A Christian Pipe Band

The International Fellowship of Christian Pipers and Drummers suggested to its members that it would be good to meet one another in various parts of the world, and gather as pipe bands here or there. This has not worked as proposed because distances are often too great, say for example, in Texas. Perhaps in Florida or Pennsylvania, where the membership is greatest, it has possibilities. Even a Christian piper and drummer in every pipe band in the world would be an asset, but the formation of actual Christian Pipe Bands, the world over, would be even better. Consider establishing a pipe band in your community, composed of Christians who will invite others to join their ranks. Outside members could strengthen the ranks of Christians, and ultimately become Christians themselves. Before the band can be equipped with uniforms, individuals would have to wear their own. That is the way we began in the Manitoba Pipers Association. Every member wore his or her own uniform. It was a colorful band and proficient, by having won the Western Canadian Championship several times. Eventually it became The Air Force Pipe Band because we understood the need to assure our permanence by attaching ourselves to a strong organization.

A church can provide many advantages. First and foremost, it is the stability of that organization itself. Its executive can provide encouragement and the financing that is needed to start, which the band will repay from engagements. The church executive and its people would be encouragers. Engagements such as Easter, Christmas, weddings, banquets and memorials would be anticipated. Within the church congregation are people associated with organizations such as Rotary and Kiwanis who would automatically think of their church’s pipe band when they needed one. The band would be an integral part of the church's activities. Undoubtedly, there would be a large reception hall in which to practice.

The difference between a successful pipe band and a mediocre one is in having a well established church or other organization as its foundation. Some pipe bands for example, that derive permanence from the establishment to which they are associated are, Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, The Cameron Highlanders, The Winnipeg Police Pipe Band and The Army and Navy Veterans Pipe Band in Winnipeg.

The band will need a president, secretary, treasurer, quartermaster and instructors. There definitely needs to be someone in charge of arranging engagements. The pipe major would be freed from other obligations to direct musical and marching techniques. The church executive has to be approached with the suggestion that there is a great opportunity for the church to have a well-practiced pipe band ready for all occasions, for there will be many times when a pipe band will be required. You must present the plan so well that the church executive will be interested. By advertising, you will find whether or not there are pipers and drummers in the area who would want to form a new Christian Pipe Band. One could be surprised how many may be interested, who would not undertake the project themselves, but would be excited to become founding members under someone else’s direction.

Often, I have thought that services that included a Christian Pipe Band to celebrate Christmas, Easter, Remembrance Day and church picnics would be especially welcome. It should have several well-defined characteristics:

• Its focus should be on worship, both in church and in public. Concerts and other performances should honor the name of Jesus, especially in celebrating His birth, death and resurrection. Performances at Highland Games and similar festivals would be fine, as long as they focussed on honoring God, which should be sufficient reason for members to play at the top of their ability.
• The group should honor piping traditions such as wearing Highland dress. Besides its well-practiced church music, the band should be able to play Scottish tunes “to the letter.” It should be adept at harmony, counter-melody and round-robin solos that will blend with the tunes played. Individual members could very well enter competitions; the band as well, if it did not limit the band’s repertoire and cause strain on younger players to meet the obligations.
• Church pipe bands would be formed first, then state, provincial, and regional bands. Then a national band would follow, with the ultimate goal of being able to assemble an international performance group, as specified in the by-laws of the IFCPD.
• As Christian Pipe Bands become familiar, they can serve the public as inspiration for other believing pipers and drummers to join or form their own church pipe band units.
• James Rankin a member of The International Fellowship of Christian Pipers and Drummers in Texas contributed great suggestions on how to develop a Christian Pipe Band, and Sara Workman in North Carolina also discussed the formation of Christian Pipe Bands being formed within one’s own church. We expect there will be considerable interest amongst Christian Pipers and Drummers with the result that they will approach their church leadership with a plan for organizing a Christian Pipe Band in their church. We wish them success and recommend that they will spend time to pray about their plan before presenting it to their church board members.