What Should I Play

[Ian the Bagpiper]

Hello, my name is Ian Schriver, this upcoming summer I am going to compete for my first time solo. I am going for grade 3 and I have no idea what to play. Any ideas? :shrug:

Cheers

[Pipin' FF]

Ian....not trying to be a negaive here, but it says in your profile you have only been playing one year? Have you ever competed before? Grade III is a pretty advanced grade to just jump into with no competition experience and only playing 1 year. I am sure someone has done it...definetly not me :eek:

You may want to post current tunes you play well now and see if any of them are worthy of Grade III Competition pieces or you will get a mass of tunes names. Also, to pick up a new tune now and learn it well enough to compete this summer will be a tough task. I listened to a couple Grade 3 contest and some competitors play fairly easy tunes, I am grade IV and play some of the same tunes. They just play it near perfect...No technical errors, better flow to the tune and pipes are steady and solid through the comp. I know this doesn't really help your initial question but grade 3 at 1 year struck me odd. Hope this helps!

P.S.> For everyone out there that was grade III at one year, don't slay me online! I just think that is amazing!!

[Jan]

The EUSPBA requires first time competitors to start at the beginning level, i.e. grade 5 or 4.
You need to check with your association to see if they have a similar rule. They probably do. In any case, play your best tunes! You want to show the judge what you can do so you want to put your best foot forward.

[Kenton Adler]

I agree. If you don't know what to play, chances are you're going to get eaten alive in Grade III.

Pick a good four-parted 2/4 like King George V's Army, Seige of Delhi, Norman Orr-Ewing, Men of Argyll, or any number of others (check out Burt Mitchell's book and CD of classic 2/4 marches), get it where it's comfortable and then go play a couple of Grade IV contests. If you're so hot that you're out of your league there the judge will let you know and you can request an upgrade.

Many games offer other Grade IV events, like 6/8, and slow aire contests. You can often play Piobaireachd (anywhere from Ground only to full tune)as well.

Good luck with it, whatever you decide to do, and have some fun.

[Ian the Bagpiper]

Hey, thanks for the advice guys, I checked it out and the rule are the same here in New Brunswick. Oh well. I am now wondering whether I could play a grade III march in a grade IV competition? I can play King George V's Army, Arthur Bignold of Lochrosque and a bunch of other tunes but I play those ones without any flaws. Which one should I play?

[Chairman Mao]

...but I play those ones without any flaws... I don't want to come across as an ass Ian, but to say you play these tunes without any flaws is a bit, well, I'm not quite sure what the word is, - maybe the word I'm searching for is pompous.

BUT...

If it is the case you play them without any flaws, on an awesome bagpipe, then go play them in whatever grade - hell, even Open - and go for the big medal.

But why not wait to see what a judge has to say first? Maybe it's not so "flawless."

Also, grade III usually includes an S/R competition, not just the march.


Scott

[PipePlayr]

Hey Ian,

The answer is pretty simple...just play the tune you like the most. You will naturally play that tune better.

Also, don't worry about this being your first competition. My first comp. was back in '92 at the Charleston, SC games. I entered at Grade III level (must've been before the new rule) with seven other pipers, played "Walter Douglas M.B.E.", and won it. Not trying to brag here because I haven't competed since due to family circumstances and other obligations...but it CAN be done.

If you get eaten alive...so what! Learn from what the judges tell you. Approach it as being a critique of your ability and not as a means of proving yourself better than another musician.

Oh yeah, "Break a leg" :)

[pipingguy]

If you are looking for good competition marches, play tunes like the Argyllshire Gathering(my first competitive march), John MacDonald of Glencoe, etc. Tunes that can show off good expression, but as said before, grade 3 is quite a jump into competition after only been playing for a year