Love bagpipe music? Have you or your child dreamed of learning one of these instruments? Are you an experienced player looking for a band? Old Colony Highlanders Pipe Band will be hosting an Open House on Thursday, April 11, from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Those wishing to learn one of the band instruments, as well as experienced drummers and bagpipers are welcome.
Unlike OCH’s fall Open House, the spring Open House is not presented in a concert format, and is strictly an information session for those considering joining the band or taking lessons.
The Open House will offer an opportunity to ask questions, try out some of the instruments, and meet with band members. Old Colony Highlanders welcomes adults and children as young as 8 years old. Tuition is provided in an affirming and enjoyable format. Students are invited to try a few classes with no obligation to join the full program.
Lessons are available in bagpiping or snare, tenor, or bass drum. Members of the band, representing some of the most accomplished bagpipers and drummers in the region, teach the band’s lessons. Old Colony Highlanders was recognized as the number two band in their grade in the eastern United States, recognizing Old Colony Highlanders as the most successful pipe band musicians in the region in 2018.
Bagpipe students first learn on a practice chanter. Most piping students will not be ready to play on an actual bagpipe for an average of 6-18 months, and thereafter it can be another year before they are ready to play in the band. Of course this depends on the individual, some students have done this in much less time, but on average this timing is typical. Bagpipers purchase their own instruments.
For those eager to perform with the band, drumming is a quicker route. On average, drummers taking lessons are ready to play with the band within the first year. Drummers purchase their own practice pads, but are provided with drums at no cost to the individual while they play with OCH. OCH has new state of the art drums on order from Ireland.
Old Colony Highlanders rehearses most Thursday evenings at the Lakeville United Church of Christ. The band is a non-profit organization that performs in parades, concerts, as well as community and charity events throughout the region. OCH also fields a competition team which competes throughout the northeast. The band is also setting their sights on competing at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in 2020.
The band was founded by a Middleboro family of experienced bagpipers and drummers. The Bielski family has played in their own family band as well as having previously played in pipe bands on Cape Cod, Boston, Albany, New York, and Ontario. They all have successful competitive solo and performance experience. OCH was started with the desire to bring this historic art form home to southeast Massachusetts, as well as to be a source for the greater community to learn and experience the culture and music of the great highland bagpipes and drums.
The Open House will be held on the lower level of Lakeville United Church of Christ, One Precinct St, which can be reached through the back of the building, door number 3. Further information can be found on the band’s Facebook page or website www.oldcolonyhighlanders.org or call 508-947-4383.