The Ontario School of Piping & Drumming

May be well worth a try for those who find memorization daunting!

Sigh. E doublings. The struggle is real. Thanks Willie! I hope we can get you back to OSPD one day!

Sigh. E doublings. The struggle is real. Thanks Willie! I hope we can get you back to OSPD one day!

How many times have you heard not enough Low G!!

Lets be loud and proud!! Please share and spread the word!

We are sorry to say that due to the circumstances surrounding the covid-19 crisis, we will not be holding OSPD this year. It has been a difficult decision but we feel it is best for our students and instructors. Should things improve in the fall, would anyone be interested in a 2-3 day workshop? We hope you and your families are well. Take good care.

Welcome back Renee! She is coming back for her second year! This is what she has to say: "I loved the world-class instruction and it inspired me to do better and also compete solo. I’m looking forward to further improving my playing and learning everything I can." It will be great to see you again! We can't wait to hear the progress you have made!

Let's be loud and proud!! Please share and spread the word!

Welcome back Renee! She is coming back for her second year! This is what she has to say: "I loved the world-class instruction and it inspired me to do better and also compete solo. Im looking forward to further improving my playing and learning everything I can." It will be great to see you again! We cant wait to hear the progress you have made!

The cards are in!! Soon to be heading your way! Please help us spread the word! How many would you like? Many thanks to Joy Rutherford for all your creative efforts!

The cards are in!! Soon to be heading your way! Please help us spread the word! How many would you like? Many thanks to Joy Rutherford for all your creative efforts!

Welcome to OSPD Leslie! This is her first year with us. This is what she has to say: "Ive wanted to play the bagpipes most of my life and so far, after several years of learning with a very patient instructor, can play the practice chanter and have acquired a set of bagpipes. This is the ultimate opportunity to realize my dream of playing a tune on those bagpipes." We are so excited for you Leslie and so excited for us that we get to be there for your first tune! A big welcome to you!

Welcome to OSPD Leslie! This is her first year with us. This is what she has to say: "I've wanted to play the bagpipes most of my life and so far, after several years of learning with a very patient instructor, can play the practice chanter and have acquired a set of bagpipes. This is the ultimate opportunity to realize my dream of playing a tune on those bagpipes." We are so excited for you Leslie and so excited for us that we get to be there for your first tune! A big welcome to you!

Welcome to OSPD Leslie! This is her first year with us. This is what she has to say: "I've wanted to play the bagpipes most of my life and so far, after several years of learning with a very patient instructor, can play the practice chanter and have acquired a set of bagpipes. This is the ultimate opportunity to realize my dream of playing a tune on those bagpipes." We are so excited for you Leslie and so excited for us that we get to be there for your first tune! A big welcome to you!

Welcome back Jan! Here is what she has to say: "First of all, I love the people who come ... so much expertise, each in their own way. After a long career as a teacher, the camp is the ultimate spiral curriculum for me, and by that I mean, every year I come back, I am playing that much better than the year before, and I always bring with me a new set of questions that I know it’s a safe space to ask and that I will always get answers for. So it’s very personalized instruction for me, too, and there isn’t always time for that at home." It will be another fabulous year Jan!

Welcome back Jan! Here is what she has to say: "First of all, I love the people who come ... so much expertise, each in their own way. After a long career as a teacher, the camp is the ultimate spiral curriculum for me, and by that I mean, every year I come back, I am playing that much better than the year before, and I always bring with me a new set of questions that I know its a safe space to ask and that I will always get answers for. So its very personalized instruction for me, too, and there isnt always time for that at home." It will be another fabulous year Jan!

Welcome back Pat! Here is what Pat has to say: " I went to the OSPD in 2018 and had a blast! The instructors were excellent and always available to help even with little questions or problems. What I loved was the tremendous variety in the ages and experience of all the other students who were there; from high school students all the way up to a lovely lady who was 80+ years of age and who wowed us all when she played her smallpipes! Even though this year's camp is less than... an hour's drive away from my home, I will be staying on site because the days are packed with learning and the evenings are even more packed with fun and friendship. See you in June!" Can't wait to see you Pat!

Registration is open! Register before April 15th and save $50!!

Welcome back Eilidh who is returning to our Gaelic program! OSPD offers both Intermediate and Advanced levels. She said "I really enjoyed the classes with Angus, who made classes challenging and FUN." It will be another great year Eilidh!

Welcome back Pat! Here is what Pat has to say: " I went to the OSPD in 2018 and had a blast! The instructors were excellent and always available to help even with little questions or problems. What I loved was the tremendous variety in the ages and experience of all the other students who were there; from high school students all the way up to a lovely lady who was 80+ years of age and who wowed us all when she played her smallpipes! Even though this years camp is less than... an hours drive away from my home, I will be staying on site because the days are packed with learning and the evenings are even more packed with fun and friendship. See you in June!" Cant wait to see you Pat!

Welcome back to OSPD Lou! This is what he has to say: "I have been coming to the camp for a while now and your line up of world class Instructors / Performers keep calling me back .. plus the friendly atmosphere with the group makes for an enjoyable week Can't wait!!" It will be so great to see you again Lou!

Welcome back Eilidh who is returning to our Gaelic program! OSPD offers both Intermediate and Advanced levels. She said "I really enjoyed the classes with Angus, who made classes challenging and FUN." It will be another great year Eilidh!

Welcome back to OSPD Lou! This is what he has to say: "I have been coming to the camp for a while now and your line up of world class Instructors / Performers keep calling me back .. plus the friendly atmosphere with the group makes for an enjoyable week Cant wait!!" It will be so great to see you again Lou!

Whoa! Registrations are rolling in! Thank you for your patience!

