Classes: (Contact 323-6700 to sign up or check out the Portage Public School's website.)
Check the website for weather related school closings. In cases of school closings there will be no classes!

Instructional Classes

Classes are offered in both highland bagpiping and drumming.

During the school year, we work at Portage Public Schools - North Middle School 5808 Oregon Avenue, Portage, MI 49024 (269) 323-5700 map

and during the summer, we practice outside, generally at Flesher Field about 3900 South 9th Street, Oshtemo, MI on the west side of the road map

Piping and drumming classes for the Fall 2007 semester are held at the Portage North Middle School and are scheduled to run for approximately 14 sessions from September 11, 2007 through 18 December 2007.   (Note:  There is no class on 25 Sept 2007.) 

The cost will be $26 for the class and you may register on the Portage Public School's website or in class on September 11th.  There may also be additional cost for practice instruments and/or teaching materials.

If you can't be there on 11 September and you don't have a practice chanter (for pipers) or a pad/sticks (for drummers), please contact the band so that we can arrange to purchase these materials on your behalf. 

Classes are not held when Tuesday is a Portage school holiday, a voting day, or if school is cancelled due to weather.  (Important Note: If Portage schools are closed due to weather, there will be no class. Check at Portage Public School's website, the WMUK School Closings website or listen to the radio if there is any question. Use your judgment about any bad weather or driving conditions.)

The fees are set by the Portage Public Schools to cover facilities costs and to support the community education program.   (You can pre-register here or just register the first night.  Class fee checks should be made out to "Portage Adult Community Education").

(Please note: The band members doing the instruction, do so for free. We provide all materials to students at cost.)

The schedule each week will look something like this...

Chanter and/or pad students may leave at 6:45, but are welcome and encouraged to attend to stay into the later sessions to see the difficulties and rewards involved with playing in order to make an informed decision regarding their commitment to piping.

Additional private instruction is available for pipers of all levels.

Practice Instruments:

If you are a new piping or drumming student, please contact the band to get appropriate, good-quality practice instruments.  

Pipers:  Many vendors who will gladly sell you an inferior practice chanters (or even crappy bagpipes!) and leave you to deal with the problems.  Through our international vendor contacts, we are happy to order a high quality long or extra-long plastic practice chanter with good reeds for our adult students for about $75 (depending upon market and exchange rates).  We can also get  slightly smaller chanter with good reeds for younger students. 

Drummers:  Students will need highland drumming sticks and pad (about $30 and available locally, but please ask for guidance from the instructors).

In the summer-time:

The band spends each Tuesday evening at various locations throughout Kalamazoo county (some say we're just one step ahead of the law!) in rehearsal for our performances. Group instruction is continued over the summer.

Our practice breakout looks like this:

Generalities:

Because summer is the heavier performance season, it is generally preferred to start lessons in the fall, but students may begin at any time.   Depending upon the number and capabilities of students, it may be advantageous to set up a private schedule for most rapid progress.

• Some musical background is generally advantageous.

• Playing any instrument well requires mental discipline and focus.

• You must practice daily - preferably twice daily for 10-15 minutes at the early stages - if you expect to make substantive progress.

• We insist that each student strive toward a high standard of execution.   We want those students to go forth and  improve the quality of piping heard in southwestern Michigan.

• Due to attention span issues, lack of musical familiarity, and an unfortunate lack of peers, very young students (less than 10 yrs old) often require some additional assistance outside the normal class time. (What I would give for a class of musicians about 10-12 years old. We would have camaraderie and could make great progress...)

• Private lessons at any level may be arranged outside of the classes through instructors in the area.

Resources for the Beginning Students:

Our teaching program strives to provide high quality instruction for all students. 

Piping:

The goal for all beginning pipers is to be able to play five substantial tunes accurately on the practice chanter. 

The five tunes we have chosen have been arranged to provide opportunities to demonstrate a solid understanding of the fundaments of piping.  Below are links to these tunes:

(Please note:  The exact timing of the embellishments in the associated midi files is close, but not quite ideal due to limitations in the software .  Use the knowledge, gained in class, to play "properly". )

These tunes are here for the convenience of those involved in the elementary learning/teaching program of the Kalamazoo Pipe Band.  This is not intended to be a link to the parade, performance or competition band repertoire.   Additional tunes (and other benefits!) are provided to those who choose to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the Kalamazoo Pipe Band.  Come and see for yourself!