Bruce Gandy Music — News!

2011-01-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

Mission and Goals

Mission

To promote and enhance bagpipe music through educational funding and partnership.

The goals and objectives of the Society are:

• Strive to encourage the development of Scottish bagpiping
• To promote and assist individual Highland bagpipers through educational funding and partnerships
• Development of youth programs supporting Highland bagpiping locally, nationally, and internationally
• Encourage greater appreciation of bagpiping heritage.
• To offer education scholarships and bursaries for bagpipe students to use for private lessons, workshops, and piping schools, and travel to major events.
• To assist with the achievement of pre determined goals globally.
• To work in partnership with some of the summer schools to “double up” on some tuition scholarships.
• To apply a “pay it forward” (clause) so the recipient can give back in some way to their community Eg: Free lesson(s) to some other students, free performance at a seniors home? Volunteering their musical skills or performance ability to help another cause.

The Background Story

Bruce Gandy has been a professional bagpipe competitor for almost 35 years and a full-time professional bagpipe player and teacher for 14 years. This doesn’t come by chance, it comes by hard work and a great deal of opportunity.

As a child in a family of eight, Bruce did not grow up in a financially priviledged lifestyle, but he did grow up among a group of very passionate pipers led by his father, Ray Gandy. When Bruce needed to get to events, competitions, parades or piping schools, there always seemed to be someone there who could take him along and make sure he got to the events. They all knew somehow that this would end up being a big part of his life one day.

“To name certain individuals and leave others out would not be fair at all as it was the greater sum of all of these people that helped me get to where I am today” says Bruce. Bruce’s father was a great supporter of piping and especially took note of the young kids coming up. He volunteered at the Vancouver Island Pipers Club from it’s inception right up until his early passing in 1976, as well as lending support to any other causes in the Victoria area that were piping related. “It took me many years to realize, how much all of these other people really did for me. ” In the spring of 2010, Bruce decided that it was time to do something to help others and this was how the Bruce Gandy Bagpiping Development Society was started.

A series of events led Bruce to awake one day with a very clear thought. All the events had now come full circle in my mind, from playing myself, to raising a son who is a top piper, to really seeing how difficult it is for some people to be able to follow a passion.” The concern was why are there no foundations set up under the names of some of the other great pipers in the world just now? Did they not think of it or did they figure you had to be deceased first, or was it just because, generally speaking, piping is not a rich man's game?

“I’ve been blessed since my early piping days to have tremendous instruction, incredible opportunities to play with top bands, travel the world to perform, compete, judge, and compete and have been given much help along the way, and I need to do what I can now to help others achieve some of these goals.”

Once Bruce had a clear idea of what he wanted to achieve with a new society, he started on the main project of trying to raise a large, ongoing scholarship endowment.

How you can help.

With limited funding from government and resources being cut to the arts all the time, it takes individuals who are both bold and passionate to step up and help so that the Bruce Gandy Bagpiping Development Society can exist, helping pipers locally, nationally and internationally to achieve their goals. There are several ways to make donations, cash, cheque, paypal through your account or visa. Make cheques payable to Bruce Gandy Bagpiping Development Society.

If you would like to discuss how you can help, or have ideas for the Society, please contact Bruce through this web site

Seattle school

2010-02-17T17:04:00.000-08:00

Well, the past two weeks have been very busy here in Halifax, with extra work meetings, trying to get ready for the Metro Cup in New Jersey this weekend and trying to fit in the lessons from all the skype people. Scheduling can be tough at times with all the time zones involved, but a great collaborative effort on both sides usually makes these work out okay.

I was suppose to be at Seabeck, Washington on February 3rd for the Celtic Arts Foundation, Winter School, a true highlight of the year for me http://www.celticarts.org/
but circumstances that came up made it impossible for me to attend at the last minute which was disappointing but my wonderful cast of students sent this little picture to me which was very uplifting, and thank you John Courtney for arranging that.

The Skype family continues to grow, I try to share stories from one student to another and hope to get a bit of a newsletter going once again as I am the one that truly benefits with all the different friendships and knowledge I get from all the players. keep up the hard work gang and thanks for the support! You're hard work has inspired me in another way that i hope to let you all in on soon.

Cheers
Bruce

The Captain

2009-12-28T09:15:00.000-08:00

Well, it's just after Christmas and Bruce Gandy Music is back in full swing today. A few people had opportunity with days off or school out to get a chance and I have a couple of free days here before traveling up to Ontario for the New Year so I figured I'd make some time and teach a few hours here and there. Besides , it keeps me out of the crazy stores for now with all the boxing day madness.

