July Keeping Warm Workshop
Over the three days 11-13 July we enjoyed a workshop involving many of our members.
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We covered the fundamentals and learnt some new music and refined other tunes. Young Ben even got on to the pipes, playing them for the first time with the group. We also went over the music to be played in the Recital on Sunday 16 July. After a busy week everyone is looking forward to having some time off next week!
When? 11-13 July 2017
WhatTime? 9am to 12noon each day
Where? at the Band Rooms, Nelson Park
What will you get from the workshop?
Instruction on your instrument – pipes or drums – with tutoring from the Band’s senior members. The contest group will have the opportunity to work on their music and practice together. There will also be preparation for the Recital (Sunday 16 July).
The programme
This workshop is for everyone, whether just starting or more advanced, with individual and group sessions. Each day will run from 9am to 12noon with warmup, learning new tunes and revising old ones, group and individual sessions, working on chanters and pads, and pipes and drums.
What tunes are we working on?
The basic repertoire includes those learnt at previous workshops. We will be spending time on the 3/4 bracket PM JK Cairns, My Land and Colin’s Cattle.
New Tunes: The group will again learn new tunes the music for which will be loaded on the Band’s website ahead of the workshop.
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June 20, 2017
The notice we put in the paper said ‘a perfect bandsman’ and those are not words that we would say lightly. When talking about our friend Bruce the list of adjectives includes dedicated, dependable, enthusiastic, hard working, helpful, reliable, supportive, cheerful and kind.
Bruce took up the pipes after he attended the clan MacLeod reunion in Australia in 1999. With typical Bruce determination and stickability he found a tutor, Gray Helliwell, so that in 2003 he was able to stand on stage and play Amazing Grace and Highland Cathedral at the clan MacLeod celebrations in Christchurch. He was persuaded, by Gray, to come along to a band practice and despite his initial trepidation, he was hooked. From 2004 Bruce has been a piper who enjoyed his piping and made a big contribution to the band. In his own words “not being one to give up easily I have persisted and slowly mastered a reasonable number of tunes”.
After the trip to Bundanoon in 2008 Bruce said “if I never progress beyond where I am today I will never regret joining the band and the enjoyment this band has brought me.”
Well, he did progress and in 2011 Bruce was a member of the band that played with the brass band in a concert to raise funds for the Christchurch earthquake appeal and in 2012 he again travelled to Australia, this time to Melbourne, with the band. Over the years he played in all our parades, whenever he could, and even purchased his own full uniform so he could look the part for Anzac Day and Art Deco parades.
We all have our own memories of Bruce but for me the effort he put into getting things right and playing to the best standard he could stand out. He was always cheerful and got a lot of enjoyment out of his music and band activities.
In the past few days band members have been reflecting on Bruce’s presence in the band and this is epitomised by these comments from the mother of two of our youngsters: “He was an extremely kind man to the kids at band. They spoke very highly of him and he will be sorely missed in the Napier Pipe Band.”
That was Bruce, always helping, always interested in piping and band things, always supportive of everyone.
To finish let me quote Bruce again. In the band’s 2009 book ‘Ten Busy Years’ he said ”We each have a talent which only needs awakening given the right opportunity. May our souls grow from the pleasure we bring to others through our music, our song and dance.”
Bruce, we are privileged that you have shared your talents and gifts with us, something we will always remember. May your soul rest in peace.
Being a Songwriter and knowing that there has never been a song written for the town of Taradale, Tracy Rudzevecuis has been creative and written the ‘Taradale Song’.
It is based around the Taradale Town Clock in memory of our fallen local soldiers that went to war and never returned hence, says Tracy, giving them “a voice” from beyond the grave. Ideally she wants it to be played at an ANZAC Day parade (and eventually pulling in and giving local talented high school students a chance to play a different version every year at an ANZAC service). The next challenge is to do a recording and get the right artists involved.
This is Tracy’s ‘gift to our people and the township of Taradale’.
The Band is pleased to be part of Tracy’s dream.
Photos from our Anzac Day parades
Photos from our activities in April 2017
Our visit to Tamatea Intermediate on Monday 10th
Nelson Park after the Cyclone Cook storm
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Hastings Highland Games – Easter 2017
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On Thursday 30th and Friday 31st March the Band played for the graduation ceremonies and parades of Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT). Officials were piped into the three ceremonies at Napier’s Municipal Theatre and the Band led everyone in the parades up Emerson St to the Sound Shell. Click here to view video.
Come to the band hall at Nelson Park Napier to learn more about piping and drumming on Sunday 2 April between 2 and 4pm.
Have a go: beat a drum, blow a bagpipe and throw a mace into the air!
Learning to play the bagpipes or the drums is a fun thing to do. The music is great and playing in the pipe band takes you places. You get to meet interesting people, play at big events and at small ones.
Photos from our March Supporters’ Night at the Taradale RSA
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With a busy month coming up we’ll post photos of our February activities on this page.
First up was the picnic at Eskdale Park on 6 Febraury
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