Our History

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Detroit Highlanders have a long and interesting history

1. 1920's - Established
2. Pipe Major George Duncan
3. Pipe Sgt Walter Rose (later P/M for St. Andrews PB, Detroit) 
4. First Uniform Tartan, Royal Stewart
5. Some of the same pipers formed
   1. Ford Motor Co. Pipe Band, Detroit USA (Disbanded)
   2. Chrysler Highlanders. Now the Birmingham Pipe Band, Detroit USA
   3. St. Andrew's Pipe Band,  Detroit USA
   4. St. Thomas Pipe Band. Then renamed the MacNish Distillery Pipe Band, Ontario Canada 
6. 2020-01-31 Forgotten History the Ford Motor Company Pipe Band. Published by Piping Press
7. 2020-02-14 Detroit Highlanders and the Other Motor Industry Pipe Bands of the USA. Published by Piping Press
8. See More => About
9. 2022 - Nonprofit Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3)
10. 2022 - Uniform Tartan,  Ancient Abercrombie

The Strathclyde Police Pipe Band. This is a Grade One pipe band playing the tunes:

• March - Detroit Highlanders
• Strathspey - Loch Loskin
• Reel - Mac-an-Isish

The tune "Detroit Highlanders" was written by Archibald MacNeill (the blind piper from Glasgow) to honor the Scottish heritage in the Motor Detroit Michigan area during the the early 1920's.

 

Our Mission

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Our mission is to welcome all pipers and drummers to participant with the Detroit Highlanders Pipe Band and in doing so learn new tunes, improve their skills,  be introduced to both traditional and non-traditional piping tunes, create interesting medleys.  But most of all, have fun.

 

We understand peoples lives are busy doing multiply chores. If nothing else, our practice sessions can be used as your practice session to help keep you involved and connected in the World of piping and/or drumming. 
 

• Promote Celtic arts
• Great Highland Bagpipes (GHB)
• Base, Tenor, Snare drumming
• Highland Dancing

We are NOT here to recruit pipers or drummers away from their current band.  It is very important these pipers and drummers continue to support their current pipe band.

This is a virtual pipe band.  The participants suggest the tunes to learn and decide what events to play at. Participants are from other bands with people located in Grand Rapids (MI),  Royal Oak(MI), Detroit(MI), Rochester(MI), Dearborn(MI), Ohio (OH).  Grade level of these bagpipers range from "Grade 5" to "Grade 1".

 

Our Resources

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What does a bagpipe band consist of?

• Bagpipers
• Snare Drummers
• Tenor Drummers
• Base Drummer

Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band This is an example of a pipe band drum corps.  Snare Drummers in front.   Tenor Drummers (drum on the side) and Base Drummers (drum on the chest) in the back. This is NOT the Detroit Highlanders Pipe Band, Yet :) .

If you are interested in any of these musical instruments, please contact us.

Beginners are welcome.  All have access to some of the best piper and drummer instructors.

Social Media

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There are many ways to contribute to our project:

• Like us on Facebook.