Wellington Scottish Pipes and Drums

WSPD Virtual Pipe Band Tour
Introduction / Drum Major / Pipe Major / Pipers / Bass Drummer / Tenor Drummers / Side Drummers

Pipe Major:
The Pipe Major is the "boss" of the pipe band, but is not as visible as the Drum Major. The Pipe Major stands in the ranks with the other pipers, occupying the position on the right-hand side of the front rank.

In full dress uniform the Pipe Major wears a distinctive gold-embroided badge of pipes surrounded by a wreath on the right sleeve, and may have other special uniform items aswell.

The Pipe Major is always a first class player, and his authority in the band is absolute. The Pipe Major will select repertoire, supervise rehearsals, and set the tempos for parades and competitions. There are many jokes about the near God-like status of the Pipe Major within a band, which are not too far off the mark! The personality and abilities of the Pipe Major are the biggest factors influencing the success or otherwise, in both the musical and social sense, of a band.

Like the Drum Major, the Pipe Major in military bands usually carries the rank of Warrant Officer, and is a respected figure occupying something of a unique place in the Scottish regiments. The Pipe Major is the head of the unit that represents the best values of the regiment (and country) and may well be a keeper of regimental traditions and also the regimental dancing master, another important role. These "hidden" aspects of the Pipe Major's position were nicely brought out in the 1960s movie "Tunes of Glory".

Pipers

WSPD Virtual Pipe Band Tour
Introduction / Drum Major / Pipe Major / Pipers / Bass Drummer / Tenor Drummers / Side Drummers