As I searched around a few of the websites that I often frequent, I was back onto the Captains corner and it got me to thinking. I remember the captain making a post last year about my trip to Hawaii , a how life must be good yada yada yada so I thought it only right to honor him back after his recent excursion to the Caribean. Just in case you were getting a little soft Captain , or thought that perhaps I was for giving you a hard time about your trip, I"ll post a couple of wee photo's that I've downloaded. Down here in the Maritimes, we're a pretty tough group and while you were on your cruise ship sipping marguerita's etc, It was my son Alex's 21st Birthday here and being that our rule for the birthdays is for the person to choose what to eat, Alex chose his favorite,,,,,,Bar B Que steaks so your's truly was out grilling in the minus 5 weather with the flurries coming and going. Of course, a nice pint of Kilkenny helped out in dealing with the elements and with the timing so as not to burn things. Then it was a sit down for a couple of tunes and a good night for us all later. Well, it must be time to get ready for the next student. Back to you soon.
Bruce

33 years later

2009-12-19T06:18:00.000-08:00

Well, it's December 20th and I have awoken to realize that it's now 33 years since my dad passed. Each year, I generally take an hour or so and go off by myself to a pub or a lounge and just sit and think. I quietly recite many of the thoughts of the year,think about my family and what went on in the piping arena once again.

My father was a huge supporter of all things piping, from helping the kids to enjoying listening to the best tunes from the top open players. I find it to be very good therapy to do this each year. Just going away on my own and sitting and thinking, often giving my dad a hard time and practically yelling at him under my breath for not being around and missing all of this. It's a tough couple of days until I go out for my therapeutic session but i"m always glad I do.

Wish he was still around, he only got to see me perform as a grade one amateur but he did get to see me play with the grade one band City of Victoria. It's all relative though really, had he not passed away, my life would be completely different, I may not have ever met my wife, or have the two children that are changing the world in their own way, as every person does. So, it is what it is and I'll just continue to take my couple of hours each Dec 20 to remember, what is, what could have been, what should have been and hopefully, can end up back at the beginning with what is a current reality.
Bruce

year end and congrats

2009-12-09T06:48:00.000-08:00

Well, it’s coming up for the end of the calendar year and there is so much that can be talked about I don’t know where to start. Instead of just thinking of all that we should have or could have done over the past year, I think we’ll just look to the future.

I’m very excited about the music program here. I am always working on ways to better serve all the students and the customers of brucegandymusic. One such item that will be coming up in the early New Year is the music collection which will now be available on CD. This is an easy to read PDF form E-book with ease of navigation and all of the tunes from the 4th volume of contemporary and traditional music right there on your computer screen so you can practice with ease while sneaking a break at work if you like. Also, for the new year, I am hoping to have it all recorded as well as many people have requested to have all the tunes in mp3 form. I now have the new finale 2010 music writing program but even though I used older versions previously, this one seems to have quite a learning curve, but we’re working away typesetting the older tunes as well as lots of new tunes coming.

I hope, perhaps will feature some in the near future as I have quite a stack of traditional tunes in the ¾ , 4/4 and easier march type tunes . The tunes for commission part of the site has been very busy and I have tried to fill the orders but sometimes, producing a quality tune that can hopefully stand the test of time is just not easy, but we’ll manage with a bit more time. Where ever your piping travels take you over the next year, I hope they are more rewarding and successful than the last.

Finally, a very proud day for me this year recently on November 21st as I had 3 students out of an invited 10 playing for the top amateur prize in piping at the George Sherriff Memorial Contest in Hamilton. This was a great day of piping that I enjoyed with my long time friend Ken Eller. He kept busy most of the day recording the contest for the archives from up in his own special place at the church. Finally, I am happy that I decided to go up to hear and more happy that I will have the memory of the contest and the picture of these three young men to remember it by. This picture and is now up on my bulletin board at the office showing off my students, Richard Gillies ( holding the presentation set of pipes) Chris Lee and Thomas Harrington. All the players played well and I know that these three put in a tremendous effort to be ready for the day. This is what makes our art form so good and shows a very positive future ahead of us

Glenfiddich 2009

2009-11-18T06:17:00.001-08:00

Well, I’ve been back home for a week now from Scotland after this, my third trip to Scotland and I am taking a well deserved break to rest my arms for a while. What an experience! I have been ever so fortunate to now play at the Glenfiddich 7 times and it never ceases to amaze me each time. On the one hand, it is as stressful as it gets and this is driven by two main factors. 1st, the obvious prestige of the championship, but secondly, the way that you are treated is second to none and you just feel you have to do everything possible to perform your best for this knowledgeable and enthusiastic crowd. My wife, Beverley, came along once again which is very good for me and we had a wonderful stay with our god friends Roddy and Margaret MacLeod for the first couple of days. Their hospitality is always appreciated as it makes the trip seem more like home. On the Friday evening, we traveled up to the Pitlochry to the Athol Palace, the host hotel and that is where everyone gathers for the evening meal and our tunes are selected and given to us as we nervously chat over drink. This is one of the only contests where you are not likely to see a competitor out much after 11pm as it seems that everyone gets their tunes, and then scurries up to their rooms to have a last minute check over the music to make sure that we have all the right notes in order.

