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The pipe major is the leading musician of a
pipe band A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term pipes and drums, used by military pipe bands is also common. The most common form of pipe band consists of a section of pipers playing the Great Highland bagpipe, a ...
, whether military or civilian. Like the appointment of drum major, the position is derived from
British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gur ...
traditions. During the early twentieth century, the term sergeant piper was used instead. The pipe major is often assisted by a pipe sergeant, who has similar duties in the band and leads the band in the absence of the pipe major.


Civilian bands

In a civilian band, the pipe major is generally the leader of the band both musically and administratively. Some pipe majors also compete in solo competitions.


British Army

A pipe major's position is an appointment and not a rank. An appointee is required to have attained the rank of at least sergeant and to have successfully completed the pipe major's course at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming, which is a 28-week long course. A pipe major may subsequently be promoted to
staff sergeant Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. History of title In origin, certain senior sergeants were assigned to administrative, supe ...
/ colour sergeant, warrant officer class 2, and rarely warrant officer class 1. A few WO1s later go on to be commissioned as
director of music A music(al) director or director of music is the person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance, production, or organization. This would include the artistic director and usually chief conductor of an orchestra or concert band, the d ...
of the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming. Since the pipes and drums of an infantry regiment are typically assigned the military duties of a
machine gun A machine gun is a fully automatic, rifled autoloading firearm designed for sustained direct fire with rifle cartridges. Other automatic firearms such as automatic shotguns and automatic rifles (including assault rifles and battle rifl ...
platoon A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two or more squads, sections, or patrol A patrol is commonly a group of personnel, such as Law enforcement officer, law enforcement officers, military personnel, or Security guard, secur ...
, the pipe major is also responsible for: * Command (or second-in-command) of the platoon during military exercises or combat * Maintenance of military discipline in his platoon * Purveyance and promotion of regimental custom, tradition and history He is customarily addressed and referred to as "Pipe Major", not by his service rank. The insignia of appointment is four point-up chevrons worn on a wrist-strap whilst in shirt-sleeve order, or four large point-up chevrons worn on the uniform sleeve, surmounted by a bagpipe badge. Staff sergeants/colour sergeants have a small crown above the bagpipes, whilst warrant officers class 2 have a larger crown and warrant officers class 1 wear the royal arms as usual.British Army Dress Regulations
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Canadian Forces

A pipe major in the Canadian military is also an appointment, not a service rank. Pipe majors are appointed by the commanding officer of a unit or formation. The insignia (a four-bar chevron with bagpipe badge) is usually surmounted by the service rank badge. Regular force personnel attend a year long course at the Canadian Forces School of Music - Pipes and Drums Wing to become qualified to as a pipe major. Most pipe majors in the Canadian forces are also responsible for regular force volunteer bands or primary reserve bands, and there are two pipe majors posted to regular force brass and reed bands, the Royal Canadian Air Force Band and the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, and one posted to the pipes and drums of the 2nd Battalion,
Royal Canadian Regiment The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the primary reserve. The RCR is ranked 1st in the order of precedence amongst Canadian A ...
, Canada's only regular force army pipe band.


References

{{reflist Bagpiping Military ranks of the Commonwealth Military appointments of Canada Military appointments of the British Army Warrant officers