THE VERDICT: TWO WEEKS ARE BETTER THAN ONE!

Over the years we received many requests to expand what the school offers, and last year we added a second week to accommodate more programs and opportunities for all students. The result was an amazing two weeks for both students and staff. 

People told us they especially enjoyed the varied experiences of each week. Students attending for two weeks receive a substantial discount on both tuition AND hotel accommodations at the Silver Star Club Resort.

Registering for Week 2 allows students to have more personal, one-on-one instruction, and to focus on numerous specialty areas, such as Piobaireachd, Tuning, Smallpipes, National Dances and other forms of percussion. Music packages and instructors will vary each week, and no matter which week you come, you’ll have top-level instruction with Jack Lee, Reid Maxwell, Colleen Rintamaki, and members of the 2008 World Champion SFU Pipe Band!

GREAT INSTRUCTION

Jack Lee • J. Reid Maxwell • Colleen Rintamaki
PHSD has an amazing teaching staff, and this shows in every aspect of the school. We make the most of each hour at PHSD—whether in classes, workshops, individual lessons, or in the coffee shop. Combine that with inspirational music and dance performances, the legendary water fight, kitchen piping, magic shows, or just soaking in the hot tub atop the mountain village—and you’ve got a school experience you won’t find anywhere else!

We are excited to have current World Champion Pipe-Major Terry Lee back this year, and also the exceptional Donald Lindsay on the piping staff, and D-M Eric MacNeill leading the drum-major course. There isn’t a more dedicated team of people than the world-class players and dance instructors that Jack and Reid assemble for PHSD. Each year, some of the World’s best and most consistent solo and band competitors line up to teach classes at all levels, and the results are always great! Students are overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the quality of instruction they receive at PHSD!

PHSD SCHOLARSHIPS
PHSD offers a number of full or partial scholarships to students at the school. To apply for a PHSD scholarship, please write a letter or email PHSD telling us about your piping/drumming experience, why you would like a scholarship, and how you hope that your PHSD experience will benefit you or your band.

Letters can be mailed to:
Piping Hot Summer Drummer
#1 - 3354 Horn Street
Abbotsford, BC V2S 7L3
or e-mailed to phsd@sfupipeband.com

The deadline for scholarship applications is May 1, 2009.

TEACHING PROGRAM: WHAT TO EXPECT

All participants receive over six hours of formal instruction each day. Structured according to skill level and interest, music classes cover basic to advanced exercises, practice technique for solo players and bands, instrument maintenance and tuning. There is discussion of everything from music theory and composition to dress and deportment.

As always, the school has instructors on hand for the needs and pace of beginners.

Piping, Drumming and Drum Major Information

Highland Dancing information

Evening Workshops – Special Pass for Non-Students

Formal classes end at 5:00 p.m., and we offer many terrific evening workshops to complement your daily studies. Evening classes include sessions for smallpipes, whistles, step-dancing, canntaireachd, Highland dance for pipe band musicians and great lectures and Q&A with some of the world’s best pipe band and solo musicians!

All evening sessions are open to friends and family, as well as registered students. All proceeds from these events and the ceilidh go to the PHSD scholarship fund.

Personal Instruction


While at PHSD, you will be able to work on solo competition tunes and scores, learning new tunes or steps, or just getting advice on any aspect of your piping, drumming or dancing. There are spots available each day for private lessons with our instructors. Pipers also get the chance to be “adjudicated” each day in a relaxed setting.

Inspiration: Recital and Ceilidh

Tickets to the Sunday concerts are part of the student package for each week, and you’ll experience some of the world’s premier, prize-winning soloists on pipes and drums, the World’s best Highland dancer, and five-time World Champions, SFU Pipe Band. On Thursday night—it’s your turn! The student ceilidh is always a highlight of the school. This is followed by an informal session that highlights the extraordinary talents of students and instructors.

Massed Band

PHSD students march through Silver Star Mountain Village in a spectacular massed band to provide a fitting end to each week, and they are joined by the Highland dancers for a performance that is enjoyed by everyone on the mountain, and for miles around!