What Separates Good Pipe Bands from Great Pipe Bands

Most pipe bands can get “good” with enough reps. The jump to “great” is different: it’s less about adding more notes, and more about removing the little inconsistencies that keep the band from sounding like one instrument. Here are the separators judges and listeners feel immediately—and practical ways to build them in rehearsal.

Working with St. Augustine Pipe Band

1)Quality of instrument needed for the band member

A great band demands that every player in the band has a instrument which will not detract from the overall band sound. There should be one person who makes the call whether the pipers instrument needs to be improved or is of sufficient tonal quality to play in the band. If a player doesn't meet that requirement then they should be taught how to achieve this level.

2) Their tuning process is repeatable, not emotional

Good bands tune until it feels better. Great bands tune with a system—so they can reproduce results under pressure, in bad weather, and on unfamiliar grass.

• Use the same order every time (drones → chanters → ensemble checks).

• Assign roles: which piper(s) is picked as the player that the band sound should be set from. Which persons tune the drones and train them to take the reading accurately and how to properly tune drones for the pipe corps.

• Keep notes on what worked for timing so you over time will know how quickly your band can tune up effectively for contests and have a shorter game plan for a wet weather day.

  
  

Coaching tip: The best tuning routine is the one you can execute calmly when you’re short on time.

3) They win the unison game

Unison is where “good” becomes “great.” When attacks, releases, and embellishment timing line up, the band suddenly sounds bigger, cleaner, and more confident—without playing any louder.

• Rehearse starts/stops more than you think you need to and put their players under pressure to have 10 out of 10 good intros/finishes.

• The PM is ultimately the person who has to corral all the parts of the band to express the music together and stay focused as a group.

• Record short chunks and listen for togetherness, not just mistakes. The small details matter.

  
  

Coaching tip: If your unison improves, your tuning will seem to improve too—because the ear stops hearing “multiple versions” of the same note.

4) Their ensemble is balanced on purpose

Great bands don’t just have strong players—they have a controlled mix. The listener should hear a unified pipe sound supported by a drum corps that adds clarity and lift, not competition for attention.

• Check balance from out front regularly (not just from inside the circle). Listen to the band as a judge will.

• A band must perform cohesively, which means both the pipe corps and drum corps need to compromise on certain aspects, such as a tempo that is ideal for the drum corps but might be too quick for the pipe corps to properly express the music.

• Make volume a musical decision: where do you want power, and where do you want finesse?

  
  

Coaching tip: If the band is always “max volume,” you lose contrast—and judges lose interest.

5) They rehearse like performers, not like practicers

Good bands fix problems. Great bands also practice delivering under pressure: walking on, setting tempo, recovering from small slips, and finishing strong.

• Run full sets with “one-take rules” so focus and stamina get trained.

• Practice transitions (tempo changes, part changes, endings) until they feel boring.

  
  

Coaching tip: Great bands don’t rise to the occasion—they fall back on what they’ve rehearsed and have a very short memory if anything goes wrong in the performance.

6) Leadership is clear, and standards are consistent

Great bands have a culture where expectations are known and enforced kindly but firmly. That consistency is what turns a group of strong individuals into a reliable unit.

• Agree on non-negotiables (attendance, preparation, tuning discipline, listening).

• Give feedback on behaviors, not personalities—and do it quickly.

A simple “Good to Great” rehearsal checklist

• Do we have a shared target sound?

• Is our tuning routine repeatable under pressure?

• Are attacks/releases and embellishment timing truly together?

• Is our ensemble balance intentional from out front?

• Do we rehearse full performances, not just fixes?

  
  

If you want to elevate your band from "good to great" by addressing issues like tuning drift, unison, tempo, and ensemble balance, consider hiring Adrian for a weekend workshop. He can help refine your rehearsal plan to move closer to greatness. https://www.melvinreeds.com/learn

Happy Piping!