The next day starts with all the competitors gathered at Blair Athol Castle at 9am where we take a photo and then commence with the draw for order of play, a very fair way of doing it. This year luck was on my side as I was 8th on and 9 on respectively which was much better than playing first on in the Piob last year as the great hall tends to be cold still and it generally has adverse effects on the pipes.

This is not going to be a play by play of the event, you all know how the day went after that, it’s just to give you a little taste of the lead up and a forum for me to publicly thank Liz Maxwell and the whole Glenfiddich team for the outstanding job they do in making you feel both comfortable and very special. There is definitely nothing like this anywhere else. I would also be remiss not to publicly thank the United States Piping foundation who I represented this year and their funding for the trip, so thanks to Mac and all the gang there, see you next June.

There were several highlights during the weekend for me but for the big memory, I have to say this: When you are just trying to do your best to get through the events and hopefully play a nice tune and perhaps the greatest competitor ever, Donald MacPherson and his extremely knowledgeable wife Gwen actually come to you and tell you they really enjoyed your playing, well, to me, that’s what it’s all about and I felt very honored with that. I can only say here that if you ever get the chance to go to the Glenfiddich. Do not pass this up and do not pass up the evening dinner/celidh it will most likely be one of the great piping highlights of your life.

finding enough players in a small market

2009-10-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

The piping season is barely over, especially in the EUSPBA and there is a mad scavenger hunt going on to try to find new players, keep your old players and get ready for the new season. I find this year to be especially challenging. We are losing players, and gaining some but with the AGM coming up this weekend for our band, I am not finding the same excitement level as usual and probably will not until I arrive and see who IS playing and staying and who is not. While a person certainly has free will to come and go as they please, I just find the whole band "business" turning into a real band Business now, much like sports teams with not much loyalty but more of a where's the next best thing. Perhaps, the fact that I have only played in 4 bands in my 40 years of piping, 3 of which were running the grade 3 band where I worked at the College at PEI, it just feels odd that many people don't seem to stay for more than a year or two with any band, and it makes it tough for the band to really keep their "musical personality".

I too have toyed with changing bands. Teaching piping full time, the idea of being able to study tunes on my own, and just come to one or two practices during the full off season, then arrive to play and hopefully help that band out in competition seem pretty inviting, especially for us northern people who just want to go anywhere to get away, sometimes even another cold place just for the change in scenery, but for now, at least this week, I think I am staying put.

I can honestly say that I have had several offers to play elsewhere which leads me to the dilemna here in that while I don't like that so many people are always changing bands, I'm now out there "poaching" away as good as I can and feel like a hypocrite for it. But, for the band to survive and be able to compete against the others, I feel this is now the only way. I could sit back and not try to stir up interest but the band size, especially in a very small market like Halifax would just have a tough time growing. Here’s hoping that the plus side out weighs the minus side on the personnel side of things this season.

Bruce

Aloha

2008-12-10T18:57:00.000-08:00

Well, after a week in the beautiful sun of Maui Hawaii, it was a cold re entry to chilly Dartmouth as I went through a 65 degree temperature change from airport to airport. This was my first trip to Hawaii and hopefully not the last but it would not have happened without the help of Michael Riedel arranging this workshop and my two very gracious hosts Alan Davidson (Pipe Seargent of the Isle of Maui Pipe Band)and Norman Mizuno (Band Manager) Thanks must also go to David Asher for hosting the workshop at his beautiful home. This group of Pipers and drummers do all they can to remain inspired by the music which I imagine is rather difficult due to their isolation.
Currently the Isle of Maui Pipe Band has 10 active pipers and 7 drummers and most were at the workshop. For the past several years, Jack lee has come out to Maui to do a "band" workshop so it was decided that I would do an "open type" workshop that would hopefully appeal to more of the pipers in the area, many of them showing up to learn all sorts of new tunes and a Piob, as well as learning some of the theory around timing and pulsing tunes. This band is not well funded and it is a tremendous effort that goes into raising money to host these types of events and a tribute to their eagerness to continue to learn.
Overall, a great week of learning for the students and warm weather for me as well. Oh yeah, playing golf at Kapalua was pretty damn good too. Can't wait to go back !

