What tunes should I learn or work on?
If you are looking to join the band, or improve your skills, you can see the basic tunes needed to become a member of the band, what other tunes we play, and some tunes that will challenge you. Work on mastering all tunes at one level before working on tunes from the next level. All tunes will be located in the Google Drive folder. If you need access to this folder please reach out to manager@grandrapidspipeband.com or Killian Smith directly. If there is a walkthrough video made for a tune or a set, it will be linked on the tune name.
Level 1 - Tunes Needed to be in the band
To be voted into the band, you must be able to play each of these tunes from memory on the highland bagpipes to a level that is considered acceptable by the pipe major.
3/4 - Castle Dangerous
4/4 - Murdo’s Wedding
4/4 - Blue Bells of Scotland
4/4 - Scotland the Brave
4/4 - Rowan Tree
4/4 - Lord Lovatt’s Lament
4/4 - Wings
2/4 - Barren Rocks of Aiden
2/4 - Maris Wedding
2/4 - High Road to Gairloch
Slow Air - Amazing Grace
Level 1 Sets
These sets are played most often and made up of level one tunes.
3/4 Set - Castle Dangerous, Balmoral
4/4 Set - Murdo’s Wedding, Blue Bells of Scotland, Scotland the Brave, Rowan Tree
4/4 Set - Lord Lovatts Solo Air, Lord Lovatt’s Lament, Wings (Sometimes the level 2 tune March of Champion Supreme played after)
2/4 Set - Barren Rocks of Aiden, Mari’s Wedding, High Road to Gairloch
Slow Air - Amazing Grace “2 and 1”
Level 2 - Tunes the band plays often
Knowing these tunes is not required for band membership, however these tunes are played quite often and you must eventually be able to play them proficiently in order to participate in gigs and competitions
4/4 - March of Champion Supreme
4/4 - 48th Canada Pipes and Drums
4/4 - Pikeman’s March
4/4 - Irish Guard’s Welcome to the Old Metro
2/4 - Scotland is my Ain Hame
Slow Air - Come thou Font
Slow Air - Farewell to Camraw
3/4 - Green Hills of Tyrol
3/4 - Battles O’re
3/4 - Kilworth Hills
6/8 - Bonnie Dundee
6/8 - Steamboat
6/8 - Al Alamein
9/8 - Heights of Dargai
9/8 - Battle of the Somme
Level 2 Sets
These are sets that the band will do in competition and performances.
Slow Air - Come thou Font x2, Farwell to Camraw x2
3/4 Set - Green Hills of Tyrol, Battles O’er
6/8 Set - Bonnie Dundee, Steamboat
2022 QMM - Pikeman’s March, Irish Guard’s Welcome to the Old Metro, High Road to Garloch, Scotland is my Ain Hame
Slow Air, 6/8 - Mallorca, 10th HLI
9/8 Set - Heights of Dargai, Battle of the Somme
Level 3 - Challenging Tunes
The band is always looking to expand its repertoire and skills. Below are the tunes the more advanced pipers and drummers are working on.
3/4 - Pipe Major Angus MacDonald
3/4 - Bloody Fields of Flanders
Hornpipe - Deputy Chief Wingate
Strathspey - Molly Connel
Reel - High Road to Linton
6/8 Bengullion
Reel - Shetland Reel
Reel - McArthur Road
Reel - Silver Spear
Hornpipe - Greenwood Side
Hornpipe Pumpkin’s Fancy
Hornpipe - Kelsey’s Wee Reel
Hornpipe - Itchy Fingers
Level 3 Sets
Medley - Deputy Chief Wingate, Farewell to Camraw x2, Molly Connell, High Road to Linton
Reel Set - Shetland Reel, McArthur Road, Silver Spear, Shetland Reel
Medley - Battle of Waterloo, Greenwood Side, Itchy Fingers