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After noting a distinct lack of bagpipes in
Kutztown,
Dr. Laura Sherrod of the
Physical Sciences Department at Kutztown
University started the Kutztown Pipe
Band in Fall 2017.
If you play bagpipes, have an interest
in learning to play bagpipes, or have
experience playing Scottish drums, contact
Laura Sherrod at
sherrod@kutztown.edu.
All are welcome to join the group.
Musical background is helpful but not
required.
Current membership includes faculty and
staff from KU, community members, and local
middle/high school students.
KPB member counts by semester and stage:
Spring 2022 - 8 beginners, 13 advanced
chanter/pipers, 1 snare, 2 bass, 1 tenor
Fall 2021 - 13 beginners!, 12 advanced
chanter/pipers, 1 snare, 1 bass, 1 tenor
Spring 2021 - 11 advanced chanter / 11
pipers, 1 snare, 1 bass
Fall 2020 - 1 beginner, 10 advanced chanter
/ 7 pipers, 1 snare, 1 tenor, 1 bass
Summer 2020 - 10 advanced
chanter / 7 pipers, 1 snare, 1 tenor, 1 bass
Spring 2020 - 1 beginner, 10 advanced
chanter / 7 pipers, 1 snare, 1 tenor, 1 bass
Fall 2019 - 6 beginners, 8 advanced chanter
/ 7 pipers, 1 snare, 1 tenor, 1 bass
Summer 2019 - 2 beginners, 8 advanced chanter /
7 pipers,
1 snare, 1 tenor, 1 bass
Spring 2019 - 2 beginners, 8 advanced
chanter / 6 pipers, 1 snare, 1 tenor, 1 bass
Fall 2018 - 3 beginners, 6 advanced chanter
/ 3 pipers, 1 snare
Summer 2018 - 2 beginners, 5 advanced
chanter / 2 pipers
Spring 2018 - 2 beginners, 5 advanced
chanter / 1 piper
Fall 2017 - 6 new students joined the group!
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Kutztown Pipe Band at
Riverfest 2021
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Starting in Fall 2017 with a group of 5 very
dedicated and enthusiastic intro to piping
students, the Kutztown Pipe Band has grown
to include approximately 2 dozen members, and has transitioned
into a performance group, with the debut
performance at the Kutztown Memorial Day
Parade in 2019.
If you'd like to participate in the Kutztown
Pipe Band but don't have any experience in
piping, we want to help! Although we
accept anyone into our group who has
experience in Scottish piping and drumming,
we grow the band primarily by offering free
intro to piping lessons to anyone who is
interested in learning to play the bagpipes.
During the Spring of 2022, Laura will offer
group lessons for intro chanter students
Thursdays 6-6:30pm. Advanced chanter
and bagpipe students will meet 6:30-8:30pm. Contact Laura for location information if you are interested in
participating, and let her know if you
cannot make those days/times as alternative
intro class times may be possible.
Dr. Laura Sherrod -
sherrod@kutztown.edu
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If learning to play the bagpipes is
something you'd like to explore, you should
expect the following:
The first several months will be spent on a
practice chanter. Lessons through the
Kutztown Pipe Band will be free, but you will be expected
to purchase your own practice chanter
(generally around $100). Contact Laura
for suggestions on a good quality choice.
You should practice daily on your practice
chanter - twice daily for
10-15 minutes is preferable in the initial
stages of learning. It typically takes
6 months to a year to be ready for the
transition to the bagpipes.
To transition from the practice chanter to
bagpipes, you should have a base of five
substantial tunes memorized and played
accurately on your practice chanter.
You can expect to spend around $1500 on a
good set of bagpipes.
The next phase of the journey is often the
most challenging - building up the endurance
to play the tunes that you know on the
practice chanter on the Great Highland
Bagpipes. It typically takes a year or
more to become comfortable playing the tunes
you learned on the bagpipes.
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Interested in having
the Kutztown Pipe Band perform at your
event?
Typical performances
are up to one hour and can contain a mixture
of:
- traditional Celctic music, primarily
Scottish, played on the Great Highland
Bagpipes with Scottish snare, tenor, and
bass drums
- historical explanations of the tunes being
played
- educational content about the Great
Highland Bagpipes
Click
here for some samples of our
performances through time. |
The Kutztown Pipe Band is a student group at
KU and a non-profit community group.
We have performed at:
- Kutztown Memorial Day Parade and Memorial
Service
- Kutztown Area Middle School Saint
Patrick's Day
- Kutztown Folk Fest
- Muhlenberg Riverfest
- Kutztown University Memorial Ceremony for
faculty/staff/student deaths
- Local retirement and nursing homes such as
Kutztown Manor, Keystone Villa, Lehigh
Commons, and Mosser Nursing Home
-Albright Commencement Ceremony
-Kutztown University 20th anniversary for
9/11
-Kutztown University Veterans Sevices events |