Uist & Barra Online Streaming...Am I Dreaming??!

As you may or may not know, the Glasgow Uist & Barra Association sponsors a competition each year in March, now held at the College of Piping in Glasgow. Some of Scotland's (and the world's) top players are invited to participate in a piobaireachd, MSR, and Hornpipe and Jig competition. The full results are listed at: https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/uist-barra-attracts-rich-roster-of-solo-piping-elite/



This year, the event was streamed live over the internet, and is now available to watch on demand at the following link: http://www.collegeofpiping.org/glasgow-uist-and-barra-association-annual-invitational-competition-update/

First of all, this is fantastic that events such as this are being streamed, and for those who don't want to wake up at 3 AM Eastern US time to watch live, it offers an opportunity to hear what some of the world's top solo players are playing, and how they're playing it. What an incredible learning tool these streamed events can be for new and experienced players alike! Personally, it makes me wonder how much it costs to stream and record these events and whether it couldn't be done more?

Events that are usually streamed nowadays (that I can think of):
-Uist & Barra
-Winter Storm in Kansas City
-The World Pipe Band Championship
-The Glenfiddich

Events that (I'm pretty sure) aren't streamed but should be:
-B.C. Indoor
-Maxville Gold Medal/Former Winners
-Oban Silver/Gold/Former Winners
-Inverness Silver/Gold/Clasp
-London, England (Bratach Gorm etc.)
-The odd pipe band competition -- Maxville, Europeans etc.


Again, I'm not sure how much it costs to have a single camera/microphone set up. But, as long as a person on the competition committee has a decent camera and an internet connection, I don't see why some of these additional events couldn't be streamed. It doesn't have to be a fancy set up. Take the Uist & Barr video: an unchanged camera angle, no fancy graphics, no maintenance, no hassle! We don't need to have a host designated to making comments and introducing the players with story after story of their playing history etc. Just a decent camera angle and suitable microphone will do!

Secondly, if you read this please watch Callum Beaumont's tune up for his MSR on the above linked video. He plays a slow air (I'm not sure of the name) that the crowd sings along to! I've never heard of this type of thing happening at a competition, and quite frankly it brought chills to my spine. Wouldn't it be neat to tune up like that all the time? That type of imminent adrenaline rush would really get you to put your best foot forward, so to speak! Clearly it worked for Callum. Although he didn't get a prize, I thought his MSR was really well played.

Well that's all for now folks. Lesson 1: streamed events are good for everyone...everywhere...ever. Lesson 2: play a slow air or song to get the crowd going and you'll always get a nice applause when you're done!!