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! This year OSPD will be held at the University of Waterloo campus June 28 - July 3! Hope to see you there! http://ospd.ca/registration/

Exactly, never forget this!! :-D (y) <3

We are SUPER EXCITED to announce that Roddy MacLeod MBE will be joining us at OSPD as an instructor this year! Roddy MacLeod, MBE, is one of the most distinguished and widely accomplished pipers of his generation, and one of Highland pipings most profoundly influential identities. As a soloist, Roddy MacLeod won his first Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in 1986, then the Argyllshire Gathering Gold Medal in 1988. Alongside innumerable successes as a light music competitor,... Roddy MacLeod flourished as a player and interpreter of piobaireachd. He has won the Glenfiddich Piping Championship five times, winning the MSR three times and the piobaireachd event a record ten times, the Silver Chanter seven times, the Northern Meeting Clasp on two occasions, Bi-centenary medal (1988) and Former Winners MSR, the Senior Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering twice and the Former Winner MSR twice. At the Scottish Piping Society of London Championship he has won the Bratach Gorm eight times, the Gillies Cup Open Piobaireachd nine times, the Former Winners London Medallion MSR five times and the Overall Championship eight times. He continues to be a dynamic and exceptionally successful competitor. He is internationally esteemed as a teacher, adjudicator and recitalist. It is Roddy MacLeods love and understanding of the music, and his passion to communicate it, that motivate his devotion to the cause of piping. Roddy has been the principal of the National Piping Centre for 24 years beginning with its inception in 1996. In 2003, he was made a Member of the British Empire in recognition of his services to piping and, in 2004, was awarded the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award for Music. In 2012 Roddy was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Awards Hall of Fame In 2019 he was honoured by the City of Glasgow and awarded the Lord Provosts award. Welcome Roddy!

Hello all! Thank you for your patience! Plans are taking longer than expected but I just want this to be another fabulous year! Everything should be finalized in the next week. Remember dates will be June 28-July 3! Hope to see you there!

We are so excited Doug Stronach will be joining us this year! Doug Stronach is one of North Americas top pipe band players and educators. He is a World Junior Solo Snare Drum Champion, winner of the Scottish, British and European Championships, as well as multiple top-six World Championship finishes with bands both in Scotland and Canada. He was the leading drummer of the Toronto Police and Peel Regional Police Pipe Bands with two Grade 1 North American Drum Corps Awards. ...He recently retired from competition with the six-time World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from Vancouver, BC. He has taught and played throughout the world including Canada, USA, South America, South Africa, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, France, Germany, Sicily and the UK and has authored five books on Pipe Band Drumming including North Americas best-selling beginner tutor book. Doug is an accredited judge and holds the highest level of certificate in drumming from the combined Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, The Army School of Piping and Drumming, and the Institute of Piping, known collectively as the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board. He is a qualified assessor for the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Associations Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board. Welcome back Doug!

Welcome back to OSPD Doug Stronach!! 2020 is going to be the best year yet!

Save the date: OSPD 2020 will be June 28-July 3! Hope to see you there! Details to come!

Calling GTA pipers! Grace church in Markham (Markham Rd N of Hwy 7) is looking for a piper for their Robbie Burns night on Friday, January 24th at 7pm. PM if interested.

People are asking! An update is coming! I promise! Wont be long now!!

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr! Happy New Year from OSPD!

Bliadhna Mhath r! Happy New Year from OSPD!

Sometimes we forget....

I want to thank all who attended OSPD 2019. It was the best year yet! Fabulous instructors and fabulous students who all contributed to making this week such a success. Thank you all for being a part of it and see you next year!

One more sleep!!

Chris hard at work today checking on preparations for school!

We are at Lakefield College School doing our annual walk-through! 9 days to go!!

Countdown is on! 10 days to go!

2 weeks today! Woohoo!!

Hello Gaelic folks! Several days ago Kerrie reached out to me to say she will be unable to join us this year as one of our instructors. She sends her regrets to you all. BUT we have a fabulous instructor all lined up! Please let me introduce you to Nathaniel! Tha Nathaniel Harrington na oileanach dhotaireil ann an Ionad an Litreachais Choimeasaich aig Oilthigh Thoronto. Tha e air a bhith ag ionnsachadh Gidhlig gu neo-fhoirmeil bho chionn barrachd is deich bliadhna agus gu ...foirmeil bho chionn 2012; fhuair e Teisteanas Foghlam rd-re ann an Gidhlig is conaltradh bho Shabhal Mr Ostaig ann an 2015. Tha a chuid rannsachaidh stidhichte air fantasachd is saidheans ficsean bhon latha an-diugh ann an Gidhlig is anns a Bheurla agus air feallsanachd Spinnteach bho thoiseach an 20mh linn (Nathaniel Harrington is a Ph.D. candidate in the Centre for Comparatlve Literature at the University of Toronto. Hes been studying Gaelic informally for over a decade and formally since 2012; he received a Certificate of Higher Education in Gaelic and communication from Sabhal Mr Ostaig in 2015. His research focuses on contemporary fantasy and science fiction in Gaelic and English and early 20th-century Spanish philosophy.)

The countdown is on! It's not too late! Register today!

Registration extended! For those last minute folks the registration deadline has been extended until June 8th! This is your last chance! Dont miss out!

The countdown is on! Its not too late! Register today!

The wait is almost over! 1 month to go!!!

For anyone needing some financial help to make their pipe dreams come true, this is a great opportunity!

Whoa! This year OSPD is welcoming students from: Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, the UK and now the USA! Wow! Look at us grow!

Our fabulous instructor line-up for 2019! Does it get any better than this?