An Interview with Pipe Major
William Livingstone

Early Years

Bill Livingstone grew up in a house filled with music. His family enriched his youth with the sounds of Scotland through bagpipes, piano, and Gaelic song, but it was his father�s inspiration that laid the solid groundwork for his future piping career.

Reflecting on his father�s influence, Bill says "my father was a very good piper�.light music, but a good piper�when he was twenty-one he immigrated from Ayrshire to escape the coal mines. When I was quite young, I would get involved while my father gave my brother piping lessons." Bill first picked up the chanter at the tender age of four and he learned to read music before he could read the alphabet. Although Bill�s talent was obvious, he played few competitions in his youth, preferring instead to concentrate on learning the music.

At 17 yrs old, Bill put aside his pipes and taught himself to play the piano, formed a rock band and followed that by forming a Rhythm & Blues band. Over the next ten years, Bill devoted his time to university, law school and playing the club circuit with his band. It was while playing a gig at a Sudbury club that Bill met his future wife, Lillian.

In 1969, after 10 years away from piping, Bill�s passion for the bagpipes resurfaced. After watching the 48th Highlanders Pipes and Drums at the CNE, Bill contacted another of his earlier mentors, John Wilson, for lessons and began to rededicate himself to piping. In the early 1970s, he focused on Piobaireachd under the instruction of John McFadgen, a piper who demonstrated how to be an assertive player and "grab a tune by the scruff of the neck." Bill also had the good fortune to learn under the guidance of Donald MacLeod, who taught Bill about the "refinement and intellectualization of tunes." Of his time away from the pipes between the the age of 17-27, Bill says, "while I regret the lost opportunity of what is usually considered a piper�s golden years, it also helped me avoid the burnout that often causes pipers to retire early. Perhaps I could have achieved more, but I think it also extended my career."

Highlights

Even with his many prestigious solo awards, Bill counts the band�s 1987 World Pipe Band Championship win as the best moment in his piping career so far. "Solo awards are great, but they are more internal and private. Nothing beats sharing a prize with a team." And Bill is determined that his team will repeat that win again.

What�s In Bill�s Pipe Case?

When playing with the band, Bill uses Crozier cane drone reeds, a McCallum chanter, Ross chanter reeds, and a Ross Canister bag. Bill uses and recommends Airstream blowpipes, cautioning young players to make sure they are not using a blowpipe that is too long for them. Other items you'd find in Bill's pipe case are Lyon�s Moosevalves, chanter tape, a tool for working on chanters and a knife for cutting hemp.

Composing Music

Asked if he has a set process for composing tunes, Livingstone replies "No, the tunes just come into my head, usually while I am away on vacation." In fact, most of Bill�s tunes came to him while in Barbados. One exception is a new tune The Northern Man, composed at the request of Doug Stronach, who is currently producing Bill�s latest CD also entitled "The Northern Man". "Doug wanted a huge tune."

Advice For Young Pipers

"Learn all the material before going near the pipes. Try to avoid over-practicing a tune by simply playing it over and over again on the pipes." Bill�s technique is to learn the music first by reading and singing the tune until he has it down, which makes his practice time more productive. He usually does this while exercising at the gym on a stationary bike. When he�s ready to play the tune on the pipes, he usually practices for 1 � to 2 hours and records it "....record the stuff, but don�t listen to it right away. Wait a few days. If you listen to it immediately you won�t hear a difference. If you listen to it a few days later you will hear it differently....you�ll hear the flaws."

Bill has strong views about the way young pipers are being taught today. "We train them to compete, but we should train them to be musicians first. They should develop fundamental mastery at the grade three and two levels and learn to be better musicians."

When He�s Not Piping

A fitness enthusiast, Bill mountain bikes, works out at the gym 5-6 days /week, and has a personal trainer. He also enjoys good wine and spending time with Lillian, his wife of 41 years.

The Band

With so many talented band members on the roster, Bill is excited about the new direction of The Scottish Lion � 78th Fraser Highlanders. �The band has experienced a rebirth....a reinvention....I�ve never had so much fun as I am having with this edition (of the band).� Two years ago, the band began a �rehabilitation� program and has been steadfastly achieving their target goals. In collaboration with the new sponsorship of The Scottish Lion, the band has plans for five major upcoming concerts. 2007 will mark the 25th anniversary of the band and the 20th anniversary of their World Championship win. It seems fitting that their Pipe Major is aiming the band toward the top spot in 2007.