If you want to know the “dirty secret” of the North Shore Highlanders, it’s that our instruments are held together by yellow string and electrical tape. To keep the joints of the pipes airtight in the Port Dover, Ontario weather,… Hemp, Wax, and Electrical Tape

One of the most famous Highland dances we play for is the Seann Truibhas (pronounced “shawn trewas”), which means “Old Trousers.” The dance is a celebration of the end of the ban on Highland dress. The slow, graceful movements represent… The “Seann Truibhas”: Celebrating Freedom

You can’t have a pipe band without thinking about Highland dancers. Traditionally, these dances were used by Scottish warriors to test their agility, strength, and stamina before battle. While the North Shore Highlanders in Port Dover, Ontario are primarily a… Highland Dancing: The Ultimate Fitness Test

One of the hardest things for a new piper to learn isn’t the music—it’s the “strike-in.” This is the moment when you squeeze the bag and all the drones start humming at once. If you do it wrong, you get… The Art of the “Strike-In”

The bagpipe holds a unique, if slightly intimidating, title: it is the only musical instrument in history to ever be classified as a “weapon of war.” Back in the day, pipers led Highland regiments into battle to inspire their friends… The “Weapon of War”: A Musical First