Piping and drumming teaches discipline and hard work

Former drum major Grant Bender is encouraging young people to take up the pipes and drums to help grow the numbers in local pipe bands.

Grant, a former member of the Benoni High Pipe Band, says being part of a pipe band teaches lifelong skills like hard work, discipline and commitment.

“You learn to work hard to achieve something. You can’t just pitch up on the day of the gathering without practising. You won’t do well.

“It’s about discipline and practice. It grows you as a person and benefits you for the rest of your life.”

He added that piping and drumming is a rewarding extracurricular activity that can even become a side hustle through paid performances at concerts, weddings or functions.

“It’s a skill you can have for the rest of your life. A lot of the guys in the bands do concerts. The pipers play at weddings or funerals. You can make a bit of extra money on the side to pay your bills.”

Grant began his journey in 1988 at the Benoni High Pipe Band after a teacher asked if he would be interested in becoming a drum major.

“The drum major was in matric and about to leave. I was quite tall, and one of the teachers asked me if I wanted to come and learn how to be a drum major for the band.

“I got in and had some great tutors. It got into my blood, and I enjoyed every moment of it. I did parades, concerts and theatre shows,” he said.

After leaving school in 1992, he spent four years in the South African Medical Services Pipe Band while completing his military service.

Later, he joined Benoni Mac Talla and was part of the team that competed at the World Championships in 2001.

“It was great fun. I toured the whole country with the SA medics. Afterwards, I got back into the civilian bands. I managed to go to the world champs in 2001. It was a great experience to compete with the best bands in the world.”

Now a judge, Grant watched with pride as Gauteng’s top pipe bands competed in the Pipe Bands Association of South Africa (PBASA) regional finals at Benoni High School on July 12.

“The standard for the school bands is exceptional, especially the Benoni High and St Benedict’s bands. It’s a lot of hard work, and the tutors have really boosted these bands compared to how they were when the season started.

We have one last gathering after this, and the school bands are putting on really good performances.”

The South African Pipe Band Championships will be held at St Benedict’s College on July 26.

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