JOINING THE UNIVERSITY OF BALLARAT PIPE BAND

The Band encourages young people to join its ranks as learners, and is renowned for being a 'teaching band'. We are also very happy to welcome existing players, regardless of standard.

We are very fortunate to have extensive playing and teaching expertise in the Band with several experienced members all willing to pass on their knowledge as tutors to our learners. For further information or enquiries, contact the Band.

Pipers

Les Hardy - this year celebrating 50 years in Ballarat pipe bands - has the challenging role of co-ordinator of the learner pipers, together with the help of several senior members of the Band. There are currently eight learner pipers working towards the ultimate goal of playing with the Band's Pipe Corps, which currently number 27 players across the two bands. Les can be found at the Band Hall - Reid Court, Brown Hill, every Monday night at 7:00 pm running individual classes, and at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts, Howitt Street, Wendouree, on Wednesday nights starting at 7:00 pm. Locations of these venues may be found here.

Drummers

Drummers too, may obtain tuition from experienced and Australian Pipe Band College qualified members of the Band. There is the possibility to try the snare drum, or pitched tenor drums, as well as the bass drum. Lessons generally take place at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts, Howitt Street, Wendouree, on Wednesday nights starting at 7:00 pm. Across the two Bands, the playing Drum Corps numbers 10 snares, 3 tenors and two bass drummers with more learning. Several of the drummers are skilled and experienced across multiple drums in the Corps, which adds flexibility.

EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE BEYOND THE BAND

The UBPB is very fortunate to have a wealth of expertise within playing group. Having said that, some have gained experience at the highest levels of competition on the world stage. Our Pipe Major, Bradley Saul, is an accomplished musician and composer in his own right across a variety of musical genres and instruments. He was a member of the Australia Highlanders Pipe Band from 2004-2007, competing at two World Championships in Grade 1. Our Leading Drummer, Tim Bodey, played in 2001 with the then Grade 1 Queensland Police Pipes & Drums also at the World Championships and has been invited to play with other Grade 1 bands from here and overseas at World Championships since that time.

Aside from our in-house expertise, the UBPB has been fortunate to enlist the services of top players from around the world from time to time.

I
James Laughlin of come2drum, a member of the current World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band works at a pad session in January 2009.

In the last year, the Band has benefited from time spent with James Laughlin, leading drummer of the Canterbury Caledonian Society in New Zealand, formerly of the World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band Drum Corps (2009 World Drum Corps Champions). Several of our drummers are having ongoing Internet-based tuition from James and he made his second visit to us in September 2009. In late 2008 the Band was pleased to have a visit from Pipe Major John Cairns (Peel Regional Police, Canada and formerly Pipe Sergeant of the 78th Fraser Highlanders) and Drew Duthart, leader of the 2007 World Champion 78th Fraser Highlanders' Drum Corps. The UBPB will endeavour to continue attracting accomplished, world-class players to assist with our development.

P/M John Cairns (Peel Regional Police) working with the pipers.

The UBPB Grade 3 Victorian, Australian and South Pacific Drum Corps Champions with Drew Duthart (back row, fifth from the left), Leading Drummer of the 2007 Grade 1 World Champion Drum Corps.

In September 2009, in addition to James Laughlin, Champion piper Jori Chisholm (also from 2009 World Champions Simon Fraser) and Tyler Fry, one of the world's most successful and innovative tenor drummers (who plays with The House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead; 2009 RSPBA Champion of Champions Drum Corps) also attended practice to share their knowledge and experiences.

The motivating influence of direct access to players of this calibre from around the world cannot be understated. Very few bands, let alone a 'country band', can boast of having had all the abovementioned players attend practices to lend a hand. It truly and literally connects us directly with the best in the world of pipe bands.