History
Since 1911, the Renfrew Highland Pipes and Drums have been sharing their joy of Scottish culture and music by entertaining audiences throughout Eastern Ontario. They have also been teaching the next generation of musicians for just as long.
Their history is ferociously local and has been affected by national and global events. This colourful history is reflected in the tartans worn over the years.
The story of the band exemplifies the Spirit of the Scottish people who have been emigrating to Canada for over 200 years and are an integral ingredient to the character of the Ottawa Valley. Other Scottish initiatives associated with the band are Robbie Burns dinners, a Scottish Thistle Club and the Renfrew Highland Games held from 1963-1966.
This independent, self-directed band has benefited from, and greatly appreciates, the support of the local community and has developed a strong affiliation with the Renfrew Legion Branch #148.
The values of the Renfrew Highlands Pipes & Drums are:
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- Proud of their heritage
- Reveled in the camaraderie of their fellow musicians
- Possessed a strong sense of community
- Fine musicians
- Avid Scots
- and as legend would have it – “fun loving”
Click here to download a comprehensive history developed by the McDougall Mill Museum.
Learn more about the McDougall Mill Museum at www.renfrewmuseum.ca
Events
We have a number of events tentatively booked for the 2024 season.
May 5, 2024 – Hike for Hospice, 2:00 pm – Renfrew Hospice
May 5, 2024 – Quail Creek Retirement Home, 3:00 pm – Renfrew
August 16, 2024 – Eganville Music in the Park, 7:00 pm – Centennial Park
Bookings
The Renfrew Highland Pipes and Drums have a rich performance history of parades, festivals and special events.
If you wish to book the Renfrew Highland Pipes and Drums or are looking for a single piper for an event, please contact our Band Manager, Robert Labre by email at rclabre@live.ca or by phone or text at 613-401-6955.
Contact Us
For more information about the Renfrew Highland Pipes and Drums, please reach out to us.
Donations
Donations to the Renfrew Highland Pipes and Drums are greatly appreciated.
If you would like to donate to the band, please contact our Band President, Rob Mckenzie at dairyrob@gmail.com
Instruction
Bagpipes:
Lessons are available for someone wishing to learn to play the bagpipes.
For beginning students, who hope to join the band, the cost is $50/semester, and the lessons are available on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and evening.
All instructional materials are provided by the band, but students will be expected to purchase a practice chanter and reed at a cost of about $100
In the first few months, students will be able to read the treble score for note names and timing value of each note and translate that information to playing on the chanter.
Lessons are normally individual instruction, at least at the start, but then the student may be grouped with others of similar progress.
Once the student plays 6 to 10 tunes on the chanter by memory, they will move on to playing a full set of bagpipes. At some point, students will want to purchase their own set of pipes, but at the start, they often rent a set of pipes from the band, when available.
Practice Chanters:
A child and an adult practice chanter. These are the instruments pipers use to learn the correct fingering, notes, movements and tunes. Even after learning to play the pipes, pipers will continue to practice on the practice chanter because it has the same fingering as the full bagpipe with much less volume and can readily be played inside the house.
Drumming:
The band provides instruction in snare drumming and /or bass and tenor drumming. Students will be expected to purchase a practice pad and drumsticks for approximately $100. Instructional material will be provided by the band and once the student has learned the settings, the band will provide a drum for them to play in the band.
For information on lessons, please contact Clark Smith at bonnecherelamb@sympatico.ca
Practice Chanters