Friends of the Pipers’ Gathering,
First, a reminder that pre-registration for the Gathering closes on July 18th. After July 18th, registration will be at the gate. Be sure to register early, as we have some special plans for our 10th anniversary event. Here’s a preview of what’s been added to our regular attractions:
Ian Lawther will be joining us not only as an instructor but also as the proprietor of Bagpipediscs.com, carrying a very wide catalog of discs from around the world, making it easier to obtain the recordings you want and to explore the ones you did not know existed yet.
Ian can’t bring the whole store, so if you want him to bring a particular CD or DVD, browse his catalog (http://www.bagpipediscs.com) and write Ian with your requests at bagpipediscs@bagpipediscs.com.
ZAMPOGNA WORKSHOP
Charlie Rutan will be giving a workshop on the Zampogna, the Italian bagpipe. This will be an in-depth look at this ancient, unique family of bagpipe endemic to the peninsula and its amazing revivial in the late 20th century. Italian language skills not necessary. You may even get to try your hand on Zampogna!
PERFORMANCE ANXIETY WORKSHOP
We have a fascinating workshop planned for those of you interested in conquering performance anxiety.
Many of you know Kathleen Pew as the proprietor of Monroe Bridge Books, and a frequent and popular Pipers’ Gathering vendor. What you may not know is that Kathleen is also a registered certified hypnotherapist, as well as a highland piper of competition standard.
In response to our “Stage Fright - Get Over It” workshop last year, Kathleen has volunteered to do a workshop on Managing Performance Anxiety. This will be an actual hypnosis session. Participants should bring to the session items that will alllow them to be comfortable laying down. Pads, lawn chairs, pillows, blanket if they want - whatever it takes.
The session will run 2 to 2-1/2 hours. The first half of the session will be discussing what hypnosis is and isn’t, that people are not “konked out” but rather very aware of what’s going on in the room the whole time. Nobody will be clucking like a chicken, as this is not stage hypnosis.
Kathleen will talk about what participant’s concerns are regarding stage fright, and how they WOULD like to feel while performing on stage. So people can even come with a list if they want, of “what they do want for themselves” around performing. How they “do want to feel, act, sound etc.” Then she will compile all the comments, and tailor the session to those present.
Kathleen has conducted this workshop at a number of venues, including the Castleton Highland Piping School.
We are scheduling this workshop for Sunday afternoon so that participants will have the opportunity to perform in Monday’s “Stage Fright - Get Over It” open mike.
If you are interested in participating in Kathleen’s workshop, send an email with “Performance Anxiety Workshop” in the subject to registration@pipersgathering.org . Please include your name in the body of the message.
SEAMUS ENNIS TUNE BOOK
Participant James Van Fleet is negotiating with one of our vendors, trying to get them to stock the big Seamus Ennis tune book by Pat Mitchell, published by Na Piobairi Uilleann. Ordering a single copy direct from NPU in Ireland is fairly runious right now given the weak dollar and high shipping cost. If the vendor can order multiple copies, there may be some savings on the shipping costs.
If you are planning on attending the Gathering and would definitely purchase a copy of this book if it were available on the vendors table, please contact James Van Fleet at vanfleet@bucknell.edu by this Friday, June 20th.
That’s it for the June update. We’ll check in again in mid-July as the event date nears.
The Pipers’ Gathering, Inc., presenter of The Pipers’ Gathering, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Vermont. Our mission is to promote the music and playing of bagpipes in all their forms through workshops, education, social and cultural endeavors.
The Pipers’ Gathering is sponsored in part by a grant from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, and by contributions from people like you. Tax-deductible contributions are gratefully accepted by Mark Stayton, Treasurer, The Pipers’ Gathering, Inc., 97 N. 3rd Ave., Royersford PA 19468.
Thank you for your continued interest and support,
The Board of Directors of The Pipers’ Gathering, Inc:
Rick Damon, Chairman
Bill Gority, Board Member
Dawn Littlepage, Secretary
Richard Shuttleworth, Board Member
Judy Stayton, Board Member
Mark Stayton, Treasurer