2010 GFD Pipes and Drums Clinic
This page is here to post the latest information about the 2010 GFD Pipes and Drums Clinic. Please check by from time to time. We will be adding information here when it becomes available.
The 2010 Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums Clinic will be on Friday November 12th. The clinic will be from 8-5pm. Lunch will be provided and the registration fee information is on the form. Print off the following form and mail back.
The Host Hotel is the Holiday Inn Express. This Hotel is brand new and they are excited to offer our group a discounted rate good until October 24th. The discounted rate will apply to November 10th through November 15th. As of 8/27/10 they have 24 double queens and 16 double kings available for $99/night, (Normal is $129 – so hurry!) and they also have 12 King suites that are a little larger for $10 more than the special rate. This $99 price is only good until October 24th. Be sure to let them know that you are attending the Georgetown Pipes and Drums Clinic to get the group rate. We did a site visit and this Hotel is nice and new!
Other Hotel Information for Georgetown
Thursday, November 11th, 2010
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. Ian K. McDonald, 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 bann 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 12th, 2010
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 Toronto Police Pipe Band P/M Ian K. MacDonald (Here is the T.P.P.B. in action.), second is Westminster Pipe Band P/M Bruce Robertson, and third is ESPADA’s Pipe Major Todd Bircher. We have 3 drumming instructors, first is Ian’s good friend 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. We can confirm the addition of Chicago based world champion bass drummer Mike Cole to the instructor list for our clinic! (Video of Mike Cole playing in this years World’s)
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 Local 3991 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. Damion from Lone Star Piper will be there as a vendor for your pipes and drums equipment needs.
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 have booked the back yard at Hardtails Bar and Grill at 1515 N. IH35. They are giving us full access to the back bar and a flat rate for meals. They have great food and one big arse fan! They are excited that we will be hanging out there and they said we are welcome to bring instruments. Come prepared to Jam! It is also right up the frontage road from the Host Hotel (Holiday Inn Express).
END of State Practice.
Saturday, November 13th, 2010
(History leading up to this whole thing) – At the 2008 Salado Highland Games, Rose Adams (the coordinator) approached us the see if there would be any interest in hosting a Texas Emergency Services Pipe Band Invitational. We told her we would look into it and it sounded like there might just be some interest throughout the state. In 2009 2 bands (YouTube) competed in a mini-band (friendly) competition with a $40 entry fee and place prize and a trophy. This was the first Texas Emergency Services Pipe Band Invitational. This is a chance to go out on the field and get some very valuable feedback from some world class judges. Public Safety bands normally do not compete at events. No pressure here, but this gives us all another chance to hone our mad skills, get some advise from the judges (Ian and Bruce), get our band names out there and represent our departments in a very good way! The people will see the incredible pride we have in our noble profession and our sense of tradition.
In the morning there is individual piping and druming 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. The Emergency Service competition will begin at 2:30p.m. After that, grab a seat in your lawn chair and enjoy the Grade 3 competition at 3pm. 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 14th, 2010
Rose Adams has asked if the whole state group or a small contingent might be interested in competing in the Grade 4 competition. We will have to see if we have enough interest from the group and go from there. If there is please let us know so we can register. ESPADA will compete for the first time in the Grade 4 this year against other civilian Grade 4 bands.
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.
