2011 GFD Pipes and Drums Clinic
The 2011 Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums Clinic will be on Friday November 11th (11/11/11). The clinic will be from 8-5pm. Lunch will be provided and the registration information is on the form. Print off the following form and mail back.
***2011 Clinic Registration Form***
The Host Hotel is the Country Inn & Suites. This Hotel was just remodeled and looks great! They are excited to be our Host Hotel and have offered a block of 25 rooms. The rate is $65 per night for Standard King or Double Queen rooms. Be sure to let them know that you are attending the Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums Clinic to get the discounted rate. We did a site visit and this Hotel is very nice! It is located withing walking distance from Chili’s and Applebee’s. All rooms have Mini fridges, Microwaves, Coffee, etc. They offer Complementary hot breakfast buffet.
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
Thursday night we are planning a meet and greet at Stephen Cameron’s House. He has a nice place and an even nicer back yard / deck / pool. Bruce Robertson, and Mike Cole are staying at Steve’s, so it just makes sense to have it there! Y’all just come and go, it will be a GREAT time and a great way to kick off the weekend! We will have chips and dips to snack on so eat before you come. Providing that we are not under a burn ban we will have another bonfire. One of our members is making his famous home brew that he made last year. BYOB also if you like.
Depending on the time of night, some of the shops on the Square stay open late. There are some awesome shops so you can get in some early Christmas shopping (I always go to the Escape – you can’t go wrong there guys!) There is a great coffee shop and some nice restaurants. Just take a stroll with your family and enjoy!
Friday, November 11th, 2011
The Clinic is going to be in Georgetown, TX at the First Baptist Church (1333 W. University Ave). It will start at 8am SHARP and conclude at 5pm.
We have 3 piping instructors, the first is Pipe Sergeant Jack Lee from Simon Frasier University Pipe Band. Second is Pipe Major Bruce Robertson from Westminster Pipe Band, and third is Pipe Major Todd Bircher from Emergency Service Pipes and Drums Association, (ESPADA). We have 5 drumming instructors, First is Drum Sergeant Stephen Cameron from Cameron Highland Drumming and Stephen’s wing man from the Westminster PB Drum Corp Jon Greene working with all of the snare drummers. Chicago based world champion bass drummer Mike Cole will join us again to instruct our Bass drummers. Working with the Tenor drummers this year will be Donny Caldwell and Laurel Nolan.
We will have a good, solid day of practice for every member attending. From 8 a.m.-12 p.m. we will be inside on chanters and practice pads in different breakout rooms. Lunch will be provided by Emergency Service Pipes and Drums Association, (ESPADA) and catered on site so that we can keep working. From 1-5 p.m. we will slowly venture outside for marching and playing whatever the instructors determine. We will not have any vendors this year.
The Georgetown Convention & Visitors Center is providing us with visitor information to hand out. These will be available at the Meet & Great and the morning of the Clinic at the Church.
After practice, we plan to head out to the back yard at Hardtails Bar and Grill at 1515 N. IH35. They have great food on the menu, full bars, cigars and one big arse fan! They are excited that we will be hanging out there and they said we are welcome to bring instruments to play inside or outside. Come prepared to Jam! It is not far from the Host Hotel.
END of State Practice.
Saturday, November 12th, 2011
The last two years there has been an Emergency Service Pipes and Drums Competition at the Salado Highland Games, but due to lack on interest at this point we are not planning on having this event. If something changes we will post it here. If there are bands that are interested in competing please contact us ASAP!!
In Salado in the morning there are individual piping and drumming competition for those that want to check that out. There will be a March Past Parade that will open the Games at Noon and the State Group is invited to participate. Due to flooding damage the games will be held at the Salado Civic Center at 601 N. Main St. in Salado. At 3pm there is a Grade 3 Pipe Band competition and it is nice to see. Salado usually attracts the St. Thomas Episcopal Pipe Band, Silver Thistle Pipe Band and the Westminster Pipe Band. They are good! That night there is a Tattoo at the ruins of the old Salado College which is really cool.
Sunday, November 13th, 2010
ESPADA will compete for the second time in the Grade 4 this year against other civilian Grade 4 bands. Last year ESPADA placed 4th out of 6 bands. Come out and support ESPADA.
2010 Salado Highland Games Link
This will be will be one heck of a weekend! The most important part is that we must get a good, solid day of practice in on Friday. That is the whole point–the rest is just fun and games! The Salado Highland Games will provide a chance to improve your skills on several levels. There will be something for everyone. See y’all soon!
If you need anything or have any ideas please contact us and we will get right back with you.
