Did you know that 20% of students at Merchiston are members of our Pipes and Drums band? And, taking the helm of this popular club is five-time Pipes World Champion, Director of Pipes and Drums, Kyle Warren.

Since joining us in 2022, Kyle’s vast experience in competitive Pipes and Drums has taken the band from strength to strength, with a performance at the New York City Tartan Parade in April. Whether it be helping a junior student pick up the bagpipes for the first time or supporting our more talented pipers to even higher heights, Kyle’s passion, knowledge and skills are evident.

We sat down with Kyle to learn more about his journey as a professional piper and what the Pipes and Drums department at Merchiston has to offer.

Q. When did you decide to pursue a career in music?

During my latter years at high school – around age 14/15. This is when I came to appreciate my competitive streak (through playing sports) and my passion for playing the bagpipes – a good combination for professional pipers. At this time, I found myself one of the only students at my school playing bagpipes. Pipes and Drums were not as recognised as it is today, and the opportunities for competing and building a professional career were unheard of.

However, progress was being made and I became one of the founding members of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland. Around the same time, I came across a degree in Pipes at the Scottish Conservatoire and my route to a professional career as a musician was realised.

Q. What is your favourite memory of competing in Pipes and Drums?

It has to be my first world championship win in 2011. While this was held in Glasgow, my favourite part of competitive pipes and drums is the opportunity to travel the world – once, even all the way to Barbados! 

Q. What do you enjoy most about being the Director of Pipes and Drums at Merchiston?

When I joined the department at Merchiston, one of my primary goals was to develop our Player Pathway, which ensures there are opportunities for students to join pipes and drums at all levels. While all our musicians come together on certain occasions- such as morning practice sessions on school grounds – there are a variety of clubs and bands at different ability levels.

Being able to witness the success and progress of students of all ages and abilities has been a hugely rewarding experience.

Q. What has been the highlight of your teaching career at Merchiston so far?

The British Championships were a fantastic experience and we were immensely proud to make the prize list.

Sharing the excitement of travelling to compete with the students and help them realise their potential on the big stage is always a highlight of the job.

 Q. You have described Pipes and Drums as a ‘musical sport’ – can you elaborate on what that means and the personal attributes that are best suited for this?

As opposed to other musical pursuits, Pipes and Drums are not just about performance, but also competition.

Students who join our department will quickly realise that the environment is similar to being part of a sports team, and for our most competitive performers, this is driven by an underlying goal to succeed at major championships.

This does mean that Pipes and Drums can be a demanding experience but equally motivating and rewarding.

Q. How does Merchiston enable highly skilled and competitive members of Pipes and Drums to pursue success?

Our department consists of world championship-level pipes and drums performers, all of whom share their passion and expertise with our students, enabling those who wish to compete to do so at their highest level.

We are also committed to helping students explore opportunities in pipes and drums outside of school. Those who wish to continue performing once they have finished with us here at Merchiston can be confident in the knowledge they will be able to do so.

Q. What is your advice to Merchiston students considering taking up an instrument and joining Pipe & Drums as a beginner?

Give it a try! With so many of the students involved in pipes and drums, it is a great opportunity to learn from fellow peers across all-year groups and thrive in a strong, spirited team environment.

Beginners will start off with one-to-one chanter lessons to establish the fundamentals before joining a chanter club. We prioritise moving students into a team environment as quickly as possible as that is the essence of being part of Pipes and Drums.

Did you know that we offer a Pipes & Drum Scholarship? Find out more here.