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Army Air Force

Pipes and Drums

Non-Commissioned Member | Part Time

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    • Overview

    As a member of the miilitary, Pipers and Drummers provide musical support for all aspects of military life, including ceremonial parades, military graduations and domestic operations. The piper and drummer’s role is to provide musical support to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Their performances promote the military ethos, foster esprit de Corps and maintain rich historical ties to our highland culture. Pipers and drummers are also a very effective tool in connecting with Canadian Communities by participating in domestic operations and reflecting positively on the CAF. 

     Perform a wide array of domestic and international engagements, including:

    • Government and military parades and ceremonies
    • Public concerts, shows and festivals
    • Military and state dinners
    • International commemorations
    • Military tattoos
    • Events in support of recruiting

    Work environment

    Pipers and drummers perform throughout the world representing the CAF and the citizens of Canada. While on duty, personnel could find themselves supporting a wide variety of operations in many different environments. Pipers and drummers provide support to military parades, they engage with the public and assist in supporting various operations domestically and abroad. From performances outside in varying whether to performances in the unit lines and concert venues, work environments vary. Pipers and drummers also complete other duties at their unit in support of their bands administrative tasks and secondary duties.

    If you chose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

    Career Overview

    Transcript

    WARRANT OFFICER KATIE BUCKLAND: I’m Warrant Officer Katie Buckland. I’m from Sydney, Nova Scotia. I’m the Pipe Major of the 12 Wing Shearwater Pipes and Drums.

    SERGEANT HUGUES VANDEN ABEELE (SUBTITLES): I am Sergeant Hugues Vanden Abeele of Montreal. I play the Scottish snare drum in the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.

    SERGEANT MALCOLM ODELL:  And I’m Sergeant Malcolm Odell from Calgary, Alberta, the pipe major of the Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums, in Ottawa.

    BUCKLAND: Being a Canadian Forces military musician is almost like the country’s best kept secret.  Typically, you think of the military, you think of soldiers with weapons and stories about them being overseas, but you don't always think about military connecting at home with your community in a different way, and that’s what we do. 

    ODELL:  Anytime I hear a pipe band coming towards you, just kind of out of the blue, it’s one of the only instruments that just like automatically gives you kind of that ‘frisson’ feeling.

    VANDEN ABEELE (SUBTITLES): It's inconceivable to have a parade without the pipe band. We are the colours of the unit. The band is composed of pipers, snare players, there are tenors and there is a bass player. On percussion at the rear, we're the ones who really mark the time; when we play, the troops are on parade and we provide a kind of backbone to the rigidity of the pipes and drums.

    NARRATOR:  The Canadian Armed Forces employs full-time Regular Force pipe and drum instructors to lead, teach, administrate and manage military support bands. They also employ part-time pipers, drummers and instructors to play in one of the many Reserve Force pipe bands across the country. 

    NARRATOR:  In the Regular Force, Pipe Majors and Drum Instructors all run volunteer bands. 

    BUCKLAND:  The band’s membership is made up of military, retired military, civilians, some youth; we have some cadets that come in.

    NARRATOR:  The life of a piper or drummer in the Reserve Force can range from spending a few evenings per week or as involved as leading the Pipes and Drums as a Pipe Major, Drum Major or Drum Instructor. 

    VANDEN ABEELE (SUBTITLES): As drum sergeant, my main task is to put on an operational drum corps. So we have to make sure that the drum corps and all the players have pieces that are suitable. The pieces are often chosen by the pipe major. It's my job to work with him and make sure that the musical arrangements always perfectly reflect what you want to achieve and that they be musically enjoyable to listen to.

    NARRATOR:  Working as a Reserve piper or drummer is a great way to supplement your income while studying or working full-time elsewhere. It can also lead to a full-time military Pipes and Drums career. Regular Force pipers and drummers are primarily recruited from the Reserve Force Pipes and Drums. A piper or drummer may be selected through an audition process to occupy a Regular Force position in a military support band.

    ODELL: Our number one job is to support Canadian Forces Ceremonial, in terms of raising the morale of everyday troops. The second mission is to connect with everyday Canadians by playing music that resonates with them. And then thirdly, is to serve as ambassadors with other allied countries to represent Canada on the international stage.

    NARRATOR:  From performing at local events to prestigious military and government ceremonies across the country and abroad, there are always opportunities to play for new audiences and meet new people. 

    VANDEN ABEELE (SUBTITLES): To be a Canadian Forces musician, you have to like putting yourself out there. You can't be embarrassed to wear the kilt, you have to be proud of what it means.


     

    Related Civilian Occupations

    • Pipes and Drums Instructor
    • Pipe Major/Drum Instructor
    • Piper or Drummer within a pipe band

    Training

    The first stage of training is the Basic Military Qualification (BMQ). As a part-time Reserve Force member, you will complete this training locally with your reserve unit. This training provides the basic core skills and knowledge common to all occupations. A goal of this course is to ensure that all recruits maintain the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) physical fitness standard; as a result, the training is physically demanding. Pipes and Drums occupation specific training takes place at Music Division, Borden, ON for five weeks.

    Learn more about Basic Training here.

    Pipers and Drummers may be offered the opportunity to develop specialized skills through formal courses and on-the-job training, including:

    • Drum Major Course
    • Military support band training

    Entry plans

    The CAF enrolls pipers and drummers to the Reserve Force through an audition process. An audition will accompany your file once you begin the recruiting process with your respective recruiting centre. For more information on this process, please visit Canadian Forces Music Branch page.

    Full-time employment is possible with the Regular Force. This is also done through an audition process and only available to members already serving in the CAF.

    Foreign education may be accepted.

    Part time options

    This position is available for part-time employment with the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada. Reserve Force members usually serve part time in their community, and may serve while going to school or working at a civilian job. They are paid during their training. They are not posted or required to do a military move. However, they can volunteer to move to another base. They may also volunteer for deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.

    Pipers and drummers may serve with the Canadian Army or Royal Canadian Air Force. They are employed to provide musical support for CAF operations. Pipers and drummers employed on a part-time or casual full-time basis usually serve at a military base, wing or at their home Regiment.

    Find a Recruiting Centre

    Reserve Force training begins with the Basic Military Qualification course. Once this course is complete, pipers and drummers will begin training with their pipe band at their home unit. This will ensure they are ready for future pipes and drums training that takes place at Music Division, Borden, ON.

    Reserve Force members usually serve part-time with their home unit for scheduled evenings and weekends, although they may also serve in full-time positions at some units for fixed terms, depending on the type of work that they do. They are paid 92.8% of Regular Force rates of pay, receive a reasonable benefits package, and also may qualify for tuition benefits and to contribute to a pension plan.