Who Are We?

The mission of this organization is to help encourage and promote the Great Highland Bagpipe and Highland Drumming in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas.

The Pipers Club of Indiana, now in its third season, gathers monthly to hold solo competitions for all pipers and drummers of any experience level. These gatherings are a time for fellowship, personal growth and a chance for solo pipers and drummers to compete in a friendly atmosphere. We hope that you enjoy the experience and will join us again.

The Pipers Club will gather (normally) the last Sunday of each month at the Indiana State Museum. (schedule below). Piping and drumming will start at 1:30 pm ending at around 3:00pm. Please contact us in advance to confirm the afternoon events. All pipers, drummers and spectators are welcome, and feel free to invite a friend.

To contact the Pipers Club of Indiana in order to compete at the next gathering, for piping or drumming instructors or to schedule pipers or pipe bands for any occasion, please contact John Holcombe at 317-815-5747.

What Happens At The Piper's Club?

All pipers and drummers register to play in advance by phoning our contact, John Holcombe. The players inform the club as to what Level or Grade they play or compete at. Grade 5 for example is the beginner level moving up to Grade 1 which is a very proficient level. There is one higher level called the “Professional Grade”, these are the experts!

Each month, the requirements are given as to what types of tunes each grade needs to play for the following month (see details below). For example, one month may be a March; the following month may be a Hornpipe or a Jig.

Normally we combine Grades 5 and 4 together then Grades 3 and 2 together. The players may elect to “compete” against the other pipers in their level or they may choose to be “critiqued”. In both cases, we have an adjudicator who then uses a standard Solo Piping Adjudication form to give the piper feedback on such things as:

At the end of the competition events of Grades 5/4 and Grades 3/2, the Grade 1 and Professional pipers play their selections. These pipers are also required to play pre-selected types of tunes. The performances of the expert pipers serve both as examples to the more junior pipers as to “how” to perform well and also as an example to the audience as to “how” good piping should sound!

The piper’s club is open to all, so if you have friends or family who would like to join us to compete or would even like to start to learn the “Pipes” or the “Drums” we would be happy to hear from you.

Thanks for joining us …

Piper’s Club Time:

A Thousand Welcomes!

Please be ready to play by 1:30 pm. The Indiana Caledonia Pipe Band may play from 1:30 to 1:45 then the solo pipers/drummers will begin.

Piper’s Club Location:

Indiana State Museum (Auditorium) – you may check the ISM website for more details). Click Here to view a map of the Indiana State Museum. We look forward to seeing you there.

Piper’s Club Schedule (2007 – 2008):