Piping Competitions

The Middle Tennessee Highland Games offers a full slate of solo piping, drumming and pipe band competitions. Spectators are strongly encouraged to watch any of these competitions.

Competitions take place in the designated Piping & Drumming area of the park.

Solo Piping Competition

 Solo Pipers will compete in piobaireachd (pronounced pea-brook) competitions. Piobaireachd is the original classical form of bagpipe music. The tune begins with a simple melody called the ground. The tune then builds from there to more complex musical movements through each variation to culminate in a flourish of very technical movements. Pipers also perform what is called the light music or Ceol Beg in Gaelic. This consists of Marches and Strathspeys and Reels (the latter of which are dance tunes). Competitors are judged on the ability to stay in tune, play with precision and expression and keep proper timing.

Solo Drumming Competition

Drummers compete with sets of March and Strathspey and Reel along with Hornpipes and Jigs. What tunes they perform is determined by which grad the compete in. They are normally accompanied by a solo piper to help provide musical contest. Drummers are judge by their musicality, dynamics, precision, and time keeping.

Pipe Band Competition

The Middle Tennessee Highland Games offers three levels of Band Competition. Grade V (the entry level), Grade IV and Grade III. Bands will compete in a marked circle on the competition field and will play a medley of Marches, Strathspeys and Reels, as well as standard March sets. Bands are judged on musicality proper starts and stops the ability to stay in tune unison and ability to keep correct time.