Communications with Highland Games on the BCPA circuit
As movement restrictions to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus are being rapidly implemented by governments and health authorities around the world, the impact is significantly affecting decision making by the highland games on our circuit.
In the past week, BCPA has reassured highland games organizers that we will continue to support them in our regular activities, within our restricted ability, as they continue to plan their highland games in the fast changing circumstances.
We have encouraged them to communicate with their Games supporters via their websites and social media channels, as everyone is seeking information to try to make decisions.
We will do our best to bring you timely updates as information changes, while respecting that you are being overwhelmed with updates from other sources in general society that affect your lives.
Follow up from March 14 & 15 online meetings with Pipe Bands Leaders
On March 16, we reported to you the key outcomes from the March 14 & 15 online meetings with music and administrative leaders of competition pipe bands in our region to address the void left by cancellation of competitions.
We can now report on the progress of activities to implement these decisions.
Educational Initiatives
We are launching an online survey where BCPA members can submit piping and drumming educational topics you would like to learn more about.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020BCPAMETS
BCPA Adjudicators have been requested to provide 2 to 5 minute videos to address the requested topics and these videos will be posted on the BCPA YouTube channel ( https://www.youtube.com/bcpipers ) on what would have been the Saturday of the Annual Gathering, April 11.
We encourage you to submit your requested topics by Wednesday March 25 so that the videos can be prepared in time for April 11.
Also, in addition to online individual lessons with your instructor and online group lessons that many bands are arranging to continue their practices, for other live interactive educational sessions, DoJo University, run by former BCPA Open piper and adjudicator Andrew Douglas, is offering free live classes for the next week at https://pipersdojo.lpages.co/corona-free-classes/
Performances
Over the past week, numerous Celtic musicians and pipers have been posting their performances on social media, with hashtag #COVIDCeilidh being the most popular.
We encourage BCPA members to contribute their performances on social media and to also add the hashtag #bcpakeepthemusicgoing as a way of encouraging and supporting players in our region.
Also, over what would have been the Annual Gathering weekend, April 10 & 11 BCPA will be posting a number of archival video and audio recordings from premier BCPA events on the BCPA YouTube channel. Watch for further details.
Performances Assessments
BCPA is very fortunate to have many highland games in our region provide solo piping, drumming, and pipe band competitions through which players and bands receive critiques from qualified adjudicators.
With the cancellation of the Annual Gathering and Victoria Highland Games this year due to the COVID-19 virus situation, for players seeking similar feedback on their performances during this period, we bring to your attention the return of the World Online Piping & Drumming Championships run by Jori Chisholm, a BCPA Open piper and an Annual Gathering sponsor.
https://bagpipelessons.com/competition/
A portion of each entry fee will be donated to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy COVID-19 Response Fund.
Finally, BCPA is continuing to determine options for providing players with performances assessments to aid in their musical development should future highland games this season become cancelled and will provide updates on further developments.
