News

The recording window for the Virtual Highland Games is Friday 4th June - Sunday 13th June 2021. Please take time to read All the information below, which includes the rules and clear information on how to record your video submission.
It is key for each competitor to say the words 'The CLASP Virtual Highland Games' at the start of a video introduction and also please note that the Light Music submission should be recorded and emailed as ONE link that is unedited, but can include short breaks between events for tuning and to have a drink (of water!)

Below are the relevant excel links to view competitor lists for each grade, assigned judges for each event and the tunes selected by the judges for grades 1 and 2.

Virtual Highland Games Piobaireachd

Virtual Highland Games- Light Music

*Please note that there are labelled tabs on each excel file for Grades 1, 2, 3 & 4.You may need to scroll along to see all Light Music event tabs. There are eight titled tabs.

Grade 3 Update: The Grade 3, 2/4 March event and Strathspey & Reel event has been split into two heats due to a large number of entries.  A draw was used to randomly split the competitors into two heats. Six names (in no particular order) will be announced from each heat (at the prize giving). These 12 pipers will be judged by a different judge who will decide the final top 6 for both the 2/4 March and the Strathspey & Reel event. League points will only be awarded to the final top six placed competitors.

All video submission links should be sent using You Tube to clasp@thepipingcentre.co.uk by Midnight (UK time) on Sunday 13th June 2021.

Results will be announced on Saturday 26th June at 9pm  (UK time) via video link on the CLASP Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/TheCLASP and results will also be publish on the News section of The CLASP website and on BagpipeNews https://bagpipe.news/

Good luck to you all!

VIDEO Submission Information for Competitors:
Videos should be submitted separately for Light Music and Piobaireachd events.
* One video link should be sent for Light Music and one separate video link should be send for Piobaireachd.
Light Music recordings should include ALL light music events entered.  The video should not be paused once started and can include tuning, short breaks between events to have a drink of water. Video submissions should be uploaded to You Tube and then competitors should email the link(s) to clasp@thepipingcentre.co.uk

Video Introduction (Competitors who do not announce themselves correctly at the start of their video recording can not be accepted for the event(s) entered)
All CLASP competitors should introduce themselves at the start of their video recording and include the following information: Competitors Name/ Grade/Light Music or Piobaireachd event/ Name of Competition and year.  For example: My name is Ann MacDonald and I will be taking part in the Grade 1 Light Music events for the CLASP Virtual Highland Games, 2021.  This information should also be included (typed into description box) when uploading your competition recording(s) on You Tube - Please see instructional video on how to upload a video recorded on your smart phone to YouTube https://youtu.be/t-tDxsafFX8

Competition Rules:

1. PERFORMANCE DRESS
   Highland attire is required
2. VIDEO Submissions - One video link should be sent for Light Music and one separate video link should be send for Piobaireachd.
   Videos should be submitted separately for Light Music and Piobaireachd events. Light Music recordings should include ALL light music events entered. Video submissions should be uploaded to You Tube and then competitors should email the link(s) to clasp@thepipingcentre.co.uk
3. Each video submission must be made in one complete take (no editing allowed), but use as many attempts as you want. For Light music events, competitors can stop between events to retune or have a drink of water.
4. Your videos must be recorded within the recording window
5. All Video submissions must be emailed to CLASP admin (clasp@thepipingcentre.co.uk) by midnight (UK time) on Sunday 13th June 2021.
6. Your video should show most or all of your body, including your head. Your video must be lighted properly so your face and hands can be clearly seen. Videos with poor lighting or sound may not be accepted.
7. Competitors are allowed to tune up prior to starting their performance, just as you would in a regular competition setting.

