Tuning up my pipes

Beginning as a fascination in high school, the art of playing the great highland bagpipe has become not only a valued hobby of mine, but a very spiritual and rewarding activity. Since high school, I have joined a pipes and drums band called the Pasadena Scottish Pipes and Drums (or Pasadena Scots) which competes in several Scottish festivals and highland games all over California, as well as Nevada, Arizona, and Scotland.

Being a mixed-race Asian-American, or more specifically a mixed-race Japanese-American bagpiper has been a very dynamic and self-discovering experience. After getting the surprised response and/or surprised glances after people realize I play the pipes, I began to wonder why I held such a passion for such an instrument or why I enjoyed the Scottish culture so much.

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Brad competing with his band at the Queen Mary Highland Games (Brad playing Scottish side drum with The Misty Isle Pipe Band)

Brad in action as he leads the drum section of his band into competition.
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Brad playing Scottish side drum with The Misty Isle Pipe Band

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The results (Posted solo bagpiping results)

After months of preparation with John Allan and hours of practice, the day of my first solo competition arrived. Although I was nervous, I remebered every detail and played with confidence. To my surprise, I managed to place first!

Anyone who knows me knows that I do not hesitate to wear my band t-shirt, sporting the text, "Pasadena Scottish Pipes & Drums". I wear the shirt to display an aspect of my personality and my identity and am proud to do so. In a sense, I DO feel as if I need to prove to others that I am not just "some Asian guy" and I do it by dedicating myself to the pipes and showing others and myself that I can succeed. If success is synonymous with assimilation, than I suppose, at least for me, that somewhere in the Japanese-American psyche is the remnants of the arduous process of assimilation after World War II.

Although there may not be a concise answer, it is certain that there is something that links the Scottish culture and arts with the Japanese-American.
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Posted solo bagpiping results

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Exiting the competition circle at the San Diego Highland Games (Leaving the competition circle)

So what is it about the culture of Scotland and the war-like timbre of the pipes and drums that would attract Japanese-Americans? Among Japanese-Americans in the Scottish arts, is a sense of proving one's ability to assimilate and to develop an identity that is not purely Asian-American. The underlying roots of assimilation for Japanese-Americans derives mainly from the experiences of the Issei and Nisei as they were released from internment camps after World War II.
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Leaving the competition circle

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Caitlin competing solo at the San Diego Highland Games (Caitlin competing in the solo highland dancing competition)

To perform her highland dancing, Caitlin comes with the band to various highland games to compete in highland dancing solo competitions.
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Caitlin competing in the solo highland dancing competition

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The band preparing to begin the closing ceremonies parade (Preparing for a parade)

When all the different bands line up, each band displaying its own unique tartan/uniform, having its own unique name, and all under the command of one individual, it reminds me of the clan system that ruled Scotland before British rule. Each kinship, family, or group of individuals who identified with one another formed a clan and supported one another under the rule of a chief, or military leader. They used different colored tartans and different symbols and crests to enforce their kinship and often went to battle with conflicting clans. This strikes a chord with the martial law-based clan system that also ruled Japan. Chiefs acted as military leaders and the Japanese clans differentiated themselves by displaying unique clan crests and colors.
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Preparing for a parade

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Logan competing solo at the San Diego Highland Games (Logan competing in solo Side-drumming)

Caitlin's younger brother, Logan, is also involved in the Scottish Arts and competes solo in the Scottish side-drumming events. In this solo drumming event, Logan accompanies an exhibition piper. He is shown here standing on his drum case in order to reach the drum itself.
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Logan competing in solo Side-drumming

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Marching into competition at the Monterey Highland Games (Entering the competition circle)

The actual competition performance is the climax of the entire morning and always gets everyone's adrenaline pumping. We practice for three hours, one evening per week, just to prepare for these competitions and to be a part of a collaborative, musical effort of this kind is extremely rewarding.
To watch a video of the Pasadena Scots competing at the Seaside Highland Games in Ventura, CA, please visit this YouTube link:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rd3kPNwEG6k
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Entering the competition circle

For a video of The Pasadena Scots competing in a pipe band competition, please visit:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rd3kPNwEG6k

Massed pipes and drums at the Monterey Highland Games (Massed pipes and drums at the Monterey Highland Games opening ceremonies)

As a prelude to any highland games is an opening ceremony complete with a massed pipes and drums performance. All the pipe bands in attendance come together and march into the main stage area playing the nostalgic tunes that arouse the highland spirit. This is always a great opportunity to meet bagpipers and drummers from other bands and really share in a sense of community.
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Massed pipes and drums at the Monterey Highland Games opening ceremonies

