Instructors

Major (Retired) Bruce Hitchings MBE BEM of Edinburgh, Scotland

Bruce is the Principal and head instructor of the United States School of Piping. He was born in Hunterville, New Zealand, and started playing the pipes at the age of nine. By the time he was sixteen he was playing with the New Zealand Champions – The City of Wellington Pipe Band.

Bruce joined the Black Watch Territorial Army as a Piper in 1977. In 1978 he enlisted as a regular into the Queen’s Own Highlanders. The following year he won the Silver Medal for Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering. While competing at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban and the Northern Meetings at Inverness, Bruce won numerous prizes including 2nd in the March and Strathspey/Reel in 1980. He continued to compete successfully around the Highland Games when his Army career permitted. He attended the Pipe Major’s course at Edinburgh Castle in 1980-81 and received on-going instruction from Captain Andrew Pitkeathly and Pipe Major Angus MacDonald MBE.

In 1986 he became the Battalion Pipe Major, a position he held for six years. During this time was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM). The last eight years of his military career was spent in the post of WO1 Pipe Major, the Senior Pipe Major, British Army, and Chief Instructor at The Army School of Piping. His main responsibility during this period was the teaching of the future Pipe Majors for the British Army. In 2000, he was awarded the Member of British Empire Medal (MBE) for services to Army piping.

When he completed regular service, Bruce was commissioned into the Territorial Army with responsibility for the development of piping within the Reserve and Cadet Forces. After a total of 33 years service, he finally resigned his commission (Major) in 2011. Bruce is held in the highest esteem in military and piping circles.

Bruce set up the highly successful Highland Reeds company in 2000 and has developed new piping products with an aim to simplify the science of piping. His Balance Tone Drone Reeds and range of moisture systems are popular with pipers the world over for both their simplicity and effectiveness. He continues to work on innovative products to make the life of the piper easier.

Throughout his career Bruce played at many prestigious events for both the British Royalty and foreign dignitaries. He remains in demand as a piper through teaching and running schools and workshops in the U.S., Germany, Austria and France on a regular basis. Bruce also judges internationally and many of the Scottish Senior competitions, including the Silver Medal at the Northern Meetings 2013. He gives recitals in places as far afield as China, New Zealand and the USA.

In 2012 Bruce was appointed as a Board Member of the College of Piping and as a member of the Piping Committee for the Northern Meeting Piping Competition. He continues to be a Senior Examiner for the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) / Pipe & Drums Qualifications Board (PDQB)

Ed Best

He's a qualified, professional educator with over 30 years of successful pipe band experience and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. He has held many band and solo titles in all grades including North American Champion, East Coast Champion Supreme, Ontario Champion Supreme, West Coast Champion of Champions, and Canadian Champion. Ed also spent 10 years as a School Music Teacher in all grades from Elementary through the University level.

Ed has competed in, and placed at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in many grades up to and including Grade I.

Ed is active as an adjudicator at Highland Games throughout the United States. He is an “A” panel drumming and ensemble judge in the WUSPBA and a drumming judge in the EUSPBA. He also serves on the Music Board of WUSPBA, where his primary functions are grading of bands and soloists and Adjudicator training/education and certification. He recorded a DVD for adjudicator training, available to the general public here http://www.wuspba.org.

Ed is a regular instructor for bands and schools across the country. He provides instruction to the drummers, helps with music composition and arranging. He also provides instruction in band ensemble. His individual students and bands regularly appear in the prize lists at highland games across the country. Ed understands that everyone is different and has different strengths and goals. He works hard to be sure that your needs are met. He has experience teaching ages 4 through 80.

