You are new to competing at a BCPA event. This page will help you get started. The first thing you should do is obtain a membership in BCPA. This will allow you to compete and waive the non-member fee. This fee is currently $30. This fee would be paid at every competition that you compete at.
The memberships last for one year and are renewed each October for the following year. You can take out an individual membership or a family membership. The family membership can include both competing and non-competing members of the family. If you are under 18 you will take out a junior membership which can be part of a family membership. If you have questions about your membership or difficulties with the process contact membership@bcpipers.org
Membership prices
- Active – $55 – People 18 years and older actively engaged in piping or drumming
- Associate – $55 – People 18 years and older not actively engaged in piping or drumming
- Junior – $39 – People under the age of 18 in October of current year
- Family – $75 – Two or more Active, Associate, or Junior members. Maximum 8 subscriptions
New Youth Competitor
As a new competitor you will have been told which class you are to enter for competition. Pipers will begin in the beginner Piping which is using the practice chanter for your competition. Snare drummers begin in the Beginner Drumming competition on the practice pads and Tenor drummers begin as Beginner Tenor drumming on the practice pad. Each year competitors who have progressed to a point that they should be in a higher grade will be promoted to the new grade. These promotions will be published in September or October of the year.
The grading system is:
- Piping – Beginner, Grade 5, Grade 4, Grade 3, Grade 2, Grade1, Open
- Snare Drumming – Beginner, Grade 4, Grade 3, Grade 2, Grade 1, Open
- Tenor Drumming – Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, Open
- Bands – Grade 5, Grade 4, Grade 3, Grade 2, Grade 1
In each category the Open class is professional. If you are part of a band you may not be graded the same as your band is graded.
Adult New Competitor
As an adult new competitor, you may or may not have an instructor. Instead, you might be associated with a band organization where members are teaching you your instrument. They may or may not have experience competing, so please, review our guidance, and feel free to contact us about the process if you have further questions. If you need help determining how to enter please contact competition help
Drummers have the same grades as young drummers. Pipers have the option of competing as grade 5 or adult to begin. The adult class is for beginners who want to compete only against the older pipers. It often takes older pipers longer to progress than youth. Many older pipers will remain in the adult class. For first time competitors there is a special adult prep class. This is a class that is non-competitive. The adjudicator will evaluate your playing and help you progress. You can only enter this class when you have not competed before and only for the first year. Generally this is a class that you will enter only once.
If you compete in the adult class and wish to be promoted to grade 4 you must make this request of the solo grading committee at solo.grading.leader@bcpipers.org
Preparation for the Competition
When you decide to compete there are rules that you need to become familiar with. Here is a link to the rules.
Your instructor (if you have one) will help you decide on the music you will play for the competition. Here are the links to music requirements
BCPA offers a number of Competitions during the year. Each competition will have an information guide which will tell you which classes are being offered. It also includes information about where the competition is located, what time it starts. You should always check the information guide before you start to register to enter the competition. In the guide it will tell you what date the registration opens. The date you register will help to determine what order you play in a class. Sometimes there is an early bird date. When there is one, the registrations received until this date will be entered in a random order. After the early bird date, all registrations are entered in order and play in the reverse order – first to register plays last.
When you proceed to the registration for the event, most competitions use the BCPA Wild Apricot site which uses your email address as a log in. It is vital that you use only this email address when you enter. This will ensure that the membership information will be correct in your entry. You must fill in all identification information requested. You will have a waiver that you have to agree with and a code of conduct that you must accept. If you are under 19 years of age your parent or guardian must agree to the waiver and their name must be entered. All events will have an Early Random Entry Pool or Early Bird period. This is the first week after registrations open. Any entries received during this period are entered as if they were all received on the first day that registrations open and in a random order. After that period ends all entries are the first person to enter is the last to play on the day.
You will have many things to do before you compete for the first time. Your instructor will have helped you preparing your music. You must play your instrument without music so memorization of the music is very important.
Another thing you have to do is make sure you have highland dress. In order to compete you will see that this is required. At a minimum you must have a kilt, sporran and hose. Footwear is also important, you may not have Ghillie Brogues which is standard footwear but you should have black shoes. Sneakers are not acceptable for highland dress. If you are part of a band organization they will likely help you with your dress.
Make sure your instrument is ready. Maintenance of your instrument is important so you are ready to play. Drummers have to arrange their own piper when competing with a piper. You should practice with your piper.
