Robert Aitken

Robert Aitken is a piper and teacher who was born and bred in Brora, East Sutherland. A founding member of the Sutherland Schools Pipe Band his younger years saw him play as piper to the Duke of Sutherland and participating in the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

Since then Robert has traversed the globe and is a past World Champion and winner at the Calgarry Stampede, Canada, both with the Grampian Police Pipe Band.

Now living in Aberdeen Robert lends his band skills as music advisor to the Drums and Pipes Gordon Highlanders Association Pipe band and as the new Director, Massed Pipes and Drums Fulda Military tattoo 2009, after a successful stint as senior Pipe Major in 2007. As a solo competitor Robert has won many prizes in both light music and Piobaireachd on the Highland Games Circuit.

Perhaps Robert’s key role in his organisation, TRAD-ARR, is as Joint Manager of Pipe and Drum Programmes, functioning in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council’s Youth Music Initiative Coordinator. This involves the delivery of chanter tuition to a number of schools across Aberdeenshire. In addition, Robert jointly oversees the provision of many training opportunities for young people with piping and drumming workshops across the region, the Aberdeen International Youth Festival PIPESLORE being a good example. Robert is also instrumental in the creation of the new Aberdeenshire Youth Pipes & Drums, acting as its Artistic Director.

Professional development in teaching is also an area covered where Robert is able to offering mentoring, whereby pipers interested in sitting the Piping and Drumming Qualification Board ‘Tutor’s Cetificate, Piping’ are prepared by himself directly. Robert has excellent experience of the newly updated Piping Certification levels having attained the rare international PDQB Teacher’s Certificate, Piping award himself. The aim is to help all players in Aberdeenshire interested in improving and gaining a recognised Certificate in Piping.

Arranging and composing music is very close to Robert’s heart where he is building up material for a new collection. Robert’s work has been played at the highest competitive level, major international events and locally, with the inspiration piece ‘Standing Stones’ his latest offering – a commissioned piece for the Homecoming and very much with the Aberdeenshire Youth Pipes & Drums in mind to perform.

www.tradarr.com