Welcome to The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, the heart and home of Pipe Bands world wide. The RSPBA is the recognised Centre of Excellence for the promotion and development of Pipe Band Music internationally. Its services and facilities include:

• education, training and certification in Piping, Drumming, Drum Majoring and Pipe Band Adjudication;
• an annual Summer School
• an Academy of Pipe Band Musicianship;
• setting standards of Pipe Band competition performance;
• organising the World, Scottish, British, Cowal and European Pipe Band Championships as well as the World Solo Drumming Championships;
• publishing the official summaries of the results of the 5 Major Championships and the results of other Pipe Band competitions run under RSPBA rules

The RSPBA liaises closely with affiliated Pipe Band Associations world wide.

Headquarters News
with Kevin Reilly, Chairman

77th Annual General Meeting 8th March 2008 by Kevin Reilly, Chairman I would like to thank all the representatives who attended the Annual General Meeting of the Association in Glasgow on Saturday 8th March. Representatives were welcomed by the President Mr George Ussher, including Mr Ciaran Mordaunt Chairman of the Irish Pipe Band Association. A lament was played for all the members and friends who have passed away during the year. The Annual General Meeting went very well all the necessary business was completed in a very relaxed and good humoured fashion. The changes to the Constitution & Rules went through by unanimous votes, just a reminder that one of the changes now says that late payments of Annual Fees will result in a 20% fine of the current annual membership fee. The accounts show that we had a working profit last year and that we are in a good position for the next few years. It was also a very sad day for the Association as we lost one of our long standing members of the National Council the Vice Chairman Mr George Purves.  George decided not to stand again as Vice Chairman after nearly ten years in the job. He will be sadly missed. George was presented with and accepted a Hon. Vice Presidents position within the Association. At the National Council meeting prior to the Annual General Meeting, Mr Tony Harris on behalf of himself and his wife Sheila, presented the Association with a Badge of Office for the Chairman.  This is a hand engraved silver medal with a ribbon to attach the names of all subsequent Chairmen. Kevin Reilly Chairman New Drum Major Manual  for FREE 7th May 2008 by Kevin Reilly, Chairman I am pleased to be able to announce that the RSPBA has published a new Manual which provides comprehensive advice on Drum Major standards of dress, marching and deportment and flourishing, as well as the skills and knowledge required to be a competent and successful Drum Major both on public parade and in RSPBA competitions. For many years the RSPBA has successfully promoted learning and certification for Pipers and Drummers.  More recently the Association has raised the status of these learning programmes further by collaborating with the College of Piping, National Piping Centre, Piobaireachd Society and Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming to make available the new harmonised Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board (PDQB) qualifications in Piping and Pipe Band Drumming. Development of new Pipe Band Studies Certificates to assist in Pipe Band development is also well advanced and work is continuing to have these new qualifications accredited nationally by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, which will enhance their status even further. Drum Majors, however, have probably been viewed by many people as operating more on the fringes of RSPBA activities. I can assure everyone, however, that Drum Majoring features alongside Piping, Pipe Band Drumming and Pipe Bands among the RSPBA’s priorities.  While it has taken much longer than intended to develop the new Drum Major Manual, its publication nevertheless represents a commitment by the National Council to raise the profile of Drum Majoring whilst at the same time enhancing standards of Drum Major performance. To reinforce this commitment the Association is providing the Manual as a free download from its website. In this way we hope it will be widely seen and used, and will contribute to higher standards of Drum Majoring both nationally and internationally. The Manual, which incorporates illustrative photographs where needed, is structured into six main sections: Section A: The history and role of the Drum Major Section B: Dress standards Section C: Drill, mace signals, marching, discipline and commands Section D: Flourishing Section E: Competition format Section F: Tips and advice I am extremely grateful to the Drum Majors and other individuals within and outwith the Association who have contributed to the Manual’s content, preparation, presentation, photographs and editing. The final result represents the outcome of a tremendous amount of hard work, almost all of which has been undertaken on a voluntary basis. I encourage Drum Majors everywhere as well as anyone interested in Drum Majoring to download a copy. It will cost you nothing apart from the paper and the printing ink. I also hope the publication of the Manual will lead to other developments which can impact on the standards of Drum Majoring in general. DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE MANUAL - CLICK HERE Sponsored by Dalman and Narborough Drum Majors’ Staffs Kevin Reilly Chairman