Pipe Major

The Pipe Major is the director of bagpipe music in a Scottish or Irish pipe band. Like Drum Major, the position of Pipe Major is derived from British Army traditions. As in the case of Drum Major, the Pipe Major is a prestigious position in any Scottish regiment.

Whether it is a civilian or military pipe band, the Pipe Major is generally responsible for the following:

* Band administrative work
* Selection, compilation and arrangement of tunes for the band's repertoire
* Acting as a musical director and leading band rehearsals
* Co-ordination of the band's performance schedule
* Conducting and arranging for solo performance at weddings, funerals, dinners, etc.
* Training learning and beginning pipers

British Army

Persons holding the Pipe Major title can still be found in many civilian and military pipe bands in many countries nowadays. Apart from being an outstanding musician, a Pipe Major should by tradition be an educated person who is well-versed in the history of bagpipe music as well as the history of his/her clan/regiment. The Pipe Major of a pipe band is usually assisted by a Pipe Sergeant.

A Pipe Major position is an appointment and not a military rank. As such, he is required to attain a senior non-commissioned officer rank (Sergeant, Staff Sergeant or Colour Sergeant, or Warrant Officer) and have successfully completed the Pipe Major's Course at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming before he would be appointed the regiment's Pipe Major. Since the pipes and drums of an infantry regiment are normally required to take on a secondary role as a machine gun platoon, the Pipe Major is responsible for the following additional tasks:

* Be the platoon's operational commander or second-in-charge during military exercises or war
* Ensure military discipline among members of the pipes & drums
* Be a transmitter of regimental history and customs

The Pipe Major is always referred to and addressed as "Pipe Major" and not by his rank. The insignia of appointment is 4 point-up chevrons worn on the lower sleeve, usually surmounted by a bagpipes badge and frequently by a crown or other badge dependent on rank and regiment.

Canadian Forces

"Pipe Major" in the Canadian military is also an appointment not a rank. The actual appointing procedures vary widely from unit to unit. Generally a reserve pipe major is appointed at the discretion of the reserve unit CO. Regular Force Pipe majors are appointed by CF Music (Directorate of History and Heritage - 7) on the recommendation of the CF Senior Pipe Major. The Pipe Major's insignia (a 4-bar chevron with bagpipe badge) is usually surmounted with the appropriate rank badge.

Many Pipe Majors in the Canadian Forces are in Reserve unit volunteer strength pipe bands. Many band members, as well as the pipe majors themselves, in these volunteer strength bands are civilian volunteers due to the decision in the 1990s to cut funding to the majority of military pipe bands in favour of the volunteer system. However, with Canadian Forces Restructuring, this may change.

Current Pipe Majors of the Canadian military include:----
Regular Force
*Air Command Pipes and Drums (CFB Uplands): Pipe Major Capt Ian Ferguson, CD
* CFB Borden Pipes & Drums (CFB Borden): Pipe Major MWO Jim MacIntrye,CD
* 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Pipes and Drums:(CFB Petawawa): Pipe Major WO Colin Clansey
* 12 Wing Pipes & Drums(CFB Shearwater): Pipe Major Cpl Malcolm Odell
* 8 Wing Pipes & Drums (CFB Trenton): Pipe Major WO Seann Alderman CD
* 3 Area Support Group Pipes & Drums (CFB Gagetown) : Pipe Major Sgt Chris Yeo CD
* 14 Wing Pipes & Drums (CFB Greenwood): Pipe Major Sgt Scott Pollon
* Royal Military Collage Pipes & Drums (Kingston,ON): Pipe Major WO Dan Smith CD
* 4 Wing Pipes and Drums (CFB Cold Lake): TBA

Reserve Force
*The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's): Pipe Major CWO Tom Lee, CD
* [The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada:] [http://http://www.blackwatchcanada.com/] Pipe Major WO Cameron Stevens, CD
*The 48th Highlanders of Canada: Pipe Major MWO Iain Lang, CD
*The Calgary Highlanders: Pipe Major Mike Giles (civilian)
*The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa: Pipe Major MWO Alan Clark, CD
*The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's): Pipe Major MWO Roger McGuire, CD
*The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment:Pipe Major Tom Fox (civilian)
*The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) : Pipe Major Kevin Cranley (civilian)
*The North Saskatchewan Regiment: Pipe Major CWO Donald MacDonald
*The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada: Pipe Major J.H. Dawson, CD
*The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada: Pipe Major CWO Mike Bain, CD
*The Toronto Scottish Regiment: Pipe Major Doug Swann (civilian)
*The Nova Scotia Highlanders: Pipe Major Karen MacLean, CD