Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming
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The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming is a British Army training establishment that provides instructions of Scottish bagpipe music to military pipers, drummers and pipe bands. Founded in 1910 as the Army School of Piping (later renamed the Army School of Bagpipe Music), the School is still located in Edinburgh, Scotland. Generally regarded as the smallest unit in the British Army, the School is now commanded by a Director who is a qualified army Pipe Major and who usually holds the rank of Captain or Major (usually being commissioned from Warrant Officer rank on appointment). The Director is assisted by a Chief Instructor, who is the Senior Pipe Major of the British Army.
The School provides courses at different levels to pipers and drummers of the British Armed Forces throughout the year, and qualified instructors are drawn from the pipes and drums of various regiments in the Scottish Division. The School accepts students from Commonwealth armed forces, but not civilians (British or overseas). It has in the past provided instruction to various police band members, but this has not taken place for a number of years.
The School forms part of the Institute of Piping, which is a collaboration among the Piobaireachd Society, the College of Piping, and the Piping Centre. Together, the Institute sets a standardised piping certificate program for students from around the world.
Directors
- Captain John MacLellan (Queen's Own Highlanders, 1961–1974
- Major John Allan (Queen's Own Highlanders), 1981–1987
- Major Gavin Stoddart, BEM, MBE (Royal Highland Fusiliers), 1987–2003
- Captain Stuart Samson (The Highlanders), 2003–
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