By Joe Brady, Wake and District   Pipe bands are getting bigger. In some corners of the world, massive. The biggest bands in every grade are swelling — more pipers, more drummers, more presence, more sound. When those groups step onto the field, the air shifts. The music feels bigger, the visual tighter, the impact undeniable. Growth creates momentum, and momentum is contagious. It feeds confidence. It fuels performance. It wins championships. But as the giants grow stronger,

Band rehearsal is more than playing tunes together—it’s training for the mind and spirit. Every session under pressure develops more than...

Playing in a pipe band isn’t always about harmony—it’s about learning to move forward together when harmony feels out of reach. The truth...

The scores look great. On paper, you’re winning. But what happens when, despite high marks on the sheets, the band is burned out,...

I’ve been watching a series recently featuring Chris Hemsworth. In one of the episodes, he explores how extreme athletes push their...

One day, every one of us will reach a moment where our bodies no longer match the energy of our younger selves. The fast march, the sharp...

Have you ever considered credibility in the band like money in a bank? Each rehearsal, each performance, each interaction — deposits or...

In pipe bands — especially volunteer organizations like Wake and District — it’s easy to think in terms of boundaries. “I don’t play...

In a pipe and drum band, one thing is guaranteed: change . Tunes evolve, rosters shift, uniforms change, contest draws surprise us, and...

You’ve been working hard on a set. Hours of practice, endless tuning, rehearsals stacked back-to-back. Then—boom—the strategy changes. A...

Your story isn’t over yet. This past year has been a rollercoaster for many of us. For every high, it feels like there’s been a low right...

Pipe bands don’t lose their edge overnight. Chaos builds one skipped rehearsal, one avoided conversation, one “we’ll fix it later” at a time. Cleaning it up takes stamina, not shortcuts. Progress doesn’t shout — it whispers. It shows up in small wins: a set played clean, a critique taken with humility, a teammate saying we instead of I. Step by step, discipline returns, the music strengthens, and the joy of playing together comes back.

One of the hardest truths to accept as a piper or drummer is this: you are not as good as you think you are, and the circle will remind...

In the world of psychology, there’s a concept called loss aversion. It’s the idea that people feel the pain of losing something more...

Pipe bands are built on music, tradition, and camaraderie. But let’s be honest—none of that works without one simple thing: showing up....

In a bagpipe and drum band, every note, every beat, and every step matters. When something falls short, it’s tempting to blame others....

Because the moment the pressure fades, so does their effort. Every band runs into this kind of player. The one who only shows up fully...

There’s no rulebook for knowing the “right” time to leave a pipe band. Every player—whether piper, drummer, or leader—will face a moment...

In music — and in band life — there’s a big difference between tempo and speed. Maintaining a good tempo isn’t about playing fast or...

In a bagpipe and drum band,  Extreme Ownership  means taking full responsibility for the performance, the culture, and the success of the...