Tempo vs. Speed: A Lesson for Pipe Bands

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 pushing harder for the sake of it. Tempo is about control, awareness, and balance. It’s about understanding how we fit together as a group, and how we adapt to the environment we’re in — whether it’s a quiet practice room or the chaos of a crowded competition field.

For those familiar with Boyd’s Observe–Orient–Decide–Act (OODA) Loop, this distinction will feel familiar. Success doesn’t come from sheer speed, but from relative velocity — how effectively we can make decisions and move forward compared to the challenges around us.

In a pipe band, tempo means knowing when to hold steady and when to push. It’s about having the reserve capacity to accelerate when it matters — in the march onto the field, in the lift before the final part, in the moments when energy carries the music beyond the notes on the page.

The best pipe bands appreciate the concept of tempo. They balance patience with urgency. They play with restraint, yet decisiveness. They value stability, but also the ability to disrupt expectations with power and precision.

This past year, our band has worked together at a variety of operational tempos. Some sessions were about careful listening, tuning, and detail. Other days were about full-on energy, getting the feet moving, and testing our limits. I’m proud of the persistence, commitment, decision-making, and teamwork that each of you brought — no matter the pace.

Because in the end, speed fades. But tempo — when it’s understood and shared — carries us forward together.