Iain MacDonald - Bagpipes

Piping Instructors | Publications | Volunteer Work & Associations

Iain began piping in 1965, and from an early age competed, piped for dancing, and attended summer schools of piping. In 1978 and '81, Iain lived in Scotland, where he took weekly lessons from Pipe-Major Donald MacLeod, MBE, and played in the Babcock-Renfrew Pipe Band under P-M Iain McLeod. As a member of the Grade 1 Renfrew band, Iain won prizes at all the major Scottish championships.

From 1985 through '91, Iain played with the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, and during that time the band won second place twice at the World Championships, including first-place finishes in both the medley and MSR events.

For many years, Iain was been a student of P-M James McMillan of Burnaby, BC. In 1992, Iain founded the Grade 2 City of Regina Pipe Band, and has been pipe major since that time. As a soloist, Iain has featured in the prizes at many events, including the BC Pipers Annual Gathering, Portland and Seattle Games, Maxville and Montreal Highland Games, and at Games in Scotland.

Iain's accomplishments include highland dancing, pipe band and folk recordings; writing, composing and editing for pipe music collections; organization of bands, highland games, and other events.

In 2008, Iain published a collection of bagpipe music called Along the Road, which features 79 tunes from a variety of composers, including Iain. Most notable are a number of previously unpublished compositions and arrangements from the late Pipe-Major Donald MacLeod, M.B.E.

Some of Iain's former pupils have gone on to successes of their own, including World Pipe Band Championships, solo awards, and teaching positions.

Iain completed the Senior Certificate [2003], the Graduate Certificate [2004] and the Senior Teacher's Certificate [2005] from the Institute of Piping.he is also a member of the Board of Examiners for the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board [2006].

Other topics: Teaching | Performance [including recordings and solo prizes] | Adjudication

Piping Instructors

1960s	Tom Ireland, Mr. MacKinnon, Andy McAnsh, Angus Spence, George Crawford	All at the Fraser Pipe Band. Of these, Tom Ireland did a great job with basics (first lessons) and Andy McAnsh gave me stuff I still use. Angus & George are retired in BC, where they still play.
1969-82	P/M Donald MacLeod, MBE	I was most fortunate to be exposed to Donald at the summer schools in Saskatchewan, and I later spent two years in Scotland going for weekly lessons, first at the Grainger & Campbell shop, and later at his home in Cardonald. To this day, I can't believe my good fortune. Read article
early 1980s	Ian Conn, Winnipeg	Ian was an ex-Scot who did the Army piping school with Tom McAllister, and played with several good bands in Scotland before emigrating to Winnipeg in the 1960s. Ian has a fabulous ear, and taught me lots about reeds and setting up pipes. He was P/M of the Selkirk Pipe Band, and was also the P/M in the "glory years" of the Centennial Pipe Band of Winnipeg.
1978, 81	P/M Iain McLeod, Edinburgh	As well as having the opportunity to be in Iain's band, I went to Edinburgh on occasion to work on solo music with him. Lots of my thinking on light music came from what I learned from him.
1985-91	Terry and Jack Lee	These two characters contributed a great deal to my development as a piper and a musician. Both are gifted, and each in his unique way is very generous with that gift. Terry and Jack have lived everyone else's piping dream: Gold Medal, Silver Star, Clasp, Bratach Gorm, four World Pipe Band Championships, recordings, and a fabulous teaching organization. I also benefited greatly from exposure to other excellent players in SFU, and the West Coast scene in general.
1988-05	P/M James McMillan	Jim McMillan is "the source" of much great piping on the West Coast. Over the years he has taught almost all the West's best players. Jim was a student of Archie MacNeill (The Blind Piper), and had courses at the Army School with the great Willie Ross. Into his 90s, Jim was an avid student of piobaireachd, a great teacher, and an outstanding person.

Publications

2008	Published a collection of bagpipe music called Along the Road, featuring tunes from a variety of composers. The book includes a number of unpublished tunes and settings from the late Pipe-Major Donald MacLeod, M.B.E., as well as tunes from many prairie pipers. The collection was officially launched in August 2008 at the Glasgow International Piping Festival Piping Live!, and is available for sale here, and also through piping stores.
1993 - present	Contributions to The Piper and Drummer Magazine Want examples? See the Writing page. Some other stuff, such as articles for THE VOICE (EUSPBA). 2002 - Wrote introduction to Volumes 5, 6, 7 & 8 of the P/M Donald MacLeod MBE CD series by Lismor.
1993	A High Cut Above, wrote and edited all text, and assisted with music compilation; this is a companion to the 1990 recording of the same name
1990	The Robert MacNeil Collection of Music for the Great Highland Bagpipe, Book 1, edited all textual portions of the book, and proofed all music.

Memberships, Volunteer Work, and Other Projects

Competing Pipers Association
- Joined 2001

Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations (ANAPBA)
- Attended summits in Chicago [Fall 2000], Toronto [Jan 2002], Atlanta, GA [2003] and Winnipeg [2005] as SPBA rep
- members of Distance Education Committee (later Chair)
- ANAPBA web master
- SPBA Music Advisor to ANAPBA for several years

Saskatchewan Pipe Band Association, 2000, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07
- Current President
- past Chair, Grading Committee
- SPBA web site webmaster
- SPBA representative to Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations (Chicago-Oct. 2000/Toronto-Jan. 2002/Atlanta, GA - Jan. 2003)
- Vice-President of SPBA (2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04)
- Chair of Music Board
- Director of SPBA Summer School
- President of SPBA, 2004, 05
- Past president 2006, 2007

Prairie Pipe Band Association, 1973-1985
- General Secretary (2 years)
- President of the Saskatchewan Branch (2 years)
- Council President covering Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba (2 years)
- founded and edited the Saskatchewan Branch Newsletter (3 years)

British Columbia Pipers Association, 1985-1989
- served on the B.C.P.A. Board of Directors (1988-1989)
- edited the British Columbia Pipers Association Newsletter (1988-1989)

Regina Piping Society, 1990-97
Founded the Regina Piping Society. The aim of the society is to run a series of music recitals for amateur pipers as a way of encouraging young players in the Regina area. The Society ran mini gatherings for about seven years, plus workshops, a newsletter, and some knockout contests.

The Regina Highland Games, 1996-1999
- organized Regina's first Highland Games since 1990; served as president of the Association for two years;
- organized the piping and drumming competitions at the Games.

The Mid-Winter Celtic Festival , 1993 - present
- organize this annual February festival as part of my work with the City of Regina Pipe Band.

The City of Regina Fall Workshop and Recital
- organized the workshop and recital