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Me and Kiyoko at the Pomona Highland Games (Kiyoko and I)

Immediately after joining Pasadena Scots, I befriended the only other Asian bagpiper, Kiyoko. She is a Shin-Issei who is a very successful solo competitor. Because we share a cultural similarity, Kiyoko and I toss around Japanese phrases and banter and both get strange glances from patrons at the games because we are "different".
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Kiyoko and I

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Me and John Allan (John Allan and I)

As soon as I joined the Pasadena Scots, I simultaneously began taking private lessons from a Scottish-born bagpipe instructor and performer named John Allan. He is extremely well-known in the Scottish arts community and inspired me not only to excell in the band, but also to pursue competing in solo competitions at the highland games.
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John Allan and I

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Setting up the band tent and banner at the Monterey Highland Games (Erecting the Pasadena Scots banner)

When first arriving at any of the highland games, the band sets up its tent and displays its banner to advertize its name. I always arrive to the games in uniform with a sense of pride and setting up camp for the band only intesifies the feeling of comradery and inclusion.
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Erecting the Pasadena Scots banner

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Legendary Canadian bagpiper, Jack Lee and I (Piping legend Jack Lee and I)

This past year, our band had the privilege of being coached by Jack Lee, a legendary bagpiper from Canada. For me, it was one of the most inspirational experiences not only because I was in the presence of such a renowned artist, but also because I had the chance to show that Japanese-Americans are involved in the Scottish arts. When he worked with me, individually, I made every possible effort to be mindful of all the precision in my technique and made it a point to play my best.
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Piping legend Jack Lee and I

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Brad at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland (Brad competing with The Misty Isle Pipe Band in Glasgow, Scotland)

After competing with the band at a few highland games, I met Brad. He is also a mixed-race, Japanese-American involved in the Scottish arts community who plays the Scottish side-drum. Being involved in Scottish drumming for several years, Brad had proved himself as an excellent drummer and instrucor and leads the drum section of his band as the drum sergeant.
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Brad competing with The Misty Isle Pipe Band in Glasgow, Scotland

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Caitlin and Logan's Family (Caitlin, Logan, and parents)

Caitlin and Logan's parents are very supportive of their childrens' involvement in the Scottish arts. They initially got involved because of their father's Scottish heritage and have been practicing their respective crafts since a young age. The dynamic of a Shin-Issei mother and an American father fosters values of discipline and success and is crucial to both Logan and Caitlin's success in the Scottish arts.
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Caitlin, Logan, and parents

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Tuning and preparation for band competition (Prepartory band tuning)

A full hour before the band marches into the competition circle is devoted purely to tuning and warming up the pipes. Since they are made of an extremely dense wood and operate by double-reeds, they are sensitive to moisture, heat, cold, and humidity. Warming them up as a band early ensures that all the pipes are consistent and have all been played the same amount.
I'm pictured here being electronically tuned before our band heads off to compete.
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Prepartory band tuning

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Caitlin displaying her awards at the San Diego Highland Games (Caitlin displaying her awards)

As you can see, Caitlin is a very successful dancer and attributes her success to her sense of discipline and attention to detail. She consistently studies highland dancing weekly and almost always places at the games.
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Caitlin displaying her awards

Highland dancer Caitlin returning from a day of highland dancing competition at the San Diego Highland Games. She is a student of highland dance who studies with an instructor one-on-one weekly and who practices to execute all the complex dance movements and coordination with precision and confidence. Up against dozens of other girls her age, Caitlin manages to place in all events she competes in.

John Allan & Caitlin (Caitlin & John Allan)

An ancient Scottish tradition is the highland dancer performing with bagpipe accompaniment. At a dinner event, instructor John Allan performes a strathspey, a slower type of Scottish dance music, for highland dancer Caitlin. Caitlin is the daughter of a Shin-Issei, Japanese mother and a Scottish-American father and practices highland dancing at weekly private lessons. As a mixed-race, Japanese-American, I was extremely excited to see another mixed-race Japanese-American who was passionate about the Scottish arts at such a young age.
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Caitlin & John Allan

Highland dancer Caitlin performing the "ghillie callum", a traditional highland dance, to the music of renowned bagpipe instructor and performer John Allan of Scotland. Caitlin is the daughter of a shin-issei mother and a Scottish-American father and competes annually in highland dancing competitions.