windbag...

...her expressions fought a polite war with one another.

Pride in knowing her daughter was among a group setting a musical precedent and Apprehension at having to explain her daughter's non-traditional choice to prospective bridegrooms (she was planning far, far, ahead).

Incredulity won.

You're learning to play the bagpipes...........????

Ahhhhh, yes....

Lovedale has its roots in the military and continues those traditions even today with Trooping the Colour and Beating the Retreat. It has also nurtured a long tradition of both a drums and bugles band and a brass band. No false modesty about it...Our parades were and continue to be - an exercise in pomp and precision; our bands could rival some of the best student bands in the world. That's our Band Room in the picture...home to a slew of instruments and sheet music.

I don't think we ever figured out the rationale behind it all, or even who thought of the Big Idea... It was however, hotly discussed when we came back to school after our holidays in the 8th grade.

There's a Girls band that's being started this year - the first in the School's history. Would any of us be interested in joining?

Well, sure!

I really didn't think through my decision beyond recognizing Band would keep me away from Sikander. When it came to choosing an instrument it was a classic six of one/half a dozen of the other moment. The drums? Or the bagpipes?

Does anyone have a coin I could flip?

I picked the bagpipes because they sounded sufficiently quirky; I'd never seen a real set before and I knew I had made the right decision on opening the music case. A dark blue bag, an ivory and black chanter, the silver rings around the drone...this was a beautiful instrument. And the sound is phenomenal - wild, and passionate - one that always makes me think of long, bracing, walks over rainy moors..

I played the bagpipes for five years, four of them as a duet player with my band mate - S. More stories to come..including the thrill of our very first 'Beating the Retreat'...

Comments

[Kevin]

I played in the Brass Band from age 9 to 15 - bugle, then Cornet, Euphonium; Even played the C-flat Bass, that massive brass instrument when the Soviets visited and their Anthem needed much Oomph!. In my last year, I joined 'Battalion' - did you call it that? - and carried the School Colour at Trooping the Colour. Oh, also played viola in the Orchestra - so badly that I was exiled back to the Brass section.

No Beating Retreat in my time but we did have Band Concerts every Thursday evening when Boys & Girls were allowed to mingle (amazing how many 'cousins' were created as there had to have blood relatives to consort) under the beady eyes of the teachers. Those were the days before co-education and so blokes and gals rarely met.

[rc helicopter reviews]

Impressive blog! -Arron