Approximately one week before the competition BCPA will post an order of Play referred to as the OOP. You should monitor Facebook and the website for updates on the competitions. The order of Play lists each class with the competitors in order. Once the OOP is produced you should verify that your information is correct. It is important that your name is recorded correctly on this report since this is the information that will be used on the day of the event. On the information guide there is a contact email in case there are problems with the registration.
A few days before the competition there will a schedule of events posted. This will give you an approximate time for your event. This schedule will show you the platforms for the competition and the names of the adjudicators and stewards, Each class will be listed with a start and end time. This will give you an indication of the time your classes will start. These times may changes you must be ready to play when your turn arrives.
Competition Day
Before you leave home
Before you leave home make sure you have all the parts of your highland gear. This could include some or all of the following: Glen (hat), shirt, vest, jacket, tie, kilt, sporran, hose, flashes, and shoes.
Check that you have your entire instrument. Even if you are playing the bagpipes you should bring your practice chanter. Make sure you have reeds, blow pipe, chanter, bag covers. Drummers should make sure you have your sticks and pad as well as your drum and drum harness. Pipers, it is a good idea to blow up your pipes and make sure they are working properly before you arrive at the competition.
Arriving at the Competition
On the day of the competition, you must present yourself to the registration desk and obtain your competitor number. Registration generally opens approximately one hour in advance of the first competition time. Generally near or at the registration desk you will also find the OOP posted and the schedule posted.
There will be a number of platforms set up on the day of the competition. Each platform has a steward and adjudicator (judge) assigned to it. Each class will be assigned to one of the platforms. This information is found on the schedule of events. It is your responsibility to advise the stewards for each platform that you are present and ready to play. You should present yourself to each steward. The steward will mark off that you are present and may give you an approximate time to check back.
You should be back at the platform at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start of your event. Check in with the steward again and they will advise you if the class is on time. Stay in the general area of the platform. DO NOT TUNE UP OR PLAY CLOSE TO THE PLATFORM.
The steward will manage the competitors and advise you when you are next up. When it is your turn walk up to the platform, introduce yourself to the adjudicator and tell him/her what you are going to play. Take a deep breath and make sure you are ready to play. The adjudicator is a qualified piper or drummer and is there to assess your playing but to help you learn and improve. It can be scary but they were a beginner once and they will understand your nerves. Try to enjoy your performance.
When you are finished playing, the adjudicator may speak to you about your performance. Listen carefully and do not try to make excuses. The adjudicator is trying to help you improve. Remember to be respectful of the adjudicator.
You have completed your first competition. For information about results use the link below. Check out the Solo Competition Page for additional information.
FAQs
- Does my child need to wear a kilt to compete?
- See Rule 2.10.1 Competitors may be prevented from competing and accepting trophies onstage for not wearing acceptable and properly worn highland dress. Kilt (or trews), shirt, hose and shoes are the minimum requirement. For beginners, dress pants, shirt and shoes (for boys or girls) & skirt, blouse & shoes (for girls) are acceptable.
- How do I know when I am going to compete
- A few days before the competition and posted at the site on the day of the competition there is a schedule which will tell you the approximate time that you are going to compete
- Who are the judges? What are there qualification? Are they BCPA members?
- All the judges, also referred to as adjudicators, have been approved by BCPA or a similar organization. They are past or current high level competitors and/or instructors. Many have also been or currently are band leaders (Pipe Major, Drum Sergeant. They are all members of either BCPA or a similar organization. A list of approved BCPA adjudicators can be found at BCPA Approved Adjudicators
- How do I know how well I did in the competition?
- All competitors will receive adjudication sheets. These are the judges comments about how you performed. In addition to this you will be placed in the ranking for the class that you competed in. You adjudicator will also usually tell you about your performance.
- Can I win prizes?
- For the annual gathering and most highland games, if you place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd you generally will receive a medal. If you place 4th, 5th, or 6th you may receive a certificate. Medals and certificates are given out for one less than the number of competitors – if 3 people compete in a class only two will receive medals, if only one person competes they will receive a medal. For the mini gatherings you receive a certificate.
- What does the grand aggregate mean?
- At every competition except the mini gatherings, all competitors receive points for the placement in the various classes. These are totaled for the year and the person in each grade who has the most points wins a trophy at the end of the year. These results are posted after each competition.