PDQB Level 2 – Pipe Band Drumming

National Progression Award Scottish Pipe Band Drumming
SCQF Level 4 Certificate

Can be taken by the average beginner within a year to 18 months of starting to learn.

  1. Maintenance
    Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the Care and Maintenance of Snare, Bass and Tenor Drums.
  2. Snare Drum Practical
    Candidates must demonstrate a basic competence in the following, using Sticks and Practice Pads:

    1. Counting in Simple and Compound Times
    2. Counting in the three Kinds of Time
    3. Continued development of Single Stroke Work
    4. Continued development of the Long Roll, both ‘open’ and ‘closed’
    5. Continued development of the Five Stroke Roll, both ‘open’ and ‘closed’
    6. Continued development of the Seven Stroke Roll, both ‘open’ and ‘closed’
    7. Continued development of the Nine Stroke Roll, both ‘open’ and ‘closed’
    8. Continued development of the Paradiddle
    9. Introduction to Flam Movements
    10. Introduction to Drag Movements
    11. Continued development of Monotones in Simple and Compound Times
    12. Introduction to Simple Time March Rhythm of two parts
    13. Introduction to Compound Time Quick March Rhythm of two parts
  3. Theory
    Candidates must be able to:

    1. Understand Simple Time rhythms
    2. Explain what a Time Signature is
    3. Place bar lines according to a Time Signature
    4. Explain what a treble clef is
    5. Identify the Time Signature from a piece of music presented by the Assessor
    6. Write out all of the Drumming embellishments included in the syllabus up to Level 2
    7. Write out 8 bars of a Simple Time Drum score from memory
    8. Be able to draw a note value table and understand relative note durations

Note: A PDQB qualification is also available at this Level for Bass and Tenor Drummers but it is not an SQA National Progression Award (NPA). It is referred to as the PDQB Bass and Tenor Drumming Level 2 qualification, is certificated by the PDQB and does not carry national SQA currency. Candidates must cover the same Care and Maintenance and Theory requirements as the NPA and the following practical requirements:

Bass and Tenor Drum Practical
Candidates must demonstrate a basic competence in the following, using Beaters (sticks):

  1. Correct hand and Beater positions
  2. Beater control and maintenance
  3. Introduction to Basic Flourishing Movements
  4. Introduction to Flourishing and Time Keeping
  5. Counting in Simple and Compound Time
  6. Counting in the three Kinds of Time
  7. Continued development of Single Stroke Work, introducing the use of accents
  8. Continued development of the ‘Paradiddle’
  9. Continued development of Monotones in Simple and Compound Times
  10. Introduction to Simple Time March Rhythm of two parts
  11. Introduction to Compound Time Quick March Rhythm of two parts
  12. Introduction to Marching, Playing and Deportment