Kenny Macleod

P/M Kenny Macleod is from Glasgow but now living in Ayrshire. He is a founding partner and sales director of McCallum Bagpipes in Kilmarnock. The company was started by Kenny and Stuart McCallum in 1998 and has grown to be the biggest and most popular manufacturer in the world during that time. Every year Kenny and his partner donate a set of bagpipes that is raffled off to a student at the school.
Kenny started piping with Uddingston Juveniles then joined the Glasgow Skye Association under his brother Donald in grade one. The band was started by his father Jimmy in 1968. When his brother stepped down due to work and family commitments he was P/M in grade one from 1988 to 1994, he then moved to live in Los Angeles and played with both Los Angeles Police and Los Angeles Scots. A really great time in his life.
Kenny was back as P/M of the Glasgow Skye in grade two from 2011 to 2014 and he’s just taken over as P/M again this year, the band has been off the road since 2019,so is rebuilding fast. Kenny has also played for the Royal Burgh of Annan, Scottish Power and Glasgow Police Pipe Bands.
Kenny won the Strachan Memorial march, strathspey and reel at the Highland Society of London’s contest and won the MacCrimmon Trophy in Lorient Brittany as well as various prizes round the solo circuit in the late eighties and early nineties. Kenny is also a member of the Highland Club and is a member of the solo piping judges association.

Dixie Ingram of Aberdeen, Scotland

Dixie started piping at age 9, joined the Scots Guards as a boy piper at 15, began his Pipe Major's Course at Edinburgh Castle at 22 and upon completion, returned to his Regiment, the 1st Battalion Scots Guards. In 1966 he began solo competitions and in 1969 became Pipe Sergeant of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, asking the Scottish Pipe Band Assoc. for the band's permission to compete and giving birth to the Regular Army Pipe Bands on the competition circuit. In 1976 they won the World Championship Grade II and were promoted to Grade I. He was the Chief Instructor to the Guards Depot Piping School in 1979, training Pipers and Drummers for Scots and Irish Guards and from 1981-84 they won all five major championships in Grade III. In 1985, he was commissioned as the Transport Officer of the 1st Bn Scots Guards, severing ties with the band and eventually joining the Caledonian Airways Pipe Band (now Scottish Power) where he instructed the southern half of the band at Gatwick. Since obtaining his qualifications to judge he has served on all panels for over 20 years judging in all Grades at the major championships. He is currently teaching piping to 50 students at 10 schools who range in ages from 8 - 18 years of age. His accomplishments as an instructor are second to none and he is a highly sought after tutor of the bagpipe.

Aaron Shaw of Los Angeles, California

Although most people know Aaron as the piper with the Wicked Tinkers, Aaron has an extensive resume as a competitor, both in solo and band piping. He’s a judge with WUSPBA and, in addition to his many private students, also teaches at piping summer schools and seminars around the country. Aaron makes his living as a piper, performing extensively at private events as well as on TV and film. He’s also recorded with a wide range of other artists. Aaron began piping in 1976. He began attending the College of Piping Summer Schools in 1982, becoming a teacher there in 1996. He studied in Scotland with P/M Angus MacDonald and Angus J. MacLellan.

Some of the piping awards that Aaron has won include the Strachan Trophy for A Grade MSR in London 1998, the James Naismith Memorial Targe for Professional MSR at the San Diego Highland Games 1997 and 1999, the John MacPhee Trophy for Top Grade One Piper, Monterey Highland Games, 1994-96, the Silver Chanter for Top Grade One Piper, Costa Mesa Highland Games, 1997, the Amateur Grade One Aggregate Winner, Queen Mary Highland Games, 1997, the Capt. William Mossie Trophy for Piobaireachd, Monterey Highland Games, 1994-96, and the Jim Thomson Memorial Trophy and Scholarship, Costa Mesa Highland Games, 1995 and 1997.

Aaron has been a WUSPBA Piping Judge since 2000. He is a founding member of Wicked Tinkers and Forest for the Trees. He was a piper with the Los Angeles Police Pipe Band, Grade 2 from 1994-2000. Some of his other accomplishments include study in Scotland at the College of Piping and Piping Centre, Glasgow, certificates in Senior Piping and Teaching from the Institute of Piping, Scotland, and a Level 6 Certificate from the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board.

Aaron teaches annually at the College of Piping summer school (Carlsbad, California), the Jim Thomson U.S. School of Piping (Flagstaff, AZ) and the Monterey Bay School of Piping (Monterey, CA).

