Information for competitors

Pipe Bands Queensland runs competitions for pipe bands at all skill levels, across six grades.

We encourage all bands to compete as much as possible – there is no better way to challenge yourselves as a group to improve musical performance, raise the collective level of our musical ability, catch up with other bands, and continue to foster and grow a supportive and fun pipe band community. 

Pipe Bands Queensland oversees that the national set of rules and regulations for pipe bands are applied fairly to competitions that we administrate – this assures competitors that rules, standards, and judging are applied as consistently as possible across Australia, and are consistent with international standards (particularly the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association).

Bands are graded by judgements of their skill level, generally according to results from past competitions. 

The Pipe Bands Australia (PBA) Grading Committee reviews requests from bands periodically to determine who should move to the next grade. PBA takes its band grading duties very seriously for two reasons – firstly, because competing against bands who are far above or below your own skill level is not valuable; but more importantly, to maintain grading standards with the rest of the world, so that our players can compete well at any competition, whether in Australia or internationally.

HOW IT WORKS

BEFORE THE COMPETITION

First, to compete in events that are administered by Pipe Bands Queensland, you will need to join as a member.

Next, you will need to research and find a competition to enter – visit our Events page for all upcoming band events. 

Follow the instructions on the relevant event’s page to register (these can differ for each competition depending on the organiser), and note that registration deadlines are usually 2–4 weeks before the competition date.

You should receive an email confirming your registration – familiarise yourself with the performance times and communicate these clearly to your band, as these are strictly adhered to on the day. 

Bands should also familiarise themselves with the standard rules for competition to ensure their musical selection meets the criteria for performance. If you have any questions about musical selection or how rules are administered for band competitions, contact us. 

On the day of competition, bands are encouraged to arrive with plenty of time to allow for registration, setting up tents, tuning, and settling nerves. Competitions are usually scheduled so that grades compete from lowest to highest during the day, so arrive prepared and dressed in uniform (highland dress is required for competing in Pipe Bands Queensland competitions; read our Uniform details and maintenance page for more information).

The volunteers at the registration tent should provide you with the location and approximate time of your contest, and any updates to previously supplied information.

Be prepared to tune and and compete in advance of your assigned time, just in case there are bands who registered but don’t attend, or who are disqualified.

AT THE COMPETITION

Do initial tuning up in an assigned area, or a respectful distance from the fine-tuning area. About five minutes prior to your allotted time, you should go to the fine tuning area. A steward will find you and alert the pipe major that you should proceed to the line. Keep an eye out, though, because if the steward cannot find your band when the judging panel is ready to hear you, you may be disqualified and not permitted to compete.

You’ll be judged by several judges, which will include at least one judge each for piping, drumming, ensemble, and dress. Familiarise yourself with the changes to Pipe Bands Queensland’s judging process for 2020.

When you are called up to the starting line, wait for the steward to give you the signal that it’s ok to begin. Under the direction of your pipe major, take a moment to breathe, gather your thoughts, and focus before marching into the circle.

Play your set, and when you have finished, the band should wait until the steward gives the pipe major direction to leave. Reform and march out under the pipe major’s direction – depending on the competition, this will either be to the tap, or you can play a marching tune to exit the competition field.

AFTER THE COMPETITION

After all bands in all grades have competed (and usually after massed bands – if there is one – and the announcement of results), Pipe Bands Queensland volunteers will be ready to hand out score sheets. We encourage band leaders to share score sheets with all playing members, so everyone can see feedback and know where to focus effort in future to continue to improve. 

If you have any questions about scoring or judges comments and/or would like to lodge a challenge, contact us. 

Within 24 hours of a competition (usually), you can check the Results page to see the mastersheets that show the overview of how all bands scored.

Since 2020, competitions administered by Pipe Bands Queensland (Warwick, Redlands, BBC, and Yandina) have adhered to a new scoring system, which has been used by highland dancing competitions for many years.

This new approach rewards excellence. There are only three judges in each circle – piping, drumming, and ensemble (dress is still judged, but does not contribute to points).

The new system is based on placings from 1–6 (no points for any placing lower than 6), however it now applies a wider range of points for different placings, meaning for example that if you were to receive two firsts and no placing from three judges, you would still beat someone who received three seconds.

• 1st place: 137 points

• 2nd place: 91 points

• 3rd place: 71 points

• 4th place: 53 points

• 5th place: 37 points

• 6th place: 23 points

SELECTION OF JUDGES

Pipe Bands Queensland invites some prominent, high-level players that aren’t qualified in the Pipe Bands Australia system as judges to judge our competitions.

Pipe Bands Australia’s rules allow for the use of people without Advance Certificates, so this operates within the national rules for competitions.

This offers several benefits to promoters and bands – it reduces the cost of competitions for promoters, and increases the variety of feedback provided to bands to assist them with continuous musical improvement.

The Queensland State Championships (usually held during The Gathering in Ipswich in May) only uses PBA Qualified Judges.

Information below is adapted from the Band Secretary’s Handbook on the Pipe Bands Australia website.

Visit the Pipe Bands Australia website to download relevant forms for registration.

Chapter 3 of the Pipe Bands Australia competition rules also covers registration rules for our association in detail.

