. Sheets are up for your perusal. Go to "Members Only" tab and then click on Competition Sheets in the drop down menu. Practice is Monday night at the fish station. Chow baby, as Calum would so artfully write it.
Georgetown Games
Posted June 7, 2012
Georgetown Highland Games are this Saturday. Here's a link to the PPBSO, which not only has a map, but you can see the order of play. Looking at the map of the fairgrounds (reposted here for convenience), you will notice that there is a school on the lower right of the map, on a street named Hyde Park. There's a small parking lot there, and it's also where the band meets. If you haven't been there before, don't be afraid to look around a little - you will spot us. Show up time is 10:30. Here's a link to the Georgetown Games site, which is one of the most pathetic things I've seen in some time, save for Chuck's hair. Both Grade V and Grade IV comps start at 1:30 - but Grade V plays 11th (so we'll be on around 2:40ish), while Grade IV plays 3rd (1:50ish).
My Amazing Bass Drone
Posted May 6, 2012
Here's one of the vids I took of the Grade V band today. I'm going to have to figure out where to mount the camera for less bass - maybe a wee tripod off far away would be better for listening to the band. Today I just wanted to know if this might work for grabbing some good footage of massed bands... Anyway, enjoy! UPDATE: The original is on the right - I did some audio scrubbing to try and pull out the bass, and that video is on the left...
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Practice May 6th is at FKS
Posted May 3, 2012
Good day jazz fans. Just a reminder that practice is at the Fish Killing Station this Sunday - due to the school jerking us around and the weather will be nice and it's cheaper to drink beer on the outskirts of Alma than in the bustling metropolis of Fergus.
Lastly, if you don't want everything to a big surprise, here's what the competition selections for Grade IV look like this year:
June 9 - Georgetown - march
July 1 - Embro - medley
July 7 - Kincardine - march
July 21 - Cambridge - medley
Aug. 4 - Maxville - medley
Aug. 11 - Fergus - march (*Grade V plays on August 12)
I'm not posting selections for Grade V, as it would be retarded.
Lastly, if you don't want everything to a big surprise, here's what the competition selections for Grade IV look like this year:
June 9 - Georgetown - march
July 1 - Embro - medley
July 7 - Kincardine - march
July 21 - Cambridge - medley
Aug. 4 - Maxville - medley
Aug. 11 - Fergus - march (*Grade V plays on August 12)
I'm not posting selections for Grade V, as it would be retarded.
Toronto Indoor Redux
Posted April 15, 2012
The sheets are up for everyone's perusal - go to the tab "Members only" and a menu will pop up, click on "Competition Sheets." Yeah, that was part of the spring clean up I did of the website to try and make it nicer. Bigger, better, faster and all that. Thanks everyone for their hard work yesterday! See you in a few hours in the Goofie Newfie parking lot. Hope the rain stops....
Official Games Dates (from PPBSO)
Posted March 1, 2012
The PPBSO has posted the dates of the games this year, so I thought I'd share, just so we don't have "I didn't know that" happening. And yes, those words in blue bold are a link to the actual PPBSO web page where I found the info. We were pretty good at guessing the dates way back when, and we only messed up Georgetown and Maxville. A 33% error rate - which happens to be just short of Toronto Maple Leaf goal tending. So we in charge (who aren't making millions) feel pretty chuffed. Anyway, mark these dates on the calendars boys & girls:
Georgetown: Saturday, June 9, 2012 (gosh that seems early!)
Embro: as usual, July 1 (but this time in the year 2012 and on a Sunday)
Kincardine: Saturday, July 7, 2012
Cambridge: Saturday, July 21, 2012
Maxville: Friday & Saturday, August 3-4, 2012
Fergus: Saturday & Sunday, August 11-12, 2012
Georgetown: Saturday, June 9, 2012 (gosh that seems early!)
Embro: as usual, July 1 (but this time in the year 2012 and on a Sunday)
Kincardine: Saturday, July 7, 2012
Cambridge: Saturday, July 21, 2012
Maxville: Friday & Saturday, August 3-4, 2012
Fergus: Saturday & Sunday, August 11-12, 2012
Patriots lose to Giants - yeah BABY!!!!
Posted February 5, 2012
Sometimes it must really suck to be Calum.
Snare Scores are on the Music Page
Updated January 16, 2012
I suspect that the title of the post is reasonably explanatory, so I won't go into any great detail explaining what might be new... The music page is pretty jammed pack with stuff right now. If I cared (even a wee bit), I would clean it up, but I think we can all get by, no? If you struggle with the incomprehensible layout, please don't send me a message. I don't really care, remember? You could, however, vent in the Lost & Found section. Perhaps a fellow bandmate will co-miserate with you and guide you to the score you seek. Oh, and the Pats humiliated the Broncos. Tebowmania is done for the year. And the Packers are gone... Geez Louise. Baltimore, San Fran, NY, and the Pats are left. Other than New England, me thinks a lot of football pools just went all squirrelly.
And before I forget, Out of the Air, and a new version of Ishabel T, were posted on Monday morning by yours truly...
And before I forget, Out of the Air, and a new version of Ishabel T, were posted on Monday morning by yours truly...