Some of his selected credits for television, film, and recording include “American Idol,” “The Fugitive” (sound track), “So I Married an Axe Murderer,” “The Big Tease,” (on-screen appearance), “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” ( Musical guest for Emmy nominated episode), “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” (on-screen appearance), “The Drew Carey Show,” (on-screen appearance) and “Friends.” (recording and training for cast member)

The Wicked Tinkers have recorded six CDs, including "Wicked Tinkers, “Hammered,” “Loud,” “Banger for Breakfast,” “Whisky Supper,” “Rant," along with two tapes, "Brutal” & “Banned"

Gordon Brown of Scotland

Gordon was born in Whitburn, West Lothian, and showed a keen interest in drumming from an early age. His father, Drum Major Tom Brown, instructed him in those early years. In November 1976 he joined the Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Novice Juvenile Band.

In February 1977, Gordon placed 6th in the Juvenile Section of the World Solo Drumming Championship. That season, Gordon and the Novice Corps went on to win the Drumming in the five Major Championships.

In 1978, the Grade 3 Adult Band was upgraded to Grade 2 and Gordon became a member of the Drum Corps under the leadership of his father. During the seasons of 1978 and 1979, the Grade 2 Drummers gained about every major championship-Drumming award. On the solo side, Gordon won The World Juvenile Solo Drumming titles in 1980 and 1981.

Gordon began teaching at his dad’s famous “Tuesday Night Drumming Class” in Whitburn. It is interesting to note that just about every drummer during that time with the Boghall Grade 1 Band came through Tom’s famous school.

Gordon and the Boghall Band were promoted to Grade 1 Status in 1980. In their first season, they won the Cowal Drumming Championship. The next three seasons saw them lift a fine hat trick of World Drum Corps Championships; 1981, 82 and 83, and 86. One of the proudest moments and memories for Gordon and the Boghall Drum Corps was being the First Drum Corps to win the “Alex Duthart Memorial Trophy” for the Grade 1 Champion of Champions Drum Corps. Boghall’s Novice and Juvenile Corps also won the title in their respective grades that season.

Gordon began instructing the Novice and the Juvenile Drum Corps within the band, winning many major drumming awards through the 80’s and 90’s. The most recent wins with the Juvenile Corps were the World Drum Corps Titles in 2009 and 2010, and The British Title 2011.

In 1991, Gordon took over as Leading Drummer of the Grade 1 Corps from his dad and he won his first Major Drumming Award as Leading Drummer, winning the European Drumming Title. Gordon has won the Scottish, British, European and Cowal Championships with both the Corps and as a Band, as well as winning The Best Drum Corps and Bass Section at the 2001 World Championships. Recent title wins include the Champion of Champions Drum Corps Prizes in 2007 and 2010. The Corps also gained first place in the British, European, Cowal and the Worlds (MSR & Medley) in 2012, making them Champion of Champions Drum Corps.
Gordon was also named "2012 Drummer of the Year" in the 10th Annual Pipes / Drums Honour's List.
In 1994 Gordon’s won 1st place in the World Solo Drumming Championship, fulfilling a life-long dream. Gordon won 1st place again in the 2002 event.

Gordon has followed his father’s footsteps by teaching. He has taught throughout the UK, Europe, South Africa, the United States and Canada. With his achievements as a solo player and as leading drummer of the Grade 1 corps, he is sought all over the World for teaching workshops and seminars. He continues to teach the Juvenile Drummers in the Band.
He unselfishly continues to pass on what he regards as a Noble Art, especially to youngsters, to make them the Drummers of the future. Gordon has about ten (10) young players who have advanced through the Novice and Juvenile ranks and achieved Grade1 status over the past 4 – 5 years.

Another personal goal is to win the World Championship with the Boghall Band.

Gordon is a fully qualified Trainer/Assessor (SVQ D32, C25). He currently instructs at the Glenalmond College and Morrison’s Academy, both in Perthshire.

Gordon and his father own and operate TG Drumming (www.tgdrumming.net), a drumming supply business, which includes their own T.G. & Tom Brown branded product line. He is also heavily involved in product development with Andante Percussion (www.andantedrums.co.uk) and is an endorsee of their Andante Drum Range. Gordon also works with Drumming on Demand (www.drummingondemand.com), a website with Drum Manuscript down-loads and access to instructional videos.