Highland Drumming
Highland Drumming is a style of percussion accompaniment that is significantly different than most other forms of percussion performance. The most outstanding differences are that the percussion section does not set up a rhythm for the other musicians to follow, and the drum corps is the only source of dynamics in the band.
The drum scores are written to closely follow the rhythms and the “feel” of the tunes, with a primary goal of enhancing the music by reinforcing the pipers’ playing. More so than other styles of music, the drum scores are “harmony” to the music, and not simply a repetitive beat that goes on while the band plays.
While the drums and the pipes together play out the intricacies of the tunes, the drum corps contributes the dynamics, or the “light and shade” to the performance. While the pipes have no ability to adjust the volume level of their instruments, the drum corps alone provides the illusion of soft and loud passages, through exaggerated dynamics in the percussion scores.
These prime differences, along with many other execution differences from other percussion styles add up to what is often considered among the more difficult marching percussion styles to successfully perform. The stick control, hand speed and extremely tight unison playing that is required for Highland Drumming puts this type of percussion into the category of “advanced performance style”.
Although previous percussion experience and knowledge of music theory are certainly an advantageous starting point, many have successfully launched their drumming careers in Highland Drumming. In fact, for a serious and dedicated percussion student, this is an excellent venue in which to work. Because of the critical nature of the unison accuracy, the relative difficulty of the drum scores, and the fact that the percussion parts are based upon the generally accepted rudimental standards, a student has an opportunity to attain a level of performance that will be of very significant value when the skills developed by Highland Drumming are applied to other styles of performance.
A pipe band drum corps generally consists of one or more bass drummers, multiple side drummers (snares), and a mid-section composed of tenor drum player(s). The flourish tenors are the “show” drummers of the corps, well known for their routines of swinging and spinning their drumsticks while the other drummers play.
Click on the following links to see examples of rudimental drumming:
Wayne Oien Snare Drum Solo
Pierre Ogea Snare Drum Solo
Superior Pipes & Drums offers free instruction in all forms of the Celtic arts and welcomes all who wish to join us. Please contact Wayne Oien at
drummerplayer@charter.net
or (906)360-1409 for more information about drum instruction.
The drumline warming up
