Survey results:
- 1) tell us what you liked about the workshop
- - I liked how Andrew broke down the rhythms of the tunes
- - I liked how everyone helped each other out
- - It was only an hour away for me which for a bagpipe workshop run by a professional is well worth the trip.
- - I liked the comradery, seeing some familiar faces, meeting new ones, all there for bagpipes (and drums)
- - I really liked the openness of Andrew to take questions and share his thoughts. I particularly liked the discussion regarding drones and their reeds. I really wish I could have stayed for the entire discussion as I found his sharing and thoughts very helpful/enlightening. I think everyone benefited from the coaching of Lady Lever and the emphasis of how sharp the "dot-cut" note combinations need to be played. probably can't get too much of that particular instruction.
- - The selected tunes were very enjoyable and challenged me adequately
- - The perspective from an open piper and new instructor helped
- - The venue is perfect for being able to accommodate Pipers and drummers
- - the relaxed & encouraging atmosphere and teaching.
- - meeting the guys from the Mississippi group and seeing how some things are different, but we're still all part of the piping community. It felt like even the experienced players learned something new or heard it e xplained in a way they hadn't thought of before. Even Andrew learned something new he hadn't seen before.
- - just seeing a variety of practice chanters and full bagpipes. I had so many "Wow! I didn't even know that was a thing!" moments.
- - a. Location is great - walking distance to lunch, plenty of space, quiet
- - Ed was really good at managing a very diverse group of students from beginner to not beginner
- - Andrew was a Little quirky but did a good job
- - Ed - Excellent
- - I think that $100-$200 would not be unreasonable for instruction with pipers of Andrew's caliber. The higher end of the range would be more geared towards multiple levels of instruction to allow for maximum benefit for all participants.
- - I really liked the camaraderie and the way people stepped in to help new pipers such as myself.
- - I also liked how Andrew was extremely patient and encouraging in breaking down what seemed at first like a very tough piece .
- - I really appreciated his maintenance talk. It helped me identify a problem with my bag that was making piping more difficult than it needed to be. As a new piper, I was a bit reticent to mess with what seems like a very complicated instrument, but now I have the confidence to better troubleshoot and make adjustments which has greatly made it more fun to practice.
- - I liked how Andrew broke down the rhythms of the tunes
- 2) Tell us what you didn't like
- - I felt like there was too wide of a range of skill level all in one class
- - I would have liked to have had the tunes prepared by attendees at least a little bit before the actual workshop rather than have a blind sight read
- - Andrew needed to be in the middle of the table rather than at one end. I was afraid the newbies weren't getting enough attention
- - It was hard to hear. The acoustics of the room didn't help, but that was really a very small hinderance…. the main problem was the over-eagerness of others to coach, conversate, bang on tables, clap the beat, PLAY CHANTERS, etc. all over Andrew while he's trying to get everyone's attention, trying to tap the tempo/beat for everyone, trying to share his knowledge with everyone. In general, the attendees could have done a much better job of being more considerate to Andrew and to their neighbors around them that are trying to listen to Andrew.
- - didn't necessarily like the vast degrees of experience from a few months of playing to a few decades of experience all in the same "lesson"; particularly the portion of instruction regarding how to play the songs. Of course, it would be more efficient for each group, the newbies and the more intermediate/advanced to be separated and get their own type/level of instruction from the professional but I know that is asking a lot of one person to give essentially multiple seminars to different grades of pipers in one day. There's only so much one should expect….I'm just glad to have had the chance to get Andrew down to South LA.
- - It would have been good to have little more of a heads up as to the actual start time of the seminar vs when the doors open.
- - The experience range was alittle too broad.
- - The entire afternoon went to basic bagpipe maintenance.
- - I think pipers could benefit from a rhythm session with Ed. Could drummers benefit from a piping session? If so maybe breakdown the schedule more to allow the instructors to swap for an hour or 2
- - It would be helpful to have differentiated schedules for beginner drummers vs not beginners, this is doubly true if there is better attendance from other bands who might expect more hands on help from the instructor. Maybe have the first half of the day be dedicated to beginner instruction and the second half for more advanced players.
- - The schedule seemed to break down a little bit and the drummers and pipers never got a chance to play together. That was one of the better parts from last year.
- - Related to the above, it might be helpful to cater lunch to take the most advantage of the instructional time
- - There was nothing in the workshop that I didn't like. I got so much from it. Thank you again for hosting it.
- - I felt like there was too wide of a range of skill level all in one class
- 3) Tell us anything you'd like to see added to next years event.
- - Breakout sessions if possible
- - More playing with drums
- - two instructors, one for beginners, and one for intermediate/advanced so that the later could have the opportunity to get everything they can from the speaker without the instructor having to pull back the reigns in order to give very new pipers basic instruction.
- - I would like to see breakout sessions based on experience
- - I would like to see bagpipe maintenance expanded on next year and not be a complete repeat
- - Some house rules and guidelines set out in the beginning to help with good order and discipline maximizing quality time with the instructors
- - I'm excited to see Patrick again
- - More playing with drums
KOMC is sponsoring the KOMC 2025 pipeband workshop
This year we'll work on a couple of tunes together instead of saying "what do you know? I don't know, what do you know?" The tunes
can be found here...
Andrew Hahn was born and raised in a small town tucked away in the hills of Northern San Diego County. He began piping at twelve,
inspired by his father, Jeff, learning to play a couple years prior.
After a slow start, he launched his competitive career by sweeping Grade 4 solos on his first outing, courtesy of instruction by Campbell Naismith.
Heand his father both joined the House of Scotland Pipe Band around this time, whom they played with at the World Pipe Band Championships in 2014.
Andrew climbed the local competitive ranks, making massive leaps in musical progress through attending the College of Piping summer
school programs (now the Robert McLintock School of Piping and Drumming). Eventually he received national recognition as a young and upcoming piper and
was selected to compete at invitational contests such as the Balmoral and George Sherriff Memorial competition on the east coast of the U.S and Canada.
Andrew has performed with groups such as the San Diego Symphony, the Chieftains, and even the Wicked Tinkers on occasion!
In 2015 he joined the Grade 2 Prince Charles Pipe Band out of San Francisco. In 2017, the band made their way to the Festival Interceltique
de Lorient, then the World Pipe Band Championships in 2018. These two experiences were instrumental in shaping Andrew's understanding of music,
and propelled him toward where he is today.
In 2023 he was invited to join Lincoln Hilton in the ranks of Haileybury Pipes and Drums at the World Championships where the band went on
to become the Grade 3b world champions.
He now tutors the House of Scotland Pipe Band and teaches a growing body of students.
Andrew receives ongoing instruction from Scott Ruscoe.
Private Lessons with Andrew Hahn on pipes:
Ed Best Snare Drumming and Rhythm Instructor - (WUSPBA and EUSPBA Unafilliated)
Ed Best is a qualified, professional educator with over 40 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.
For more information about Ed, please click HERE
Ed is EUSPBA certified in Snare. He is certified by WUSPBA in all aspects of drumming. Ed joined the Drummers Dojo team as their rhythm guru in 2020.