For the purposes of the information provided here, the following definitions apply:

• “association” means Pipe Bands Australia Inc

• “clearance” means process of obtaining a prescribed form from the player’s previous band stating they are under no financial or other obligation to that band

• “membership” means a member of Pipe Bands Australia Inc

• “registration” means process of registering a player with a band or a band registering with Pipe Bands Australia Inc

• “registered band” means a band registered with Pipe Bands Australia Inc.

REGISTRATION AND MEMBERSHIP

NEW BANDS

If you are a band who has not registered with the association before, your band secretary or another authorised person can apply by sending a letter requesting membership to the Pipe Bands Queensland secretary, enclosing a copy of your band constitution.

To register, you must have a minimum seven players registered with the association and public liability insurance of at least $20 million.

After Pipe Bands Queensland has approved your application, you will need to send the following documentation to Pipe Bands Australia’s Registrar:

• band details form

• certificate of currency (stating that your band has at least $20 million public liability cover)

• list of names of registered players or a completed Application for Membership/Registration form for each player

• prescribed fee(s).

NEW MEMBERS

A person wishing to become a member of the association may apply for membership by completing an Application for Membership/Registration form and submitting it with the prescribed fee to Registrar, Pipe Bands Australia Inc.

RENEWING BANDS AND MEMBERS

Renewal documentation will be sent to a registered band’s postal address, as recorded on the association database, in April/May of each year.

Renewal documentation includes:

• tax invoice

• band details sheet

• registration list.

Documents are to be corrected if necessary, and signed by the band secretary or an authorised band officer.

Bands who are adding new players should complete and submit an Application for Membership / Registration form for each new player.

New individual members should also complete an Application for Membership/Registration form and, if necessary, a Clearance of Registered Player form.

TUTORS AND INSTRUCTORS

Bands allocated to Grade 4 or a Juvenile Grade may register one piping and one drumming tutor.

The tutor is required to hold at least the relevant intermediate Certificate of the Australian Pipe Band College or its equivalent recognised by the College.

If your band intends to register a tutor, please read the detailed requirements in section A.3.06 of the competition rules.

A letter nominating tutor(s) to be registered should be submitted, along with the renewal documentation, to the Registrar of Pipe Bands Australia Inc.

The following documentation must be submitted to the Registrar of Pipe Bands Australia Inc by 30 June each year:

• tax invoice – enter numbers and calculate amount

• band details sheet – signed by the band secretary or authorised band officer.

• registration list – signed by the band secretary or authorised band officer, together with Application for membership/registration form(s) and Clearance of Registered Player form(s) if applicable.

• certificate of currency (from your insurance company)

• tutor(s) nomination letter (if applicable)

• prescribed fee(s).

Players or bands who do not renew with the appropriate fees and documentation listed above will be considered un-financial and therefore not entitled to membership benefits.

TRANSFERS AND CLEARANCES

A player registered with a band and joining another band must obtain a clearance from their previous band.

The prescribed transfer fee must accompany the clearance.

If the player is not a current financial member, the prescribed membership fee must accompany the registration form.

A clearance is not required from a player from an overseas Association.

Intra-band transfers do not require a fee. An Application for Membership/Registration form is required.

While obtaining a clearance is the responsibility of the player, it is recommended that band secretaries retain a copy of the clearance form in their file.

A band secretary signing a clearance form for a player acknowledges that the player is not under any financial or other obligation.

INSURANCE

A registered band must hold or be covered by a current public liability policy of no less than $20 million.

You must supply a certificate of currency from your insurance company to accompany the renewal documentation.

NOTE: This is not the renewal of premium notice from the insurance company.

A band covered by an insurance policy held by a parent body (i.e. RSL, school, services or other organisation) is required to provide a letter from that body stating coverage.

PRESCRIBED FEES AND PAYMENT

PRESCRIBED FEES

The association determines its prescribed fees from time to time, and communicates the information to branch secretaries for notification of bands.

RATES FOR 2021

All prices are listed in Australian dollars.

Individual player: $30

Player transfer: $30

Band registration: $220

PAYMENT

You can pay by cheque, postal order or by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).

Pipe Bands Australia strongly recommends that you contact their Registrar for an invoice number before you pay. This number must be used as the reference for EFT or payment at a bank branch.

Prescribed fees may be paid by:

• Cheque – made payable to Pipe Bands Australia Inc

• Money Order – made payable to Pipe Bands Australia Inc

• Electronic Funds Transfer – visit the Association website for EFT details (A copy of the EFT receipt must be emailed to the Registrar)

Payment at bank branch – payment may be made over the counter at any Commonwealth Bank branch. Depositor must have the BSB, account number and a reference number (invoice number).

A copy of the receipt must be emailed to the Registrar.

Cash is not an acceptable method of payment.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is financial or other obligation?

Financial obligation can mean a player owing money to the band. Other obligation can mean uniform or equipment.

Does a band have to issue a clearance to a player if requested?

Yes providing the player has no financial or other obligations to the band.

Should bands clear players that are no longer members of the band?

Yes. If the player has no financial or other obligation, the band secretary or authorised band officer should provide the player with a clearance form duly signed.

A player wants to be registered with our band but does not have a clearance form from their previous which is no longer registered with the association.

A clearance form is not required due to the band not being registered with the association.

A player has not been a member of any band for 5 years. Is a clearance form required from their previous band?

If the previous band is registered with the association, yes.

Who can sign a clearance form?

Clearance forms can be signed by the Band Secretary or an authorised band officer.