Two hour workshop for Smallpipes or Border pipes in “A” taught by Ben Miller. Ben is available for private lessons earlier in the day for those with pipes in “D”.
Ben is a player of Scottish smallpipes, border pipes and the highland pipes whose repertoire and style draw mainly on the Gaelic traditions of western Scotland and the Canadian maritimes, blended with a healthy dash of Iris tunes for good measure.
Originally from Upstate New York, Ben has spent a number of years living in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he recently completed a post-graduate degree at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Scottish Studies.
Ben’s interest in traditional music stems from his exposure to the bagpipes at a young age, in his home town of Queensbury, as well as his familys strong connection to its Scottish and Irish roots, through both his American mother and Canadian father. He began studying the Highland Bagpipes around age eight, but by twelve he began to shift his focus to the bellows-blown Scottish smallpipes and Border pipes.
Ben has played with several competitive pipe bands during his career, but left the pipe band scene to pursue traditional Scottish and Cape Breton dance music, and has traveled extensively to Scotland, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton to further develop his own unique style.
Ben is an experienced instructor, in both one-on-one and group settings. He has been a member of teaching staff at several large-scale piping workshops, including the Pipers Gathering (Vermont, USA), P.E.I. Fiddle Camp (Prince Edward Island, CAN) and the Maine Pipes and Fiddle Workshops (Maine, USA).
Ben is also involved with several other projects in addition to his solo career, including a dynamic new duo with Cape Breton fiddle player, Anita MacDonald, and the innovative Edinburgh-based quartet, Larsa. He has also collaborated extensively with dancer Sophie Stephenson, of Fort Augustus, on Scottish step-dance programs across Scotland and abroad.
In addition to teaching and performing, Ben is also a writer and scholar, having recently completed a post-graduate degree in Scottish Ethnology, at The University of Edinburgh’s School of Scottish Studies, where he focused on musical performance in the Gaelic dance-music tradition. He also contributes regularly to Piping Today Magazine, published by the National Piping Centre in Glasgow, Scotland.
Here are the details for the workshop. There will be fantastic concert to follow later in the evening. All events take place at Montgomery Legion Hall, 330 Kent St.
Sat. Feb. 27 3-5pm Montgomery Legion Hall 330 Kent St. Third Floor Gaelic piping workshop – American/Scottish piper Ben Miller teaching Gaelic traditional tunes for small pipes or border pipes in A. $25. Onsite registration space permitting, advance registration recommended. http://piping.brownpapertickets.com/
Sat. Feb. 27 3-5pm Montgomery Legion Hall 330 Kent St. Third Floor Cape Breton Stepdance workshop with Anita MacDonald. Suitable for beginner to advanced. Wear comfortable non-grip shoes. $25 Onsite registration space permitting, advance registration recommended. http://capebretondance.brownpapertickets.com/
Sat. Feb. 27 8pm Montgomery Legion Hall 330 Kent St. Third Floor Cape Breton Concert and Square Dance with Anita MacDonald and Ben Miller, accompanied by Tyson Chen. Concert 8pm followed by a traditional Cape Breton dance at 9pm. All ages, cash bar. $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Child/Youth $10. http://cbsession.brownpapertickets.com/