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THE PIPING LEVEL (PDQB) PROGRAM
These lessons are individual lessons delivered via sound file download.
There are (currently) five course levels - split into the first four levels of
the PIPING & DRUMMING QUALIFICATIONS BOARD syllabus plus a
Piobaireachd course. All of the content of the syllabus is discussed in
detail with any back-up information necessary to help you pass the PDQB
exams (although the exams are optional). Each level is divided into 11
monthly lessons which are delivered on the first day of successive months.
The final period at the end of the 11-month course has been left as a
preparatory month in anticipation that many students will wish to sit the relevant PDQB examination.

They are designed to ‘sit’ with you as you go through the lesson material. And you can do the lesson at your own pace, stop when you want, go back over the material until you are happy to finish - and then keep it for those times when you want to revisit the lesson.

You can also send in a recording of your own playing (tape, digital or camcorder) and will  get a return CD ROM or EMAIL with confirmation of your playing standard and/or suggestions of improvements - and then onto the next lesson in the series.

The program also comes with a ‘test’ paper with each lesson which will confirm levels of musicianship as you go.
There are several different levels and you just pick the one you want to start on. Each course has 11 lessons and you pay as you go - and get off the rota any time you like even if you do not finish the course.

Each of these lesson are also designed to take one month’s practice but it isn’t a race so you can do them either quicker or longer. Lessons are charged out at £10 per lesson or you can book the entire 11 lesson course at £99.
The lessons are delivered via sound files and PDFs.

Currently the following ‘courses’ are available. They do not include fees for sitting PDQB exams.

PDQB Level 1 Course (11 lessons)
Students should have at least a ‘foundation’ standard of playing in order to successfully complete this course including the ability to play basic scales and place fingers correctly on the chanter at least to the standard as taught in our CD ROM e-book Learn to Play the Bagpipe.

Course syllabus
Theory: Basic level theory including the Great Staff and musical notation
including reading music and the understanding of phrase patterns and
also the basic writing of music.
Practical: care of the practice chanter
Musical: scales, gracenotes, doublings, strikes, throws
Tunes: 2 x Slow Airs, 3 x 2/4 Marches, 2 x 3/4 Retreat Marches and 3 x 4/4
Marches (note the playing of TWO tunes from memory is a requirement for
the Level 1 PDQB examination)


PDQB Level 2 Course (11 lessons)
Students should have at least a ‘Level 1’ standard of playing in order to successfully complete this course including the ability to do play basic tunes from memory on the practice chanter, and to execute basic movements. Note that in this course students are required to also commence playing of the full Highland Pipe.

Course syllabus
Theory: Time signatures, their use and identification, the note value and
duration table, Simple and Compound Time signatures.
Practical: care of the practice chanter and practice chanter reeds, naming
of bagpipe parts, basic care of a Highland Pipe.
Musical: Grips, Taorluadhs, Birls and Tachums
Tunes: 2 x 2/4 Marches, 2 x Strathspeys, 2 x Reels, 3 x 6/8 Marches, and
2 x 9/8 Retreat Marches (note the playing of FIVE tunes from memory is a
requirement for the Level 2 (Practice Chanter) PDQB examination and for
the Level 2 (Bagpipe) PDQB examination the student must play FIVE tunes
on the Highland Pipe and these tunes must be a minimum of 2 parts in
the following Time Signatures: Slow Air, 3/4 or 4/4 March, 6/8 or 9/8
March, Strathspey and Reel.


