Guelph Pipe Band creates new program for youth

The Guelph Pipe Band has a new learning program aimed at encouraging more young people to pick up a drum or bagpipes.

The not-for-profit organization started a beginner and intermediate learning program on Monday nights. The beginner program is for kids under 18-years-old interested in learning to play the snare drum, bass drum, tenor drum or bagpipes. The intermediate program is for people of all ages with a little more experience, who may be asked to join the Guelph Pipe Band at the end of the program.

“We seem to have lots of pipers to go around for all the pipe bands in Ontario, but there's been a shortage of drummers as of late,” Zack Miller, a drum instructor with the Guelph Pipe Band Teaching Program, said.

The programs are free for the first four classes and $10 a week after that.

“We want to make sure that it's accessible to everybody. So regardless of finances, we want to make sure that everybody is able to participate,” Miller said.

The two programs have 35 students in total so far.

“There are not very many other pipe bands that are doing something similar to this, and certainly not to the scale of this in Ontario. We're pretty proud of what we've started so far,” Miller said.

The Guelph Pipe Band has a storied history, serving in the Second World War. One of its original members was the leading Pipe Major when Canadian pipe bands marched into Berlin, Germany at the end of the war.

The pipe band has also seen lots of success in competition.

“Both of our bands won overall for the Ontario Pipe band circuit. We are in our higher-grade band North American Pipe Band Championship, and we placed fourth at the World Pipe Band Championships. Trying to build off of the success that we've had over the past year and bring more people into the pipe band world,” Miller said.

Ten-year-old Ada White is one of the students in the beginner program learning the tenor drum.

“I like the drum because they keep a beat and the other things are more melodic,” White said.

Tenor drummers use a flicking motion known as flourishing to move their sticks while they play. White said that is one of the harder things to learn.

“It's just probably trying to keep your sticks on your hands because sometimes I like to try to flourish and then they'll just fall off,” White said.

The students training to play the bagpipes start with what's known as a chanter and work on finger placement and breathing strength.

“Everybody learns at their own pace, and regardless, I think everybody gets there,” Luke Baltrusaitis, Pipe Major with the Guelph Pipe Band teaching ensemble, said.

“My grandpa used to march in the parade and we wanted to take after him,” Jordyn Sorbara, a piper in training said.

“Our mom likes it; our brother doesn't like it that much because he thinks it's too loud. He thinks it's too loud and annoying,” Mckenna Sorbara, a piper in training said.

Anyone interested in participating, donating or sponsoring the teaching program can contact the Guelph Pipe Band.