You might think the pipes belong strictly to the Highlands or Port Dover, Ontario, but they’ve actually been to orbit! Canadian astronaut Kjell Lindgren played a set of “pipes” (specifically a chanter) on the International Space Station to honor a… Bagpipes in Space? (Yes, Really!)

One of our favorite tunes to play in Port Dover, Ontario is The Black Bear. It is traditionally the fastest march used by Highland regiments to return to their barracks. It’s famous for the moment where the soldiers (and the… The “Black Bear”: The Fastest March in the Army

When the North Shore Highlanders lead a parade in Port Dover, Ontario, you’ll see our Drum Major at the very front carrying a ceremonial mace. This isn’t just for show—the mace is a communication tool. Different positions of the mace… The Drum Major’s Mace: More Than a Stick

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

Did you know the Great Highland Bagpipe only plays nine notes? It’s true! We play from low G to high A, and because we have no sharps or flats, we don’t even need a key signature. For the North Shore… No Sharps, No Flats, No Problem

In Scottish Gaelic, the bagpipe is called Pìob Mhòr, which literally translates to “The Big Pipe.” It’s an appropriate name, isn’t it? When the North Shore Highlanders strike up in Port Dover, Ontario, there’s nothing small about the sound or… The “Big Pipe”: Gaelic Roots in Port Dover