Self Grading Here is The National Piping Centre’s Level Guide. You can use this to evaluate your level of playing in order to register for the correct class. Students will progress to the next level when they can complete all of the tasks listed at each level to a good standard. Our teaching staff will either endorse your grading or redirect you to an appropriate level at the initial stages of the term. Also, students may be ready to move to a higher level during a term and this can also be facilitated. Beginner
Level 2
Completely new to the chanter.
Exercises
Little or no prior knowledge of reading piping music.
On the practice chanter: All doublings (Low G to High A), from any note of the scale Throw on D from each note of the scale
Level 1 Exercises The scale The scale to F with a G gracenote
Grips (including Grips with a B gracenote) Birl and Birl with a G gracenote from each note of the scale Taorluaths to Low A from each note of the scale (including Taorluaths from D with a B gracenote)
The scale to C with a D gracenote
Tachums
The scale to D with a E gracenote
C doublings to Low A and B doublings to
G, D, E gracenote groupings
Low G with E gracenote as used in
All strikes
Strathspey playing (Round movement)
Thumb or High A gracenote
Basic monotone exercises in Simple and
The Throw on D from Low A
Compound Time
Doublings on High A, High G, F, E, D, C
On the practice chanter/bagpipe:
and B from Low A
Tunes
Basic monotone exercises in simple time
2 parts of a Slow Air
Tunes
2 parts of a March in 3/4 or 4/4 Time
Two tunes played from memory.
2 parts of a March in 6/8 or 9/8 Time 2 parts of a Strathspey 2 parts of a Reel