GMMPB | Public figure

GMMPB

Phone: +61 412 602 983

Add/Update information

Reviews

Tags

• Public figure
• Musician/band

24.01.2022 Check out our featured artist. This would have to be the best Burns Supper in Sydney. Piper, Drummer, Highland Dancer, Burns Poetry and Mary Kiani. Haggis,tatties and neeps and a Thai banquet for just $55.00 BOOK NOW only 60 seats in total available. https://www.trybooking.com/BNWFZ

22.01.2022 HAS THE LOCK DOWN BLUES GOT YOU? As we near the eight month mark of lock down Im sure many people are asking how has this affected what we have done, what we... are doing and have we let it rule our life’s. We at the Sydney School of Piping & Drumming sit back and watch the doom and gloom of the world and how wide brushing decisions made by our leaders affect people in ways no one ever thought. We understand that for the good of the nation restrictions are put in place, but I wonder just what the cost will be down the track in relation of lost production, future industries and what life will look like in the future for all of us? There is more to this pandemic than just being the last man standing. As Government restriction see’s school and community band’s cease operations and performances for those bands as well as full time performers dry up, one wonders what shape music will take in our lives in the future? I know many bands and organisations are worried about the effect of losing a generation of players will have on our ability to fill the ranks of bands in the future. Lockdown may have seen you as one of the many people who have set no new goals, achieved nothing new or has allowed your focus to shift to the new norm of lets do nothing until we see what happens, Here at the Sydney School of Piping & Drumming like many business we were quick to react and change our learning style to that of online. This as many of our students have told us has been one constant they could rely on, having weekly lessons and a reason to practice. With online competitions on offer we have been able to set students some achievable goals with some tremendous results along the way. We always set our students personal playing goals associated with entering a competition and this we feel is paramount for their playing improvement and personal growth. And as the next round of recordings are required for the Shotts & Dykehead Solo On Line Competition this week we felt we would feature one of our many students who has entered the competition. People think that you have to be a Scot or of Scots decent to play the bagpipes. NOT TRUE! Currently in the community pipe band I am Pipe Major of, we have Scots, Irish, New Zealander’s, an American, Australians and players and learners descendant of parents who are; Lebanese, Maltese, Indian, Cambodian, Korean, Columbian and many, many more different countries and cultures. We have a lot of new students who only took up learning pipes and drums this year, since lockdown started to rule our live and determine what we can and cannot do. We have been amazed by the number of parents or students themselves who chose not to let it rule their lives, and instead used the pandemic to ensure they learnt a new skill and thought about something that would change their lives forever after lockdown - playing in a pipe band. One such student is Rita Haddad. Rita started with us in February and since lockdown has only meet with me face to face once. She is about to progress from the practice chanter to set of bagpipes. She has done remarkably well for someone who has just turned 10 years of age last month. She has been assisted along the way not only by her weekly zoom lessons but by using our online Millennium Method Tutorial System as well as having access to our online demonstration and learning google drive for students of the SSPD. Having availably to play along with or watch for confirmation videos for learning the pipes is juts like having your tutor available on call 24/7/365. But the biggest asset for Rita and most of our students is the three own determination to master their instrument and their own personal time management to fit quality practice in regularly. In the last Winter World On line Solos run by Jori Chisholm from America she obtained two 5th placing in the Air and the March practice chanter competition. In fact we had quite a few students fortunate enough to be awarded a few prizes. Harley Jackson, Gus Sevil, Poppy Middleton and Drum Tutor Micheal Smith. I suppose the point is, we can all be caught up in the doom and gloom and use COVID - 19 as the reason we cannot do anything. Just think about al the reason business’s we deal with each and every day, blame their failings on sorry sir, because of the pandemic we cannot do this or that, or answer your phone query. Seriously what a load of rubbish. We are now a race of people who are allowing this terrible tragedy, as an excuse for not doing things. You as a person can become part of the problem or you can take some control and decide with all the extra time many of us have, to do something positive with it. Wether that to re-educate yourself, spend time doing your family tree or take up that challenge of learning that musical instrument you have always wanted to play, like Rita. Rita has two younger brothers, Raymond and Christpoher who have now also taken up learning the pipes, and who have also entered the upcoming practic chanter contest in the march section. Personally, for those of us teaching and running SSPD this period has been not only incredibly challenging but also rewarding on so many fronts. And the silver lining is that our students lockdown win’s have been both great for their musical growth and mental well being. Be like Rita, take up a musical challenge today, your reward will be everlasting. If you would like to start your piping or drumming journey or require assistance in correcting your current playing standard or you are wishing to learn a specific tune contact us today at [email protected] or on +61 (0)412 602 983 Here is Rita’s practice chanter performance for her next Slow Air contest

17.01.2022 Congratulations to E who competed in an online competition hosted by GMMPB and placed 2nd in the under 15 group and 6th overall! He received a gorgeous belt and buckle. Thanks to the Governor Macquarie Memorial pipe band for hosting!

13.01.2022 The band is hosting a solo piping competition. The 2020 Shepherd Challenge for Young Global Piper of the Year Entries and enquiries to :... [email protected] See more

11.01.2022 Congratulations to the following Sydney School of Piping & Drumming students who picked up the following prizes in the FINALS of the Shotts & Dykehead competiti...on: Under 13 Practice Chanter Slow Air: 3rd Kiarra Aoun (11 years old) Under 13 Practice Chanter 2/4 March: 6th Kiarra Aoun (11years old) Under 15 Practice Chanter Slow Air 6th Catherine Sultana Under 15 Practice Chanter 2/4 March 6th Catherine Sultana Under 15 Piobaireachd Ground: 5th Poppy Middleton (8 years old) Hard work, practice and perseverance pays off. For those students unsuccessful this time around remember it is not about the prize, but achieving the goal of learning a tune or presenting it to best of your ability that competition is really about.

08.01.2022 Term 4 for 2020 is about to start. Due to changes of some students school commitments we currently have the following spots available in our schedule for ZOOM o...r SKYPE bagppipe lessons with Barry Gray. TUESDAYS: 7am - 7.45am $44 7.45am - 8.15am $33 4.15pm - 5pm $44 5pm - 5.45pm $44 WEDNESDAY 5.15pm - 6pm $44 6pm - 6.30pm $33 We also have Snare, Tenor and Bass lessons available as well as other highly qualified and capable bagpipe teachers. Contact us with your desired lesson day and time and we will send an availabilty list of times and tutors names for you to consider.

05.01.2022 Way back before we were GMM , we were HNV (Hawkesbury Nepean Valley Pipe Band. Cameron Barnes was spending a year in Oz, and did a huge gig with us one night in at the Sydney Festival. Download the song here, great track, and support Cammie's Dad band.

03.01.2022 Three years ago today. Where has the time gone? https://www.facebook.com/GMMPB/videos/1580938668608867/

02.01.2022 Covid has impacted everyone. Just prior to lock-down the band perfromed at two concerts at PIoneer Theatre, Castle Hill. This was achievable by the support given to us by the Hills Shire Council, in regards to venue hire and we are very gratefull for this. We wil be posting a few videos from the shows and here is the first one. A haunting 3/4 March written by Duncan Johnstone - Farewl To Nigg. It opens with young band members Alex (cello) , Jimmy (violin) and their mothe...r Cecilia (keyboards) Davidson. We hope you enjoy it, and that we will see you at one of our shows once we are all allowed back out to live music venues again. https://youtu.be/62uSwPigRss