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.
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