Practice @ Fish Station
Posted November 24, 2011
Just a reminder that the high school is too busy for us this weekend, se we are having practice at the Fish Killing Station. So: On Sunday, November 27th, go visit the fish, not the Lower Institute of Learning.
About the Lost & Found (aka L&F)
Posted November 11, 2011
Just a note to you hecklers out there, the L&F is not a place to send joke messages to yours truly (you know who you are!) If you continue, I will hack you and fill up your inbox with more junk than you can imagine. That means you, Chuck.
All the best - Your Loyal WebMaster.
All the best - Your Loyal WebMaster.
Games to Remember for 2012
Posted November 10, 2011
Friendly reminder: these are the games we are doing next year: Toronto Indoor (April 21?). Georgetown (June 16). Embro (July 1). Kincardine (July 7) . Cambridge (July 21). Maxville (July 28) . Fergus (August 11). Obviously these dates are a bit of a guess, but please be aware that these are the games the band that you play in is signing up for. We will also do the Brampton parade. So, although we encourage band members to be active and living healthy, please try to avoid booking your Great Outdoor Experience around these dates.
Password Change
Posted November 8, 2011
If you made it this far, you already know about the change of password. It's tough to post the change on the public side of the wall, so I apologize if you found yourself unable to access the site. Blame Calum, as I sent him an email missive to tell the Rebel Alliance about the alteration, and he was slow at getting it done.
Practice Begins Next Sunday (October 23)
Posted October 16, 2011
The AGM was a great success, and a good time was had by all. No changes were made in the committee leading the band out of the darkness and into the light. Calum is still your pipe major. (Sorry guys, but Dickie was *ahem* absent, so we had no choice but to vote Calum back in. Blame Dickie.)
As for the practices: The top dogs have asked me to pass this on - we have the high school from 1:00-4:00 . Practice begins at 1:00. The school is actually open before 1:00 - so show up for 12:30 or so and settle in. Both grades have some tunes to learn. Those tunes must be learned by mid-December. What both grades will be working on (at first) is unison. Grade IV will have a solid three hours every Sunday of hard-corp work. No "fluff time." After the tunes have been learned, the rest of the practice season will be on tone. What Jamie strongly suggested was, "It's not that it'll be hard work, but that we will be working harder." So plan on losing some fat, sweating a lot, and developing a hemorrhoid or two. Just a heads up.
New tunes are loaded onto the music page. Scroll back up this page and click on the link (it's called Music). For Grade V, your MM is simply titled "St Andrew's." All the tunes are in that one folder. Unfortunately the scan for Greenwood sux. Working on it. Grade IV: the medley is titled "FMM Concert Piece." The MM is in the folder titled "Ms. Ishabel T MacDonald." Go look and print. There's also a new collection of 4/4s (titled Flett from Flotta - if you've been around the band for awhile, you already have these tunes in your book.) Still confused? Go print some stuff and look for music you don't know and start there.
Lastly, these are the games we are doing next year: Toronto Indoor (April 21?). Georgetown (June 16). Embro (July 1). Kincardine (July 7) . Cambridge (July 21). Maxville (July 28) . Fergus (August 11). Obviously these dates are a bit of a guess, but please be aware that these are the games the band that you play in is signing up for. We will also do the Brampton parade. So, although we encourage band members to be active and living healthy, please try to avoid booking your Great Outdoor Experience around these dates.
See ya'll next Sunday.
As for the practices: The top dogs have asked me to pass this on - we have the high school from 1:00-4:00 . Practice begins at 1:00. The school is actually open before 1:00 - so show up for 12:30 or so and settle in. Both grades have some tunes to learn. Those tunes must be learned by mid-December. What both grades will be working on (at first) is unison. Grade IV will have a solid three hours every Sunday of hard-corp work. No "fluff time." After the tunes have been learned, the rest of the practice season will be on tone. What Jamie strongly suggested was, "It's not that it'll be hard work, but that we will be working harder." So plan on losing some fat, sweating a lot, and developing a hemorrhoid or two. Just a heads up.
New tunes are loaded onto the music page. Scroll back up this page and click on the link (it's called Music). For Grade V, your MM is simply titled "St Andrew's." All the tunes are in that one folder. Unfortunately the scan for Greenwood sux. Working on it. Grade IV: the medley is titled "FMM Concert Piece." The MM is in the folder titled "Ms. Ishabel T MacDonald." Go look and print. There's also a new collection of 4/4s (titled Flett from Flotta - if you've been around the band for awhile, you already have these tunes in your book.) Still confused? Go print some stuff and look for music you don't know and start there.
Lastly, these are the games we are doing next year: Toronto Indoor (April 21?). Georgetown (June 16). Embro (July 1). Kincardine (July 7) . Cambridge (July 21). Maxville (July 28) . Fergus (August 11). Obviously these dates are a bit of a guess, but please be aware that these are the games the band that you play in is signing up for. We will also do the Brampton parade. So, although we encourage band members to be active and living healthy, please try to avoid booking your Great Outdoor Experience around these dates.
See ya'll next Sunday.
