ST. PATRICK'S FESTIVAL 2008 

Shorecrest has supported a piping program for most of the school's 36 years and is well known for it's Highland tradition.

Pipe Band is offered as a music course at Shorecrest and students can choose to take it as an elective.

Piping students start on what is called a Practice Chanter, a reeded instrument with the same fingering as the bagpipe. Students learn the basic fingering techniques on the chanter and after they have mastered a few tunes they graduate to the full set of Highland bagpipes.

It takes roughly six months to learn to play the bagpipes, and then a lifetime to master the instrument and all of it's nuances. Bagpipes are not a difficult instrument to learn, but are a physically difficult instrument to play correctly. Therefore, dilligent practice and conditioning are required to become proficient on the instrument during the nine month school year.

Scottish drumming instruction is also available through the Northwest Junior Pipe Band. Students begin on a practice pad, then move to the drum once they have mastered the rudiments and can play a few tunes.

Students are encouraged to start playing the pipes or drums early. The Northwest Junior Pipe Band offers bagpipe and drum lessons to anyone under the age of 18 in the Puget Sound region. For those in the Shoreline School District, this is a great way to get a jump start on the instruments in the years prior to attending Shorecrest High.

Shorecrest's Pipe Band performs at many school related functions including assemblies, sports events, concerts, administrative functions and graduation. Aside from school activites, the group also performs at public and private events including parades, parties, arts festivals, retirement centers and corporate events.