Syllabus
PDQB Level 5 - Piping
Professional Development Award Scottish Bagpipes
SCQF Level 7 Certificate
Represents a high standard of knowledge and ability. The candidate will be expected to be able to play fluently in a professional manner.
1. Maintenance
a. Candidates must be prepared to answer questions on maintenance at any previous certification level.
b. Candidates must be able to describe all steps required to put a set of Bagpipes into good playing order, and to maintain them in that condition thereafter.
2. Practical
a. On the Practice Chanter - Sight read from a set piece equivalent in standard required for the practical examination
b. Light Music (Ceol Beag) - Candidates are to submit four tunes of each of the following:
1. Competition March (minimum 4 parts)
2. Competition Strathspey (minimum 4 parts)
3. Competition Reel (minimum 4 parts)
4. Competition Hornpipe (minimum 4 parts)
5. Competition Jig (minimum 4 parts)
The Assessor is to select one tune from each category for the candidate to play.
Candidates will be expected to tune their own Drones to a well-balanced Chanter and be capable of blowing a steady tone.
Candidates will also be assessed on Marching and Deportment
- c. Piobaireachd (Ceol Mor) - Candidates are to submit four Piobaireachds. One each of the following type:
-
- 1. Standard Crunluath
2. Crunluath Breabach
3. Crunluath Fosgailte
4. Crunluath a Mach
The Assessor is to select one Piobaireachd for the candidate to play in its entirety and may select additional tunes or parts thereof at the Assessor’s discretion.
3. Theory and History
Candidates must be able to:
a. Answer questions on theory from any of the previous certification levels
b. Understand the difference between relative and absolute pitch
c. Demonstrate a knowledge of the three Highland Bagpipe pentatonic scales
d. Compose harmony to a set piece of music
e. Understand how the Bagpipe scale relates to the Western
Major scale
f. Demonstrate a knowledge of the tones and semitones used in these scales
g. Write the first line of a Piobaireachd ground on a stave
h. State the requirements and the format for the following dances:
i. Write a short essay of not more than 500 words selected from one of the following topics:
1. Solo competition system
2. The Pipe Band movement
3. A famous piper and his/her contribution to piping
4. Present day Piping organisations and their contribution to piping
NOTE: For the purposes of Section 3.h. candidates should state the requirements as published in “Bagpipe Music for Highland Dancing” by John MacLellan.
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