BBC Pipeline

2008-11-24T08:37:00.000-08:00

Hello to all, a busy Christmas season is upon us now and students are busy learning the new tunes for next years upcoming competition season so remember, Christmas is a time to enjoy what you have with your friends and family. This also includes your piping ! Don't fall into that trap of taking the full two weeks off as you could set yourself back quite a ways from the progress you have already made this fall in the new tune learning. Give your pipes a blow now and then to keep them and the reeds from drying out and it will be much easier to get back into the swing in January. As my good friend Willie McCallum once told my son Alex when he was teaching him "it's not the practice everyday that wins you a gold medal, it's the fifteen minutes on those days where you didn't want to play that keep you in good form" Well said Willie

However, you may find you need a break just now so I might suggest a little self promotion at this time and let you know that from now until this saturday, you can hear yours truly playing on BBC's pipeline radio show http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fn0fd
While I was over in Scotland last month for the Glenfiddich Championship and the London piping competition, I was contacted by Iain MacInnes to come in to the studio in Edinburgh and record some music for the radio show which aired live in Scotland last Saturday, Nov 22nd. It's always a tough task playing in the studio, most noticeable is the difficulty in keeping the lift and spirit in the tunes when you have to stand basically still in front of a microphone. All in all I was happy enough with the recording and the radio show also features a track from a great new album called Partners in Crime from Ross Ainslie and Jarleth Henderson. There are also little segments from the 78th Frasers live in Ireland recording and a feature from a new Greentrax recording with talking and playing of tunes from the great war.
I hope you enjoy and would love to hear if you have comments. The photo was taken late in the evening at the glenfiddich celidh while I was having a tune with Ross Ainslie.
cheers
Brue

Holiday Season

2007-12-19T07:28:00.000-08:00

Just a small note to wish everyone best wishes for a great Holiday season. I will be traveling up to Ontario with my family and we will celebrate the week with several visits to our friends homes and there will be lots of tunes along the way.

I often find it tough at this time of year to keep motivated but now that I have entered for Kansas City Winter Storm, it seems that a deadline is just the trick to do that. I still love to play anytime, but I find that while I am so busy teaching and working on music, if there is not a reason, like a house party or the like, I just won't put the effort in.

i would love to hear how you all keep motivated to play when you just feel like you are burning out a bit, or just plain too tired or busy. I know that once I get up and start playing, I'm loving it almost every time but that big ugly word, procrastination, often keeps me from moving forward as much as I can. For instance, I looked at my clock and I was going to get a good hour in just now but I procrastinated once again and now have to run to get in this half hour session. Oh well, the pipes will be going and perhaps I'll squeeze in another half hour this afternoon. See you in January

Bruce

tough medicine-good people

2007-12-07T18:09:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been awhile since I last posted a blog and a lot has happened since then. On October 27th I got news of a family emergency and needed t go home to Victoria. So, packed up everything into my computer bag and brought it home to get ready to go on the trip. Well, I left the bag in the cab, for only maybe 15 seconds but he was gone. I immediately called cab companies and then the police but after a few weeks, it was too late. Nothing has appeared since. It's just like Murphy's Law as I happened to have the backup hard drive with me as well, duh. So, that's what happened. The point, it's just a nice place to make a public thank you to all the great people in the piping world that jumped up and sent me all sorts of files and mp3's that they had received over the years from different lessons and workshops. Now I am on the rebuild and will hopefully have more news for you. sorry no pictures yet, have to get a new camera as well .
Cheers
Bruce

Always be Prepared

2007-09-19T07:13:00.001-07:00

Had an interesting experience last Sunday that I'd like to share. I had the pleasure of playing with Alex and drummer Matt Trecartin for a show aboard the Norweigian Dawn Cruise ship that was docked in Halifax for the day. It was a 45 minute show with the Amethyst Dancers of Nova Scotia where we had a couple of piping sets and several dances to play.

Alex and I practiced together for a few days to make sure we had our settings and tunes in line so as not to be an embarrasment to ourselves and we spent some time over the days before just setting up the pipes so they would sound good. Yes, it is an advantage to have your piping partner at home as you can get the pipes out when you want so that made the setup a bit easier. I have always been uneasy about playing anywhere as I was brought up to play like it was the gold medal no matter where you have your pipes out.

