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The Seaforth Highlanders of Holland |
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How do we meet our objective?
The pipeband is military oriented which is expressed by the military uniform (Seaforth McKenzie regimental tartan, green battledress jacket, military boots and green puttees), the military drill and the historical awareness of the liberation of The Netherlands by the Allied Forces in 1945. We perform at various events such as memorial services, parades, tattoos, beating retreats, veteran gatherings, open days and events for the army, airforce and navy and many more. You can also see us at local events such as flower shows, fairs and private events as weddings and company birthdays. Although we can participate in various events, we prefer tattoos, parades, memorial events and military and veteran events. See band in action for more information about where to see the band or the events we've taken part in.
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Although we work hard to practice tunes, play together and perform on several events the athmosphere within the band is very important to us. We are a very young pipeband, founded in 1999, so that means we are still in a building up period. We aim at quality in piping and drumming in the best way we can do with respect for the regiments that liberated Holland in 1945. We are trying to achieve this by strong teamwork not only within the band but also with other pipebands and groups. We are always looking for pipers and drummers who feel the same. There is no place for ego-trippers within this pipeband. We work together with The Royal Winnipeg Rifles uit Apeldoorn and the Seaforth Highlanders Re-Enactor Group from Bussum. The Seaforth Highlanders of Holland, Memorial Pipes and Drums is a member of The Netherlands Pipe Band Association (Nederlandse Organisatie van Doedelzakbands, NOvDB). We welcome cooperation with similar pipebands from all over the world.
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Training: Where en when?
The band has her regular training on Tuesdays from 19.30 to 22.00 in Amersfoort. Don't hesitate to contact Ruud de Jong for a date. See whereabouts for further details
On Tuesday night the pipers and drummers receive their training. Sometimes there is drill training as well. When necessary, an other day is used for extra training or a workshop
Subscription fee
The subscription fee is 10,00 euro per month. Further down this page you find whatever you need in addition.
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Our instructors
FrankJan de Boone, pipe major/ pipe instructor
FrankJan started his piping career with The 48th Highlanders of Holland Pipes and Drums. In 1999 he was one of the founders of the band and became Pipe Major.
Lodewijk Visser, drumming instructor
Lodewijk started drumming as a ten-year-old boy in a local band. Since then he has been a drumming instructor and drum major for several windbands and malletbands. After a study, he became in 1995 a member of the Dutch Association for Bandmasters and Conductors (BVO Bond van Orkestdirigenten). At present Lodewijk is still teaching drumming at several bands including this band.
Ruud de Jong, chief steward
Ruud joined the band in the autumn of 1999 and is responsible for military drill in our band. And not without a reason! He is an officer in the Netherlands Army and was involved in the army's national committee for army drill and army ceremony.
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How much time is needed to become a piper or a drummer?
Every (apprentice-)piper starts with the practise chanter (not with the bagpipe itself!) and every (apprentice-)drummer starts with the practise pad (not with the drum itself!). One of the most important principles of the instruction by our instructors is that an apprentice must be able to play correctly on a practise chanter or a practise pad before he can actually play the bagpipe or the drum. Please don't think that you can play the bagpipe or the drum within two months after becoming a member of a pipe band. Playing the Scottish highland bagpipe, or playing the drum the Scottish way, is reasonably difficult, but definitely not impossible! It takes an average of two years to independently play some tunes on a bagpipe or drum. Our instructors are eager to tell you more about this subject. See whereabouts in order to contact one of them.
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What more do you need?
Of course, if you decide to join our pipeband, we will render every assistance in order to find a good instrument for practising. For the apprentice piper this means that an own practise chanter (the piper's practising instrument) has to be bought. For the apprentice drummer an own set of drumming sticks and a practise pad (practising drumming pad) must be bought.
In our band all instruments are bought through the band, in co-operation with the pipe major, and drum major. The choice of the material is very important for the quality of the sound during a performance by the band.
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The uniform is taken care of by the band. When you are considered fit to perform with the band, you will be supplied with a kilt, a battle dress, etc., everything in the 1945 uniform style. However, some equipment remains to be bought by you, namely the so-called "close to the body items". For our uniform these are the glengary, army boots, green army socks and the khaki shirt. Of course these items become your property, if ever you might leave the band.
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Would you like to have more information?
Please contact our secretary in order to meet us on a Tuesday evening (see page whereabouts) or E-mail us at:mailto:info@seaforth.nl
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