Jock - Highland Dancing Piper

Received a couple of messages from dancers asking if I had a slow 6 step fling that they could practice to. I didn't, since one of my hard drives died of death. So thiught I'd record one tonight :)
I've been blowing in a new reed, which is a bit of a gut buster, and re-learnt the tough lesson to always dry my canister system at this time of year (coming in to winter in Australia), otherwise the drones just go to... well, you can guess the rest :) (as well as a bit of flatness on some notes of the chanter)
Anyway, here it is. It's slow, but not killer slow. I can do a killer slow version another time if you like? Let me know...

Here's another one for the dancers...(A training track)
I've had my girls at the swimming pool a lot lately and I was sitting on the sidelines reminiscing all the training sessions that I could remember from being in the pool when I was a little person (many, many moons ago!) I always dreaded it when the coach would have us do pyramid training, even though they attested that it was the best type of training to build stamina in the pool.
So here we are... Inspired to knock something together as a potential training tool for the off-season (bad timing, I know!)
Here's a 6 step fling in pyramid format, but only up the pyramid (not back down again) Dance 1 step/Rest 1 step, Dance 2 steps/Rest 2 steps, Dance 3 steps/Rest 3 steps, and so on...
Let me know what you think about it in the comments. Would this help your training during the off-season? Is it worth going up the steps AND back down again? Or are the 21 steps in this version more than enough (obviously, you could just dance to your current fitness level and stop where you needed) 🤔 🤣

Not a tune for dancing to, but something I composed in 2023 for our dear friend Harry (a fellow dancing dad), who sadly passed away. And the tune and timing of the composition were also a poignant tribute to another great lifelong friend, Jock Elliott, who contributed massively to the pipe band scene through his character and services as a reed and chanter maker, and who is sadly no longer with us.
A massive thank you to Chris MacDonald and Gary Potter for helping me with the backing music for this track, it’s really made the tune.

This one's for the dancers... Share with your mates and drop your thoughts in the comments 😁

Here's a track with 3 musical options for the Reel High Cuts steps (all with half of step 3 for intro). Option # 1 is a new tune I've recently written (called "One More Step"), Option # 2 (called "Rock n' Roll Jimbo") is another one of my own tunes that suits high cutting, and Option # 3 is the old favourite MRS MacLeod of Raasay (high cut version).
Share it with your fellow dancers and lets see what you all prefer. I'vee got a feeling it's going to be optioin 2, as thats what most of you seem to favour on competition days 😃

Loved piping for the Champions Fling from the Champion of Champions Championship of Australia 2026. (Jings, that's a mouthful) :D
One of the hardest parts of the day whilst piping - trying to keep time to a varying clap from the crowd. Nothing that a metronome and giving it laldy with the foot can't sort though :p
A great weekend catching up with old friends and making some new.
Congratulations to Alice (16 Years & Over), Mille (12-15 Years) and Pippa (7-11 Years) on winning their respective age group championships.

A Primary Fling at 122 BPM, with a beat behind it and the metronome for good measure (pardon the pun!).

Another wee phone recording. This time it's the Seann Triubhas ( 3 & 1 Steps) for premier 7-11 timed at 94 & 115 Bpm.
It's amazing how good the phone microphones have become recently!
Share it in your dancing groups if you think it'd be a help for your dancers having the visual metronome going along with the recording.

One of the most important things about piping for Highland Dancing is keeping it consistent for each set of dancers that come to the stage. That's why playing to a metronome is key to making this happen! Setting each tempo relevant to the age group and skill level.
Here's a recording of the Strathspey & Reel of Tulloch for Premier Adults using the metronome setup that I have. This was recorded using my phone while having a wee tune with the dancers this morning and it was only positioned a few feet away, so it's a wee bit distorted in places.
And... I'm waaayyyy out of practice, so I'm currently working on getting the rigid digits (fingers) back up to speed 😉

*Supporting apps while playing: Pro Metronome App and Braw Sound App.

A busy weekend of piping at burns nights over the weekend with the dancers of Scottish Highland Dance Academy. Unfortunately, we didn't get any videos of the iconic moments during the evenings, so instead, here is an "at home" rendition of Ae Fond Kiss. One of my favourite Rabbie Burns pieces.