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2016 Georgetown Highland Games - myself and the Grand Celtic Pipe Band By the Right...Quick March This weekend marked the start of the competitive highland games circuit. As I stood there with the band I wondered what style of leadership would best describe our dynamics. The band world is full of individuals with different levels of involvement, emotion, skill and passion. It is also filled with politics, criticism and judgement by others. While on the field performing and competing we follow strict rules. "By the right" means that you take your cue for position and movement from the person on the right. That person is the Pipe Major. We look to the Pipe Major to tell us when to start, where to walk and how to play during our set or medley. It is a commanding style of leadership due mainly to the military background of this hobby (Goleman, 2000). Do what I say, as I say and when I say it - without any negotiation. In a mass band situation with over 1000 people playing on the field there isn't much room for emergent leaders! Below is a recording of the Glengarry Highland Games mass bands version of Scotland the Brave. Drummers look to the Lead Drummer who takes his cues from the Pipe Major. When we are off the field and practising our music, the leadership style changes to a mixture of pacesetting and coaching. The change in leadership style "off the field" still comes at the direction of the band leaders, however, the way they work with the band changes. Shephard (2014), maker of bagpipes and an authority on band dynamics, shares information on the responsibility of the band members. Figure 1 shows the responsibility that different members have under this dynamic. Figure 1: Pipe Band Leadership Model: Management and Leaders [Shephard (2014)] During practice sessions we see highly motivated and skilled players challenged to maintain or improve through practise, drill work and group play. Those that struggle then benefit from coaching with players who have been asked to take a leadership role (e.g., lead drum, pipe sergeant) and they help with technique, setting up the instruments and providing tips for success. The goal during these sessions is to build a stronger, united team in both skill set and bond. The key becomes having those emergent leaders work with others on the common vision/goal (e.g., a well executed musical set). When this works well we are a band family who work and play hard together. Problems arise when the vision is not the same, or the leadership style drifts towards a more commanding style during non-competition times. In my daily life, as teacher, I play different leadership roles. In my hobby, however, I must remember trust in the vision and follow the leader. References Glengarry Highland Games (2015, August 2). Scotland the Brave [video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYcFIYpz7W4 Goleman, D (2010). Leadership that gets results. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from http://www.exeter.ac.uk/media/universityofexeter/careersandemployability/pdfs/resources/leadership.pdf. Shephard, B (2014) The Successful Pipe major. RTS Seminars. Retrieved from http://www.shepherd-bagpipes.com/pdf/RTS_Seminar_Thesuccessfulpm.pdf
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AuthorI am a teacher in Halton and have spent 12 years dedicated to learning about and working with students who have special learning needs. I have been teaching since 2005. I have 4 kids (2 + 2 step), I play bagpipes, ride a motorcycle and love being outdoors. Archives
August 2017
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