PDQB Level 3 – Pipe Band Drumming

National Progression Award Scottish Pipe Band Drumming
SCQF Level 5 Certificate

Can normally be taken within the first two years of learning.

  1. Maintenance
    Introduction to the Tuning and Timbre of a Snare Drum, Bass and Tenor Drums, including a knowledge of ’Dampening’ techniques.
  2. Snare Drum Practical
    Candidates must demonstrate competence in the following, using Sticks and Practice Pad:

    1. Counting in Irregular Groups in Simple and Compound Times
    2. Single Stroke Work
    3. The Long Roll, both ‘open’ and ‘closed’
    4. The Five Stroke Roll, both ‘open’ and ‘closed’
    5. The Seven Stroke Roll, both ‘open’ and ‘closed’
    6. The Nine Stroke Roll, both ‘open’ and ‘closed’
    7. The Paradiddle
    8. Continued development of Flam Movements
    9. Continued development of Drag Movements
    10. Introduction to Strathspey and Reel Rhythms
    11. Introduction to Slow March Rhythm in Compound Time
    12. Monotones and sight reading

    Candidates must demonstrate competence in the following on the Snare Drum:

    1. Simple Time March Rhythm of two parts
    2. Compound Time March Rhythm of two parts
  3. Theory
    Candidates must be able to:

    1. Understand Compound Time rhythms (use of Monotone exercises)
    2. Write out 8 bars of Drum score for a 6/8 March from memory
    3. Write out the first part of either a Strathspey or a Reel from memory
    4. Explain the purpose of a Leger Line
    5. Draw out the Great Staff and show the pitch of the Tenor Drone, Bass Drone, and all the notes in the Bagpipe scale
    6. Sight reading of a set piece

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 3 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 competence in the following, using Beaters:

  1. Continued development of Basic Flourishing Movements
  2. Continued development of Flourishing and Time Keeping
  3. Counting in Simple and Compound Times
  4. Counting in the three Kinds of Time
  5. Counting of Irregular Groups in Simple and Compound Times
  6. Single Stroke Work and accents
  7. The ‘Paradiddle‘
  8. Monotones and sight reading
  9. Introduction to Strathspey and Reel Rhythms
  10. Introduction to Slow March Rhythm in Compound Time
  11. Introduction to Bass Section Orchestrated Scores
  12. Marching, Playing and Deportment

Candidates must also demonstrate competence in the following on the Bass and Tenor Drum, using basic flourishing movements:

  1. Simple Time March Rhythm of two parts
  2. Compound Time March Rhythm of two parts