The first
Florida Smallpipe School was held in February of 2003 in Hudson,
Florida. The school was established to promote the art and history of
Scottish Smallpipes and provide a friendly environment for extensive
studies. For the first year, Hamish Moore flew in from Scotland to
teach the traditions and styles of smallpipes to folks from around the
United States and Canada. Fin Moore continued in the tradition and
taught at the 2004 school. For 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, Barry Shears led a marvelous school! And we are pleased to announce that Barry will be returning in 2009!
The format
of the school is informal, fun but intense. Hudson is 35 miles
north of Tampa International Airport. Most of the folks who
flew in camped on the property and enjoyed piping all day and night.
Others found reasonable hotels within a few miles of the school. While
the facilities at the house are available for meal preparation, there
are a wide variety of restaurants within a mile or so for those who
choose to dine out. Breakfast and lunch are "on your own" and dinners
are usually a group event. The school runs for 4 days, Saturday
through Thursday during the last week (ish) of February.
The school
is held at the log home of Maeve and Al DeHetre in a semi-rural area
that is near the sunny west coast beaches on the central Gulf coast of
Florida. Students are welcome to use the entire house for the week for
cooking, bathing and just relaxing. Some people brought campers, others
brought tents and just enjoyed the warm Florida weather and beaches
while learning the techniques of smallpiping. Most folks arrive on
Saturday or Sunday before the school in order to settle in, rest up and
prepare for the first day of class. There are numerous areas including
5,000 sq. ft. of porches, a patio and indoors for participants to
practice alone, relax or chat with others.
Tuition for
the 2005 will remain at $300 for the 4 days. Participation is limited
to assure that each student's learning experience is maximized. Those
attending are divided into 2 groups: Advanced and
Beginner/Intermediate. Each group meets twice a day giving participants
an opportunity to practice what they have learned in the morning before
attending the afternoon session. There is also individual help
available for those who wish further explanation or instruction.
We do enjoy
a number of activities in the evenings. The activities range from trips
to local breweries, "Fat Tuesday" fun, sunset dining at the beach and
bonfires in the yard. We have been honored with "Chef Ken" and his
gourmet meal for a years, then "Chef Patrick". Most of the time the attendees share duties in the kitchen
which leads to many interesting gourmet meals!
For more information regarding the school, please
e-mail Maeve DeHetre and I
will gladly answer any questions. Here are some photos from our past
years at the school!