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Alastair Burgess
Snare
My grandfather, Bruce Grant, was one of the first members of the Strath James Pipe Band. After they broke up, many of the members of Strath James came to GRPD. Then a few years ago, my father joined GRPD as a piper, so when I wanted to join a pipe band, I decided to come to GRPD with my father.
My entire family is into this stuff, my Mother is dance teacher, and now a tenor drummer on the band. My father is a piper and has been since his teens. My sister is a top level dancer, and my brother is learning to dance.
As a 1st chair symphonic drummer in my school band, a set player in jazz band, and having experience with a variety of instruments, including guitar and piano, it was a lot of fun to take on the challenge to get on the snare corps for GRPD. I have studied Scottish snare drumming under Blair Brown,Graham Brown and am currently taking regular lessons with Eric Macneill, the Drum Sergeant of Oran Mor, a grade I band. My first competition was the Virginia Scottish Festival, on the tenor drum. I competed on the tenor with the Grade V band for two competitions and had my first time on snare with the band at the Meadow Highland Games. I competed in solo tenor in the 2009 season, and I compete solo as a grade IV snare.
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