UPLOADING VIDEO ENTRIES
All entries should be emailed as video submissions using the free platform, You Tube. CLASP admin will share each competitors’ video submission link with their relevant judge for the adjudication process. Please note that The CLASP will provide support and clear steps for competitors uploading video submission. Here is a link to uploading a video using a smart phone https://youtu.be/t-tDxsafFX8

Results from Bagpipe News website:
https://bagpipe.news/2021/03/27/results-clasp-and-lochaber/

Overall Winners links:

Grade 1 - Trevor DeMass (2nd place in Grade 1 Piobaireachd)
https://youtu.be/9NR86gU3UaY

Grade 2 - Hans Grothusen - (2nd place in Light Music events)
https://youtu.be/3ZCw37Y1gDs

Grade 3- Alasdair Beaton (2nd place in Grade 3 Piobaireachd)
https://youtu.be/IcA1lMuHk0o

Event Winners:

Colin MacKenzie - Winner Grade 3 Piobaireachd
https://youtu.be/7stAWPyeAwA

John Nevans - Winner Grade 2 Piobaireachd
https://youtu.be/7dcY66jpluw

Charles-David Mitchell-Winner Grade 1 Piobaireachd https://youtu.be/4FwmJZN_QPk

Benjamin Elliot - Winner Grade 1 - MSR Event
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX77KguEzZA

Stuart Brown- Winner Grade 2 - 2/4 March & S/R
https://youtu.be/XOf_kJRtW1M

Ross Martin - Winner Grade 3 - Strathspey & Reel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glg5K-JrnNQ&t=26s

Anthony Kelly - Winner Grade 3 -2/4 March Event
https://youtu.be/oxZH5MBVBfs

Colin Mackenzie - Winner Grade 3 Jig
https://youtu.be/mIf8aeCLLmc

John Nevans - Winner Grade 2 Jig
https://youtu.be/-eSYvhzzuHw

David MacKenzie - Winner Grade 1 Jig
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IyE68oS0LrY&feature=youtu.be

Two themes: Memorisation and Improvement

As musicians mature in their playing abilities and begin to perform, many will maintain a genuine desire to continuously improve their playing skills. But over time it seems their practice no longer leads to the changes they are striving for. Many players have simply never been taught to practice in a way that causes fundamental changes in the skills related to higher quality playing.

As an existing player, you will have nutted out a method for memorising music. For some, this skill seems easier than for others. Simply because some players have been taught, or stumbled upon, a more efficient strategy, even if they cannot articulate that strategy. In this presentation we’ll explore the strategies that most efficiently lead to memorising tunes. And, doing so in a way that is not only fast, but creates confidence, knowing you KNOW the tune.

Bio

Stephanie Burns, Ph.D.

Stef has devoted much of her career studying human behaviour with a keen focus on all things to do with improving how people learn. Her work is ground-breaking in how we think about what is possible, and students who have used her work have gone on to be much better at whatever they were trying to be better at.

She was asked to apply her understanding of learning effectiveness to help musicians, new and seasoned, to overcome hurdles in both practice and their performances. She is not new to the music or the music teacher scene, but she is relatively new to our pipe band world having done her first presentations for us in early 2014. Her presentations have been delivered numerous times to bands and summer schools in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the U.S. and Germany. She runs annual events for Piping Hot Summer Drummer in BC, Canada. She studies with Steven McWhirter.

Below are the relevant links to view the competitor list, judges and tune selection for each grade and event relating to The CLASP 'March' Video Submission competition.
Please take time to read All the information below, which also includes the rules and clear information on how to record your video submission.
It is key for each competitor to say the word 'March' Competition at the start of the video introduction because we have already ran a competition in 2021. 

*Please note that there are labelled tabs on each excel file for Grades 1, 2 and 3. You may need to scroll along for the Light Music to see all seven event tabs.

CLASP -Piob Comp

CLASP - Light Music

Grade 3 Update: The Grade 3, 2/4 March event and Strathspey & Reel event has been split into two heats due to a large number of entries.  A draw was used to randomly split the competitors into two heats. The top 6 prizes will be announced from each heat (at the prize giving) followed by the final top 6 placings, which will be decided by the two heat judges (Jenny Hazzard and Colin MacLellan). League points will only be awarded to the final top six placed competitors.

All video submission links should be sent using You Tube to Margaret Dunn by Midnight (UK time) on Sunday 21st March 2021-  mdunn@thepipingcentre.co.uk

Results will be announced on Saturday 27th March at 9pm  (UK time) via video link on the CLASP Facebook Page and results will also be publish on the News section of The CLASP website and on https://bagpipe.news/

Good luck to you all! 

