PDQB Level 4 – Pipe Band Drumming

National Progression Award Scottish Pipe Band Drumming
SCQF Level 6 Certificate

A standard equivalent to that attained by an average learner after five years on Pipe Band Drumming.

  1. Maintenance
    Candidates must describe the various parts and functions of Snare, Bass and Tenor Drums. Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the Production of Sound, Timbre and Tuning of Snare, 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. Flam Movements
    9. Drag Movements
    10. Monotone Exercises
    11. Continued development of Snare Drum score writing
    12. Continued development of Orchestrated Scores
    13. Sight read and play a two parted Snare Drum score as presented by the Assessor

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

    1. One set comprising of a March, Strathspey and Reel, each of two parts
    2. One set comprising of a Slow March and a Quick March Rhythm of two parts each, both tunes in Compound Time
  3. Theory
    Candidates must demonstrate the ability to:

    1. understand Strathspey, Reel and Jig rhythms using Monotone exercises,
    2. sight reading of a set piece
    3. write from memory one part of a Drum score (8 bars) of each of the following tune types:
      1. Strathspey
      2. Reel
      3. Jig
    4. understand sound production and measurement

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 4 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 describe the various parts and functions of a Snare Drum, and Bass and Tenor Drums, including a knowledge of ’Dampening’ techniques.
Candidates must demonstrate competence in the following, using Beaters (sticks):

  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. Continued development of Strathspey and Reel Rhythms
  10. Continued development of Slow March Rhythm in Compound Time
  11. Continued development of Bass Section Orchestrated Scores
  12. Marching, Playing and Deportment
  13. Sight read and play a two-parted Bass and Tenor Drum sections of a score, as presented by the Assessor

Candidates must demonstrate competence in playing the following continuously on the Bass and Tenor Drum:

  1. One set comprising of a March, Strathspey and Reel, each of two parts
  2. One set comprising of a Slow March and a Quick March Rhythm of two parts each, both tunes in Compound Time