Syllabus

Level 3 Certificate Pipe Band Drumming

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:

a. Counting in Irregular Groups in Simple and Compound Times
b. Single Stroke Work
c. The Long Roll, both ‘open’ and ‘closed’
d. The Five - Stroke Roll, both ‘open‘ and ‘closed‘
e. The Seven - Stroke Roll, both ‘open’ and ‘closed’
f. The Nine - Stroke Roll, both ‘open’ and ‘closed’
g. The Paradiddle
h. Continued development of Flam Movements
i. Continued development of Drag Movements
j. Introduction to Strathspey and Reel Rhythms
k. Introduction to Slow March Rhythm in Compound Time
l. Monotones and Sight - reading

Candidates must demonstrate competency in the following on the snare drum:

a. Simple Time March Rhythm of two parts
b. Compound Time March Rhythm of two parts

3. Bass and Tenor Drum Practical

Candidates must demonstrate competence in the following, using Beaters:

a. Continued development of Basic Flourishing Movements
b. Continued development of Flourishing and Time Keeping
c. Counting in Simple and Compound Times
d. Counting in the Three Kinds of Time
e. Counting of Irregular Groups in Simple and Compound Times
f. Single Stroke Work and accents
g. The ‘Paradiddle‘
h. Monotones and Sight - reading
i. Introduction to Strathspey and Reel Rhythms
j. Introduction to Slow March Rhythm in Compound Time
k. Introduction to Bass Section Orchestrated Scores
l. Marching, Playing and Deportment

Candidates must also demonstrate competence in the following on the bass and tenor drum, using basic flourishing movements:

a. Simple Time March Rhythm of two parts
b. Compound Time March Rhythm of two parts

4. Theory

Candidates must be able to:

a. Understand Compound Time rhythms (use of monotone exercises)
b. Write out 8 bars of drum score for a 6/8 March from memory
c. Write out the first part of either a Strathspey or a Reel from memory
d. Explain the purpose of a Leger Line
e. Draw out the Great Staff and show the pitch of the tenor drone, bass drone, and all the notes in the bagpipe scale
f. Sight reading of a set piece