Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
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Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
We in the drumline have gone through several pairs (boxes) of sticks as our new PM was born in Scotland and the birthing interrupted his bagpipe playing.
He's trying so hard not to lag, and he's a bit of an ADHD -- "Whoops, there goes a Guinness!" -- so he moves a little fast. It works well for him because he has good fingers. However, some of the other pipers are getting discouraged and our sticks in the drumline keep catching fire.
At one time in my life when I had a location and not two locations of boxes, I had a rough chart that suggested that grade 1 play marches at x bpm, grade 2 at such, and so on. I can't find it.
Our band members range from a piper who is grade 1 to drummers and pipers who are grade 4. Our DS is grade 3. So we are a mishmash having a blast. We just want to enjoy the blast longer.
Anyone have a little piece of paper like that hanging about?
(Ros and her family are coming to North Carolina to see us!)
But in the meantime, PLEASE SEND INFO ON BPM APPROXIMATIONS.
Thank you very much,
and for those situations where it is appropriate, I send sloppy kisses
xo
He's trying so hard not to lag, and he's a bit of an ADHD -- "Whoops, there goes a Guinness!" -- so he moves a little fast. It works well for him because he has good fingers. However, some of the other pipers are getting discouraged and our sticks in the drumline keep catching fire.
At one time in my life when I had a location and not two locations of boxes, I had a rough chart that suggested that grade 1 play marches at x bpm, grade 2 at such, and so on. I can't find it.
Our band members range from a piper who is grade 1 to drummers and pipers who are grade 4. Our DS is grade 3. So we are a mishmash having a blast. We just want to enjoy the blast longer.
Anyone have a little piece of paper like that hanging about?
(Ros and her family are coming to North Carolina to see us!)
But in the meantime, PLEASE SEND INFO ON BPM APPROXIMATIONS.
Thank you very much,
and for those situations where it is appropriate, I send sloppy kisses
xo
Guest- Guest
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
~~~~help~~~~help~~~~help.... little dear drops of desperation., ., ., ., ., ., ., ., .,. ,. ,.
Guest- Guest
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
Sorry Cat, I can't help you with tempos as I was taught the tempo is what ever the PM decides. BUT, perhaps you could record the pipers playing around the table, on the pretense of needing it for home practice. Make sure the recording device is closest to those pipers who are having difficulty keeping up. Then somehow, make sure that it's played back a few times where the PM can hear it. Maybe he will notice a problem that he has been too busy to notice whilst playing himself.
janelle- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-13
Number of posts : 921
Age : 65
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Queensland Country Pipe Band
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
Cat,
I can only agree with what Jasnerlle has said, perhaps the PM i so engrossed in trying to start a forest fire? he cant see the wood for the trees. A recording as suggested where he can stand back might just be the ticket.
I am sure that someone somewhere will have a far simpler solution.
I can only agree with what Jasnerlle has said, perhaps the PM i so engrossed in trying to start a forest fire? he cant see the wood for the trees. A recording as suggested where he can stand back might just be the ticket.
I am sure that someone somewhere will have a far simpler solution.
Dai Robb- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-13
Number of posts : 1995
Age : 87
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Enter Band Name Here!!!!
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
Only thing I can think of is by telling him out loud to SLOW DOWN. lol. From what I've heard from band practices the new thing is for not to pust it up the park at speed but to play it a bit slower to show the control, etc. Tell him to take his foot of the gas. lol
Last edited by Heilan Mary on Tue 4 Mar - 17:14:55; edited 1 time in total
Heilan Mary- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-12
Number of posts : 703
Age : 45
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Mauchline & District Caledonia
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
I was giving this some more thought while cooking dinner.
I realised that in your situation I would be talking with the LD(DS) and encouraging him/her to discuss the problem with the PM. Perhaps with discussion they can find a tempo that is within everyones capabilities.
I realised that in your situation I would be talking with the LD(DS) and encouraging him/her to discuss the problem with the PM. Perhaps with discussion they can find a tempo that is within everyones capabilities.
janelle- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-13
Number of posts : 921
Age : 65
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Queensland Country Pipe Band
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
MIRACLES OF ALL MIRACLES!!!!!!
Not that I agree with you and that I am actually glad for the pick up in speed as LGP played everything at 72 bpm or whatever the 90 year old PM's heart could beat.
But I found the paper!
I have to go to the doc but I'll send it later. Just wanted you not to get too deep into the research needlessly.
Not that I agree with you and that I am actually glad for the pick up in speed as LGP played everything at 72 bpm or whatever the 90 year old PM's heart could beat.
But I found the paper!
I have to go to the doc but I'll send it later. Just wanted you not to get too deep into the research needlessly.
Guest- Guest
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
Sorry to say this but at the end of the day the tempo the band plays at is down to the PM. The "bpm" should be used as a guideline but is not a definate.
A good PM should know if the players are stuggling with whatever tempo he/she decides.
A good PM should know if the players are stuggling with whatever tempo he/she decides.
stormy- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-13
Number of posts : 496
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Enter Band Name Here!!!!
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
You're right. There are two rules about Pipe Majors.
