Stow College: Music and Creative Industries Department / The College of Piping

HNC Professional Bagpiping

1. Introduction

Stow College and The College of Piping in Glasgow have collaborated in the design of a new course - Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Professional Bagpiping. The award has been validated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
The expertise in education and training of both centres has led to the design of a professional qualification which has, even before validation, already created a level of interest with perspective candidates.
The course will be delivered by staff of both Stow College and The College of Piping, making use of the experience and specialist ability of both centres.

2. Purpose of the Award

The HNC in Professional Bagpiping is a vocational award designed to raise the employability of candidates upon completion. Although the main theme of the course will be bagpipe performance, the course will also contain other crucial skills which be required for professional musicians, for example presentation, organising self employment and communication.

3. Structure of the Award

The award of HNC in Professional Bagpiping will be made upon completion of 15 Higher National Credits, where 1 credit is equivalent to 40 hours of study. The course will be made up of Core and Optional Units. All Core Units and mandatory, and options will be completed to make up the 15 required credits.
The table below shows the subjects which comprise the course. Category (CAT) A units are core and category B are options. The Value (VAL) column shows the credit value of each unit.

WORKING TITLE CAT VAL OVERVIEW
Performance Bagpiping 1 A 2 · SQA 7593207-Foundation
Performance Bagpiping 2 A 2 · SQA 7593217-Intermediate
Performance Bagpiping 3 A 2 · Professional perf./tuning
Software Tools for Musicians A 2 · General IT.· Recording/Arranging/Scoring Software. · Internet/Email.
Second Instrument: Level 1 A 1 · Achieving a foundation level of performance in a chosen second instrument.
Freelance Working A 1 · Study of chosen vocational area.· Self-presentation.· Financial issues, taxation etc.
Bellows Piping A 1 · Study and performance on and of lowland pipes and lowland smallpipes and their music

Composing and Arranging B 2 · Analysis of Music Styles.· Instrumentation.· Composition.
Use of the Recording Studio B 2 · Overview of Recording Protocol.· The Project Studio.
A Foreign Language B 1 · Option of French, Spanish, German or Gaelic.
Second Instrument: Level 2 B 1 · Achieving an intermediate level of performance in a chosen second instrument.
Project B 2 · A composition or· A performance or· A recording.
Reed making. B 1 · Skills training in manufacture of chanter and drone reeds for great Highland and Scottish bellows pipes
Alternative Pipes B 1 · Study and appreciation of bagpipes of other countries e.g. Ireland, Galician (Spain), France, Italy, Belgium

4. Methods of Study

It is envisaged that the most popular methods will be either full time or part time and it is the intention of both centres to offer the course on both methods. However, there is a commitment by both centre's to investigate the possibility of completing the course on a distance learning basis. This will open the course to the widest possible audience and will allow completion of the course by credit accumulation.

5. Accreditation of Previous Experience

Applicants for the course who can demonstrate appropriate, achieved competence in areas which are featured in the course can be granted a pass award in relevant units within the course. For example, applicants who have already passed Piping Institute exams at the appropriate level can be granted pass awards in the piping units within the course.

6. Entry Requirements

Applicants will have achieved Institute of Piping exams to Level 4, and will have two Higher's, preferably English and a technical subject. Higher Music will also be an advantage or Associated Board Exams to Grade 5.