The Hamilton Police Pipe Band is a world-class musical organization that puts a very strong emphasis not only on the music, but also on community involvement and a positive, family-focused atmosphere.

The band competes on the highland games circuit in Ontario and, periodically, abroad. There is a top-flight band dominated by teenagers and young adults that competes at the very highest level, at the World championships in Scotland. The drummers in the Grade Three band, most of them teenagers, are the 2005 world champions at the Grade 3B level. The Grade Three band was the 2006 North American Pipe Band champion and now competes on the world stage at Grade Two, most recently in Auguest 2007 in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

There is a Grade Four band that is a blend of experienced musicians and up-and-coming juveniles, and also playing at a high level of musicianship.

And there is a Grade Five band that is populated by novice musicians and some experienced musicians who love to play but don't have the time available to commit to the music played by the higher level bands.

The band organization welcomes players, girls or boys, interested in playing with any of these bands, though the organization's musical leaders have the final say on what band is most suitable for a newcomer, experienced or novice.

There is a strong emphasis on teaching at the novice level, and the band currently has musicians as young as five years learning the drums and pipes.

Getting involved in a pipe band presents few financial challenges. For pipers, novices begin on practice chanters and graduate over time to a full set of Great Highland bagpipes. A set of pipes can cost $1,500 or more, but will last a lifetime. Drums are supplied by the band, and young drummers need only bring inexpensive sticks and practice pads as they learn. They will, over time, require a shoulder harness.

Instruction is supplied, in part, by the band's musical leaders, though most novice musicians choose to also have weekly or bi-weekly lessons from experienced tutors in the region. The Hamilton area is fortunate to have some of the best pipers and drummers in the world living nearby, and many of them teach during the evening. Costs are similar to other types of music lessons.

Youngsters starting on the chanter or practice pad in the fall have the potential to be playing in the Grade Five band by the following summer.

The band charges a fee for its non-competition appearances, the money used to offset the costs of running and equipping the organization. The band is sponsored in part by the Hamilton Police Service, but it uses appearance fees, sales of T-shirts and fundraising events to take some of the financial burden off its members. 

Kilts cost the band in excess of $500 each, while the full military dress uniform worn by band members at events such as the Hamilton Tattoo cost as much as $3,000 head to toe.

While many pipe band organizations are predominantly adult, Hamilton's program has a very large population of youth members, and therefore a strong involvement from parents. Many lifelong friendships have developed between families with children in the bands, and events such as highland games tend to take on a family picnic atmosphere. The only demands on those parents are that they ensure their children practice when asked, and show up when asked. Parents are also asked to pitch in on fundraising activities such as pub nights, raffles and silent auctions.

There are many benefits to youngsters joining a pipe band. They learn timeless music. Meet new friends. See parts of Ontario and, with time, the world. Build self-esteem. Learn discipline and deportment skills. And they get involved in something that can stick with them their entire lives. A piper or drummer moving to a new, unfamiliar city need only contact the local band, and he or she has instant friends.