Rule #1: The Pipe Major is always right.
Rule #2: When the Pipe Major is wrong, refer to rule #1.
Just found it -- MIRACULOUSLY!
Marches:
Grade Five: 70 - 76/78
Grade Four: 72 - 78/80
Grade Three: 74 - 80/82
Grade Two: 76 - 82-86
Grade One: 78 - 80-85
Strathspey:
Five: 112/114 - 118/120
Four: 114/116 - 122/128
Two: 120/122 - 126/128
One: 122/124 - 128/130
Reel:
Five: 76-80
Four: 78-82
Three: 78-84
Two: 80-86
One: 82-86
Rule #1: The Pipe Major is always right.
Rule #2: When the Pipe Major is wrong, refer to rule #1.
Just found it -- MIRACULOUSLY!
Marches:
Grade Five: 70 - 76/78
Grade Four: 72 - 78/80
Grade Three: 74 - 80/82
Grade Two: 76 - 82-86
Grade One: 78 - 80-85
Strathspey:
Five: 112/114 - 118/120
Four: 114/116 - 122/128
Two: 120/122 - 126/128
One: 122/124 - 128/130
Reel:
Five: 76-80
Four: 78-82
Three: 78-84
Two: 80-86
One: 82-86
Guest- Guest
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
sounds pretty slow for grade 4 but it might be different in different places and im not really good at knowing the bpm anyway.
kelv- Member
- Registration date : 2008-01-11
Number of posts : 87
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Newtongrange Pipe Band
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
In a massed band situation there will be bands of all grades, so what tempo will you expect to play at?
In reality a massed band will be slightly more up tempo. If you cannot match the tempo then all you can do is admit to yourself that you need to practice more, stop blowing and dummy.
We've all been there and there is no shame in admitting that you cannot play. Putting in the practice will make you feel great when you realise that you can keep up.
Remember this - the speed of a tune is not the same as the tempo of a tune.
In reality a massed band will be slightly more up tempo. If you cannot match the tempo then all you can do is admit to yourself that you need to practice more, stop blowing and dummy.
We've all been there and there is no shame in admitting that you cannot play. Putting in the practice will make you feel great when you realise that you can keep up.
Remember this - the speed of a tune is not the same as the tempo of a tune.
stormy- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-13
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Band Name: Enter Band Name Here!!!!
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
nah i meant in a compitition u play everything 10 times faster in massed bands lol
kelv- Member
- Registration date : 2008-01-11
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Band Name: Newtongrange Pipe Band
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
kelv wrote:nah i meant in a compitition u play everything 10 times faster in massed bands lol
My point is.....if you can play at a faster tempo in massed bands without a problem, then why the problem with tempo in your own band?
stormy- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-13
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Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
nah i dont have a problem with playing it at speed i meant im not good at working the bpm out because we never really use those machines, the pipe major just plays it at the speed he wants. one guy did use the metronome thing last week and said we were playing at 88 bpm and we are grade 4. also i dont feel the speed we were playing it at was as fast as some grade 4 bands ive heard play it. thats why i thought 72 bpm sounded pretty slow.
kelv- Member
- Registration date : 2008-01-11
Number of posts : 87
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Newtongrange Pipe Band
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
I didn't mean you personally when I typed "you".
I meant anyone. Maybe I should have typed "yooz" but that would confuse certain of the forum members!!!
If I start counting down from 10 on the fingers and thumb of my right hand I arrive at "6". When I look at my left hand I have a thumb and four fingers which makes "5"...........6 + 5 = 11 !!!!
Never go by numbers!
I meant anyone. Maybe I should have typed "yooz" but that would confuse certain of the forum members!!!
If I start counting down from 10 on the fingers and thumb of my right hand I arrive at "6". When I look at my left hand I have a thumb and four fingers which makes "5"...........6 + 5 = 11 !!!!
Never go by numbers!
stormy- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-13
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Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
Ohh Stormy? you are so clever?? hang on, 10.9.8.7.6. hey your right?
Dai Robb- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-13
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Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
Dai Robb wrote:Ohh Stormy? you are so clever?? hang on, 10.9.8.7.6. hey your right?
Ah know! If some Canadians could just get their heid's oot the sand..........sorry, shouldn't go there!!!!!
stormy- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-13
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Band Name: Enter Band Name Here!!!!
Re: Tempo bpm -- HELP, we have to slow the PM!
How about making it so easy that even a drummer like Robbie will understand!
The best tempo to play a tune at is that with which you are comfortable and confident with.
If you are not comfortable or confident then there are only two things you can do.
1. Slow down.
2. Practice more.
Doing the above two things will increase your confidence, which will make you more comfortable when playing, which in turn will increase your ability to raise the tempo when required.
The best tempo to play a tune at is that with which you are comfortable and confident with.
If you are not comfortable or confident then there are only two things you can do.
1. Slow down.
2. Practice more.
Doing the above two things will increase your confidence, which will make you more comfortable when playing, which in turn will increase your ability to raise the tempo when required.
stormy- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-13
Number of posts : 496
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Enter Band Name Here!!!!
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