VIDEO Submission Information for Competitors:
Videos should be submitted separately for Light Music and Piobaireachd events.
* One video link should be sent for Light Music and one separate video link should be send for Piobaireachd.
Light Music recordings should include ALL light music events entered.  The video should not be paused once started and can include tuning, short breaks between events to have a drink of water. Video submissions should be uploaded to You Tube and then competitors should email the link(s) to mdunn@thepipingcentre.co.uk

Video Introduction (Competitors who do not announce themselves at the start of their recordings can not be accepted)
All CLASP competitors should introduce themselves at the start of their video recording and include the following information: Competitors Name/ Grade/Light Music or Piobaireachd event/ Name of Competition and year. For example: My name is John Smith and I will be taking part in the Grade 3 Light Music events for the CLASP March Competition, 2021.  This information should also be included (typed into description box) when uploading your competition recording(s) on You Tube - Please see instructional video on how to upload a video recorded on your smart phone to YouTube https://youtu.be/t-tDxsafFX8

Competition Rules:

1. PERFORMANCE DRESS
   Highland attire is required
2. VIDEO Submissions - One video link should be sent for Light Music and one separate video link should be send for Piobaireachd.
   Videos should be submitted separately for Light Music and Piobaireachd events. Light Music recordings should include ALL light music events entered. Video submissions should be uploaded to You Tube and then competitors should email the link(s) to mdunn@thepipingcentre.co.uk
3. Each video submission must be made in one complete take (no editing allowed), but use as many attempts as you want. For Light music events, competitors can stop between events to retune or have a drink of water.
4. Your videos must be recorded within the recording window
5. All Video submissions must be emailed to CLASP admin (mdunn@thepipingcentre.co.uk) by midnight (UK time) on Sunday 21st March 2021.
6. Your video should show most or all of your body, including your head. Your video must be lighted properly so your face and hands can be clearly seen. Videos with poor lighting or sound may not be accepted.
7. Competitors are allowed to tune up prior to starting their performance, just as you would in a regular competition setting.

UPLOADING VIDEO ENTRIES
All entries will be video submitted using the free platform, You Tube. CLASP admin will share each competitors’ video submission link with their relevant judge for the adjudication process. Please note that The CLASP will provide support and clear steps for competitors uploading video submission. Here is a link to uploading a video using a smart phone https://youtu.be/t-tDxsafFX8

Grade 1 winning Piobaireachd link: (Karen MacLean)
https://youtu.be/5sE-2wfhJ9c 

Grade 2 winning Piobaireachd link: (Eddie Boland)
https://youtu.be/Lk_dDdCOAis 

Grade 3 winning Piobaireachd link: (Colin MacKenzie)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=hZZH-N4TpEU&feature=share

Grade 1 winning 2/4 March link: (Benjamin Elliot)
ttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1PtD1ftDTGs3bAUq80N-WtbTQA8jFTWHB/view?usp=sharing

Grade 1 winning Strathspey & Reel Link: (Scott Long) 
https://youtu.be/CeivEMdTo9Y

Grade 1 winning 6/8 March (Giovanni Giulianini) https://youtu.be/Zs0GOB6w6Es

Grade 2 winning 2/4 March & Strathspey & Reel (Eddie Boland)
https://youtu.be/vBbDDQ--9K0

Grade 2 winning 6/8 March (Alexander MacKay) 
https://youtu.be/nRoyTtzX09Y

Grade 3 winning 2/4 March (Kim Greeley)https://youtu.be/KfGD9MqE-KE

Grade 3 winning Strathspey & Reel- (Colin Mackenzie)

https://youtu.be/cZfimOIRDRk

Grade 3 winning 6/8 March (Anthony Kelly)

https://youtu.be/vxbaSkJokmc

The league table for 2020/2021 season has now been updated following the January ‘Video Submission’ Competition.
https://theclasp.co.uk/members-area/league-table/

https://bagpipe.news/2021/02/06/clasp-january-competition-results/

CLASP January competition results

Due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, the next CLASP competition will run as a 'Video Submission' competition and competitors should read the competition information and rules below prior to entering this event.

Competition Timeline:
Closing date for registrations- Sunday 7th March 2021
*Grade 2 and Grade 1 competitors should submit tunes by close of entries (7th March 2021) to mdunn@thepipingcentre.co.uk

Announcement of competitors selected tunes (by the judges) and video recording Information will be published on- Friday 12th March- This information will be published on the News Section of The CLASP website.

