By Ed West
 

     Attending a recent meeting with the Fort Lauderdale Highlanders, I heard that the Southern United States Pipe Band Association’s newsletter was looking for articles featuring life within the Association’s pipe bands.  As absorbed as I am as a student learning the bagpipe, I thought it would be a great idea to remind those accomplished players that their input enabled me to avoid the common pitfalls and to speak to those looking at these talents from the outside, that you too are more than welcome to begin the great experience I am writing here.

     A few lines about my introduction to the Fort Lauderdale Highlanders will not even begin to cover it but I’ll try with my own story.  A long time ago maybe not so far away,  (sorry Mr. Lucas!), I was attending the South Eastern Highland Games in the Fort Lauderdale area and had the opportunity to hear some of Florida’s pipe bands compete.  I thought, wow that sounds great!  I’ll bet they are hard to play, might take even a month or two to get it right.  A quick trip to the internet and wow, look at all the information I’m finding!  Learning this can’t be that hard; buy a chanter…a few dozen learners’ books…a handful of C.D.’s…this should be easy! 

                      REALITY SETS IN!!!

              Soon afterward I found myself staring at that chanter of mine thinking,” Shouldn’t this thing make more than a good duck call?”  No, there’s got to be more to it.  After receiving nothing but the same blank stare from our local music shops, I soon found myself making another trip to the internet looking for a way to make this easier for me and everyone else living under my roof.  I found two pipe bands in the area and they both offer free lessons.  Well, I thought, I’ve spent this much time and money, why not try getting a little advice from these folks.

     I chose to visit the meeting hall of the Fort Lauderdale Highlander’s mainly because of their proximity to my home.  Standing in the doorway of the hall I first saw two men playing chanters (they do make more than a good duck call).  They were to be my mentors and instructors.  John Geddes sat at the first table and has the patience of Job.  He was there helping to get the fingers right with the band’s entry level students, giving encouragement when it was needed; two simple tunes down and moving on.  Richard Shawcross was working the second table with the intermediate group, a sheet of exercises and Richard sternly saying, “Do it over!  Practice, practice, practice!!”  Words I will never forget.  Nor will he let me!

     I was fortunate enough to come across this great group of men and women who number thirty-six plus active members.  A group that could take me from not knowing a note, playing in my first parade, to being able to play some of the tunes I first heard some 18 months ago during that Highland Games Competition.  The “Highlanders” are a very active band, competing from Jacksonville, Florida to the Coral Springs Highland Games in South Florida.  The local parades keep them playing from November to July and competing from January to April (Don’t you just love our warm weather, HA!).

     So if you are looking for an active group, this is it.  Plan a visit with the Fort Lauderdale Highlanders because believe me, they will more than welcome you.  You’ve just read what they’ve done for me!!!

Beginning Piper,

Ed West   

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