PDQB Level 3 Course (11 lessons)
Students should have at least a ‘Level 2’ standard of playing in order to successfully complete this course including the ability to do play tunes in varying Time Signatures from memory on the practice chanter and Highland Pipe
and to execute basic movements. Note that in this course students are required to play ALL of their tunes on the full Highland Pipe. This is an exacting course of piping and at the completion of it pipers will be at a standard good enough to play successfully in a Grade 3/2 pipe band and be on the verge of competing successfully in junior or restricted solo competition.
Note that the Piobaireachd element is significant and it is recommended that potential students give consideration to also studying one of our separate Piobaireachd courses (although the basic elements of the requirements for the Level 3 examination are taught within the structure of this course)

Course syllabus
Theory: writing music from memory, sight reading and advanced knowledge
of piping musical theory.
Practical: care and maintenance of the Highland Pipe, drones reeds
and pipe chanter reeds.
Musical: advanced movements
Tunes: 2 x 2/4 Competition Marches, 2 x Competition Strathspeys,
2 x Competition Reels, 3 x 6/8 Marches, 1 x Slow Air, 2 x 4 parted Hornpipes,
2 x 4 parted Jigs, 1 x Piobaireachd (Urlar and 1st Variation only), and
playing an MSR set in complete sequence.
(Note the playing of EIGHT tunes from memory on the Highland Pipe and
to a high standard is a requirement for the Level 3 PDQB examination.
One each of the types in the course syllabus, including Piobaireachd, must
be submitted).


PDQB Level 4 Course (11 lessons)
Students should have at least a ‘Level 3’ standard of playing in order to successfully complete this course including the ability to do play tunes in varying Time Signatures from memory on the Highland Pipe and to execute movements to a good standard. Note that in this course students are required to play ALL of their tunes on the full Highland Pipe. This is a VERY DEMANDING course of piping during which students will be required to do an intense practice program as well as an in-depth study of advanced piping. At the completion of it pipers will be at a standard good enough to play successfully in a Grade 2/1 pipe band and be able to compete successfully in solo competition. Pipers who successfully complete this course will have attained a high standard of both technical and musical proficiency.
Note that the Piobaireachd element is exacting and it is recommended that potential students give consideration to also studying one of our separate Piobaireachd courses (although the basic elements of the requirements for the Level 4 examination are taught within the structure of this course)

Course syllabus
Theory: writing complex pipe music from memory as well as Piobaireachd and all Ceol Beag movements.
There is an intensive level of Piobaireachd theory required including Canntaireachd and structure.
Practical: advanced care and maintenance of the Highland Pipe including selection and adjustment of chanter and drones reeds.
Musical: standard Piobaireachd movements
Tunes: 2 x 6/8 Marches, 4 x 2/4 Competition Marches, 4 x Competition
Strathspeys, 4 x Competition Reels, 4 x Competition Jigs, 4 x Competition
Jigs, 1 x Piobaireachd, and playing an MSR set in complete sequence.
(Note the playing of ONE tune from a candidate-submitted list of TWO
tunes of each genre as above is required. The tunes should be played
On the Highland Pipe to a high standard. One full Piobaireachd, with both
Taorluadh and Crunluadh Variations must be submitted and played).



The Piobaireachd Certificate Course (12 lessons)
This is an in-depth course and has been designed for students who wish to play Piobaireachd seriously and who may be studying for either the PDQB Level 5 certificate or the Piobaireachd certificate.
Students should have at least a ‘Level 4’ standard of playing in order to successfully complete this short course which is designed to give more in-depth teaching of a higher level of Piobaireachd.

Course syllabus
Theory:  the structure of Piobaireachd by style, variations and metric structure
patterns; writing complex pipe music from memory as well as Piobaireachd
and all Ceol Beag movements; advanced study of metric classification patterns;
the early history of the publishing of Piobaireachd; the writing of Piobaireachd
movements and Variations (as well as from memory); a detailed look at the
Nether Lorn Canntaireachd
Practical: there is no practical element on this course.
Musical: all movements and Variations used in Piobaireachd including Taorluadh
And Crunluadh in Breabach, Fosgailte and A Mach forms.
Tunes: 6 x Piobaireachd
(Note that the playing of ONE from a submitted list of FOUR Piobaireachd is
required to successfully pass the PDQB Piobaireachd Certificate.)