We were to arrive by 1:45, board the ship at 2pm and the show started at 2:30. With all the trouble nowadays with security, this took a lot longer than it should have and we got on board at approximately 2:20. I asked where was our room for tuning and they didn't know what I was talking about so I explained that this was written in the email and we needed a room and hopefully 10 minutes would be anough to set the pipes as we were not going to get to touch them up for the duration of the show. We finally got a room just a little ways away and then the technician said the show was starting in 4 minutes, which I proceeded to tell him "No it's not". When the boss came in I explained we needed a few minutes, not long and the dancers also had to get into their various costumes as well. He agreed and the show started just 10 minutes late, which was good, as a lot of the passengers had not yet arrived at their seats for the same security reasons.

The point of this whole story is this. We went out and played and I felt the pipes were very good and was quite happy at the end of the show. As waited at the gangway for all of the cast to arrive (there was also 14 dancers I believe and we had to get on and off the boat together) various people came up and gave thanks and thought the show was nice etc. However, one fellow began to talk to us in an obvious Glasgow accent. He was on vacation with his wife and only moments later did I learn that he was now retired but was a former piper in the First Grade Denny and Dunipace Pipe Band from Scotland. Here we were in the land of nowhere but out there in the crowd was a guy who would have known if we had just fired up the pipes and done a substandard Job. Sorry about the photo, the kind lady that was taking pictures just couldn't get close enough to get a better shot.

Walking off the ship, I said to Alex, "That is the 100% reason why I insist on getting a room to set the pipes to ensure that under the conditions I can do the best job possible, becuase YOU NEVER KNOW WHO"S WATCHING OR LISTENING" You don't win a prize for playing at a nice little piping gig but when you're in your kilt performing in public, your reputation is always on the line and you can lose it in a heartbeat. I'm glad that I was taught that important lesson as a young boy and that I didn't just take the gig for granted! Food for thought

A new Season

2007-08-31T05:55:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been quite a while since I last posted and even being the procrastinator that I am (not by choice)I am now tired of looking at it myself.

It has been a long summer once again with a 3 week trip to Scotland covering most of August to play with the band at the World Championships and then several solo contests after that finishing up with the Cowal Gathering last weekend.

Now, it's back to work getting this season's teaching schedule in order, starting to work on the new set tunes for the major Piob contests next and working to expand my online teaching business. I see this as the way to the future and even the improvement I have seen over the past two years of teaching has been quite remarkable. Very soon we will be "live, real time" all over the world and for someone like me that could be labelled as a "techno peasant" (I borrowed that term from my friend Colin MacLellan, thanks) I find it all quite amazing. I will update you on this as the year goes on.

Lets just start with congratulations to Field Marshal Montgomery on a great win at the Worlds this year!! Why so great you ask? Well, that's easy. Last year my 18 year old son Alex, auditioned and learned a binder full of music to try to make the band and as you can see by the picture, he played this year with one of the best pipe bands and pipe corps I have ever witnessed. 20 years after I was fortunate enough to be part of the 78th Fraser Highlanders when they won, I got to put my hands on that trophy once again. Very cool and a warm reminder of that day which was also raining. Proud parents, you bet!!! Unfortunately for us though, I think this means we are going to have to go over to Scotland to see him in the summers for the next while because I think his plan is to hop on the first plane out after university to rejoin the band once again for 2008.

Citadel Mini Gathering Winners

2007-04-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

Well, a good crowd of young players came out to the final round of this years mini gathering series here in Halifax. I was very fortunate to have secured some wonderful sponsorship from The National Piping Centre, McCallum Bagpipes, and Scott's Highland Services who all graciously donated wonderful over prizes for all the grades right from Chanter to Grade 1. This is the 4th year now that we have held these events in the winter and the quality of the competitor gets noticeably better each month. A big thanks goes out to our judge, Andy Rogers who also came in from Fredericton and donated his services for this event. These events have also shown that the players are now much better prepared for the summer events which brings up the quality of piping in the Atlantic region. They all play in rounds in Feb Mar and Apr and grade 4,3,2,1 play 2 events in one month so the aggregate is a total of the 4 events they played in. good luck to you all this season from here on in.
The overall winners were
Chanter Rory Flynn
Grade 5 Kayla Johnson
Grade 4 Trey Main
Grade 3 Cindy Gillis
Grade 2 Alex MacNaughton
Grade 1 Katie Buckland

Citadel Mini Gatherings

2007-04-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned for the winners, prizes and photo's of this years overall champions here in Halifax

Launch of My New Blog!

2007-04-17T23:38:00.000-07:00

Well, slowly, the web site jumps into the next thing, and I want to keep everyone up to date with projects and performances, so I'll be adding to this blog on a regular basis! Keep checking back, and I'll be posting from my travels!
Bruce