Alexander Fettes(1845-1921)Alexander Fettes was born in Laurencekirk and raised in Old Machar, Aberdeen. He was a stone mason by trade and served as pipe major of the Aberdeen Highlanders from about 1865-1879.
Afterwards he emigrated to South Africa and made a prominent life for himself there. He was Pipe Major of the Port Elizabeth Pipe Band and was several times mayor of Port Elizabeth.  He had a great influence on piping in South Africa and died there in 1921.
His composing claim to fame is “Glendaruel Highlanders,” which he composed when he was pipe major of the Aberdeen Volunteers. The young John MacDougall Gillies and his brother were an up-and-coming pipers in the band and their family had roots in Glendaruel area.

I looked this up when a student asked who the Glendaruel Highlanders were.  It was so nice to read this together, and get a better idea of a great tune composer.    Always learning.

The more you know....

I got to play for a pretty lovely wedding yesterday.  I met people who knew my dad and my brother, and that was just the best.  
​Share your music.  People will love you for it.

If you're lucky, you get the chance to work with terrific people.  We are so happy that our friends at Deacon Brodie's Pub and Moosehead have created a partnership that provides support of our upcoming travel, and a cool beer naming - Pipers Choice - that will go a long way in helping us achieve our goals.  Come out and try a pint, enjoy some music, and help us celebrate Canada Day 2024 in Ottawa!

Our new patron, HIs Excellency Whit Fraser.  A great and warm welcoming gentleman.

The wonderful people at Beechwood Cemetery decided to help us get to Scotland by organizing a fundraiser and helping us raise money for travel.  It's partners like this that help opportunities happen, and happen for many.

At this time of year, you might be looking for a gift for yourself or someone on your list that's a piper or wants to start learning.
If that's something of interest to you, check out my school on the Patreon platform at www.patreon.com where you will join people from all over the world that have all decided to take their piping to new highland heights!
There are so many videos and lessons, and many more to come - and you can be part of a community that cares, learns, and gives back.  And that's a great gift!

We played in a Christmas parade this past weekend.  The community came out in droves, the weather was kind, and we just were so glad to be there.   Wishing you all the best this holiday season!

Every year the Dominion Tavern in Ottawa's Byward Market hosts a Remembrance Day Fundraiser to help veterans in our community. This year they chose our pipe band as their chosen charity, and we received some great support to help our plans for the Invictus Games. It's great to have friends like this!

I got to play the Lament at the Calabogie Legion for Remembrance Day alongside our friends in the Renfrew Highland Pipes & Drums.  They were tremendous.

I partnered up with a filmmaker during the pandemic to make a video across Ottawa in honour of Remembrance Day.  I hope you enjoy it.

I get to play with rock bands.  And then we talk about going to big shows.  And that is awesome.  Glastonbury 2024 - now that would be superb!

It's so nice to be asked to pipe at highland dance contests of any size.  Small, big, outdoor, indoor, it's all the same - all important in someone else's life and a culmination of a lot of preparation and work that you are hired to support.  
So, you get ready by reviewing your tunes and getting the pipes all ready to be played throughout the day - the same tunes for each dance, but different tempos - all set by the judging panel watching very closely and listening to you play. 
It's not easy but it is very rewarding.  I am very good at chasing the sound and making sure the dance pieces are well presented.
​Always learning, every day.

When one contest season ends, another one begins with the opportunity to build a new set of tunes to compete with for the pipe band.
And we might keep the set for a couple of years, and get to know it very well.  I have just assembled our new set, and we have started playing it.  Everyone is enthusiastic about the choices, and we are all playing it well.
​August comes early, every year, and we will be ready!

The opportunity to travel to Europe to perform at the Invictus Games was one that came up a long time back. We decided at the last minute to go on the trip for a few reasons, but we are so glad that we did.  We went to Amsterdam, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Ypres, Cologne, and had a great time everywhere we went.  New friends from the PWOR Foundation P&D in Kingston joined us, and everyone worked hard and truly enjoyed everywhere we got to play and tour.  I'd do it again, in a heartbeat.  And we will, in Canada in 2025.  Want to be part?  Let me know!

I help to plan the trip to Scotland every year and it's a great, rewarding job.  We get to partner with so many wonderful companies and people in Scotland that give us the chance to perform, visit, and have fun.  This year our trip will end with a day in Edinburgh where we will perform at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, then onto City Chambers to do a show in the courtyard, and then we get to board a bus like the one above and do a tour of the city with stops along the way to play and enjoy the dancers performances.  It will be a memorable day to end our trip and hopefully a day without rain!

The very nice employee at the Giant Tiger near me stopped me today and told me that the wee pool I got her last year was being very much used and enjoyed by her nieces and nephews in the Philippines.  She has a video to show me next time.
That is just awesome. Stay kind my friends!

I really can only read piping and drumming notation.  So yesterday, one of my pupils had this book which is a saxophone music book, and I thought I'd look through it.  Found this melody, which we know in piping as "Going Home" which is a lovely lament I play often at funerals and other memorials.  Proof that a good song never goes away, but it might be known under different titles.  Cheers!

There was a lady who lived in the building across from me who was having an apartment sale over the past few days. I decided on Friday to pop  up and see what she had, and I ended up buying a couple of cool things.  In talking to her about her move, I learned that she was leaving a very unhealthy marriage and moving away to start fresh.  I felt I could help more, so yesterday I went over, and gave her some more money and told her I'd take the leftover items to the local children's day care near us.  I have lots to take, and it will mean a lot to many of the kids. 
And this girl will be able to get herself more prepared to relocate, knowing these things will go to deserving kids.  We all win!

Sometimes you have someone in your life that has had a bad hand dealt to them.  When this happens, give them some time, and then give them your words of kindness.  It can mean to them so much, at a hard time that doesn't feel good for them.  But your friendship can.  Bring it, and make their days a little better.  

I have been asked to assemble a small celeidh band to play at the Sir John A. MacDonald building on Wellington Street in Ottawa in June to mark the occasion of the unveiling of a plaque of former Speaker of the House of Commons, Geoff Regan. The event will be attended by many people including former Governor Generals and Prime Ministers, and it should be very memorable.
Keep practising. You never know what opportunities will come your way!