Competitors Recording Window - 12th March - 21st March 2021.

Deadline for competitors YouTube video links - All YouTube links should be emailed to mdunn@thepipingcentre.co.uk by midnight (UK time) on Sunday 21st March.

Result announcement- Saturday 27th March at 9pm (UK time) via video link on the CLASP Facebook Page and results will also be publish on the News section of The CLASP website and on https://bagpipe.news/

COMPETITION EVENTS:

Grade 3
Piobaireachd Event (Own Choice)
2/4 March Event (Own Choice)
Stathspey & Reel Event (Own Choice)
Jig Event (Own Choice)

Grade 2
Piobaireachd Event (Submit 2 tunes of choice, one will be selected)
2/4 March Event (Submit 2 tunes of choice, one will be selected)
Stathspey & Reel Event (Own Choice)
Jig Event (Own Choice)

Grade 1
Piobaireachd Event - (Submit 3 tunes of choice, one will be selected)
2/4 March, Strathspey & Reel Event - (Submit 2 Marches, Submit 2 Strathspeys, Submit 2 Reels. One of each will be selected) *Please note that this is one event and required to be played as a straight MSR event (Do not stop between the March and Strathspey and Reel).
Jig Event - Own Choice

Competition Rules (For CLASP Remote 'Video Submission' Competition)
CLASP membership rules apply fully for any remote CLASP events
CLASP Grading rules apply fully for any remote CLASP events

Competition Event Rules:
CLASP admin will set out the tune requirements via the CLASP website prior to the opening of competition entries and this information will also be displayed on the competition entry form via the members area of the CLASP website.
CLASP members should enter all remote CLASP competitions via the membership section of the CLASP website, within the advertised registration time frame.

VIDEO Submission Rules
- Competition video submissions should be recorded in the date window outlined by the CLASP
- All entries will be video submitted using the free platform, You Tube.
- Videos should be submitted separately for Light Music and Piobaireachd events.
- One video link only is required for Light Music events and one (separate) video link is required for Piobaireachd.
Light Music events should be recorded in one video take and the recording should not be paused or edited. Competitors can include tuning and can stop between events to retune or drink water, but the video should not be stopped.
- Each video submission must be made in one complete take (no editing allowed), but use as many attempts as you want.
- CLASP competitors should introduce themselves at the start of their video recording and include the following information: Name/ Grade /Light Music or Piobaireachd event/ Name of Competition and year. For example: My name is John Smith and I will be taking part in the Grade 3 Light Music events for the CLASP Competition, 2020. (This information should also be included when uploading your competition recording(s) on You Tube. Please see the video link below, which was recorded by CLASP admin and includes the basic steps to correctly uploading a video privately on YouTube using a smartphone and then emailing the link:
https://youtu.be/t-tDxsafFX8
- For Light music events, competitors can stop between events to re tune or have a drink of water. (But should not stop the video recording until all events entered are complete)
- Competitor's videos should show most or all of the body, including your head. Videos must be lighted properly so your face and hands can be clearly seen. Videos with poor lighting or sound may not be accepted.
- Competitors are allowed to tune up prior to starting their performance and between events, just as you would in a regular competition setting.
- Video submissions should be uploaded to You Tube and then competitors should email the video link(s) to mdunn@thepipingcentre.co.uk by the set deadline.
- CLASP recommends that competitors list their uploaded video submission as 'Unlisted'. 'Unlisted' videos allow you to control who can view your video and only those you share the link with can view the video submission.
- All video submissions must be emailed to CLASP admin by midnight (UK time) on the closing date of video submissions.
- CLASP admin will share each competitors’ video submission link with their relevant judge for the adjudication process.

Adjudication
Once the closing date for video submissions passes, competitor’s videos links will be sent to their relevant judge(s) for the adjudication process.

Announcement of Winners
Winners will be announced in a Facebook video announcement approximately one week following the close of competition video submissions and results will also be posted on the news section of the CLASP website.
Crit sheets will be emailed out to each competitor following the announcement of results. Please allow a few days for this admin process.

Performance Dress
Highland attire is required (unless circumstances prevent due to travel restrictions)

Performance Rights
By entering this competition, all performers give CLASP permission to publish their performances in part and/or in full on the digital/social media channels selected for the competition