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Many thanks for your interest in the
Balmoral Piping and Drumming Schools. If you will provide your mailing
address, I will send you the information on the upcoming sessions and we
will include you on our mailing list to receive the new brochure. See the
upcoming sessions page for dates coming up, or just past.
We have sponsored summer sessions in piping since1978. Our goal is to
encourage world-class quality of instruction in piping and drumming whenever
possible. We emphasize good tone, clean playing, and the development of
repertoire. The administrative guidelines and the campus facilities of
the universities we work with are very supportive for a relaxed, focused
and successful educational experience.
Small group instruction and attention to individual needs are essential
elements of the Balmoral Schools. Our instructors have many years of experience
teaching pipers and drummers from beginner to advanced levels of expertise.
The daily routine of the sessions usually consist of two one-hour classes
each day: One in the morning and one in the afternoon, in small groups
of a maximum of six students. Off-class daily hours are generally used
to study and prepare for the lessons of the next class. During the evenings
there are scheduled workshops on reeds, bagpipe maintenance, and other
topics, as well as recitals by instructors and students. Tape recording
of lessons and instructor recitals is permitted if done unobtrusively.
Students should plan to arrive between 12:30 and 2:00pm on Sunday. During
the remainder of the afternoon the school’s instructors meet with each
student individually to discuss his or her piping /drumming skills/experience
and to hear a tune or two on the practice chanter or practice pad. At the
end of these interviews, students will be grouped into classes. After dinner
and orientation, classes will begin on Sunday evening. Students usually
depart the campus on Friday afternoon (the last classes finish by noon
on Friday).
We accept students of all ages, gender, regardless of race
or ethnic origin, with the school sessions consisting of mostly adults
between 25 and 50 years, with about as many senior citizens (20%) as teenagers.
The gender distribution is usually one-third female and two-thirds male.
Beginners usually make up a third, intermediate students a third, and advanced
players a third of the student population.
We are a non-profit, tax-exempt educational corporation. A small amount
of financial assistance is awarded to scholarship applicants each year,
and scholarship application forms are available by request. Band discounts
are also available. I hope to meet you at one of the Balmoral sessions
this summer.
ADMISSION POLICY
Students accepted for the Balmoral School sessions
are expected to be highly motivated and self-disciplined. We accept students
under 21 years of age who are self-directed and require little supervision.
Adult chaperones are assigned to students under 21. Students 12 years or
younger must be accompanied by a parent or designated adult. All applicants
must sign the honor code pledge found at the bottom of the registration
form. A minimum $100 deposit (non-refundable) is required for registration.
Balance is due upon arrival at the session. A confirmation letter and statement
of balance due will be sent upon receipt of deposit.
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