Join the Band

Participation in the band is open to any Montgomery County resident, 6-12th grade.

Come on out!

Contact our fearless leader, Lisa Frazier at <rhspb [A-T] yahoo [DOT] com>

So you want to join the band, here are some things you might want to know:

The Rockville High School Pipe band is an extracurricular, instrumental music organization that seeks to:

•Foster an understanding of music structure, composition and performance

•Properly maintain and play a musical instrument

•Develop leadership qualities and foster a sense of group responsibility

•Represent the school and community to the public.

The Band consists of:

•Pipers

•Drum Major

•Snare Drummers

•Tenor Drummers

•Bass Drummer

The Band Officials are:

•Pipe Sergeant Major - the student piper, elected by the performing members of the Pipe Band to be the student musical leader of the band.

•Drum Sergeant Major - the student appointed by the band director with the authority to directing the placement and movement of the band while practicing or performing.

•Drum Sergeant - the student snare drummer elected by the performing members of the Pipe Band to be the student musical leader of the snare drum section.

•Pipe Sergeant - the student piper, elected by the performing members of the Pipe Band to act as the student musical leader of the band in the absence of the Pipe Major; will aid the pipe Major in the performance of his/her duties; and will maintain the pipe music library.

•Quartermaster - (lance corporal) the student member elected by the performing members of the Pipe Band in charge of issuing and inventory of Pipe Band uniforms and equipment and neat, orderly maintenance of stored uniforms.

•Historian - (lance corporal) the student member elected by the performing members of the Pipe Band in charge of maintaining an accurate account of the Pipe Band's activities in scrap book form.

The Band Uniform from head to toe:

•Tartan - The tartan worn by the pipe band is Ancient Hunting MacMillan. This tartan was chosen in 1961 to honor Rear Admiral Donald Baxter MacMillan, a Scottish-American who was second in command of Peary's polar expedition in 1909. Admiral MacMillan was alive when the band was formed and he received permission from General Gordon MacMillan of MacMillan of Knap, CHef of the Clan MacMillan, for the band to wear the tartan.

•Glengary - this had is named for the glen or valley of the Garry RIver in Scotland, the crease running down the center of the hat resembles a valley.

•Clan Crest - Every Clan Chef in Scotland has a coat-of-arms with a crest on the top. The MacMillan Clan Crest is cast in metal and consists of the crest surrounded by a belt with the motto "Miseris Succurrere Disco" (We shall aid the suffering). It is pinned on a black cockade or ribbon on the side of the hat.

•Jacket - A day wear style jacket

•Shirt - A Short sleeve, collared, shirt with the Pipe Band patch sewn on the left sleeve. The shoulders have blue epaulettes.

•Tartan Tie - MacMillan tartan tie to be worn with the day wear style jacket.

•Sergeant's Sash - A scarlet sash worn by sergeants on their left shoulder, to the right hip and under the belt.

•Belt - Leather belt with a large buckle worn over the top of the kilt when wearing the day wear jacket or with the shirt and tie.

•Kilt - When worn properly the bottom of the kilt should fall between the top to the middle of the kneecap. A plain kilt pin may be worn in the lower corner of the top apron to weigh it down.

•Day wear Sporran - Black leather pouch worn with the day wear jacket about a hands width from the bottom of the belt centered in the front of the kilt. Drummers wear the sporran on the right hip when wearing the drum.

•Full Hose - Wool Kilt socks worn with the day wear uniform.

•Flashes - Garters to hold up hose worn on the outside of the leg with the leading edge of the forward edge of the forward ribbon at the center of the shin. The top of the hose are then folded over the flashes.

Personal Expenses:

•With the exception of the purchase of bagpipes, all other personal expenses are minor. Bass and tenor drummers purchase drum sticks; snare drummers purchase drumsticks and a drum pad; and pipers purchase practice chanters. All members purchase a pair of black shoes, a pair of blue hose and a man's white short sleeve shirt.

•Uniforms and drums are provided by the Pipe Band. If a piping student is unable to afford bagpipes, the Pipe Band will try to have "loaner sets" available.

•Instruction is provided at no cost to students. The tutors, who provide instrumental instruction, are paid a modest salary from funds raised by the Pipe Band through paying performances. Because there is no charge for instruction, band members are to participate in band activities, especially the paying performances that continue the instruction program. The Pipe Band receives no funds from the school or the school system to pay for tutors, uniforms, busses, equipment, etc. Most of the funds necessary to operate the Pipe Band are raised by charging fees for performances and from the proceeds from the Scottish Festival.

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