Kilt Length - Above Knee or Mid-Knee?

[EagleJCS]

OCR.

As you know I take little interest in civilian pipe bands and even less in their internal procedures, but as a matter of interest does the Pipe/Drum Major have any direct influence on how the members of the civilian band dress? If they have and I have always assumed in my ignorance that they have, then why are they not doing something about their bands appearance? Do they not know how the kilt should be worn for best effect, or do they not care? Or maybe I have been mistaken in their overall influence of the band?

As a member of a pipe band, I think I can try to answer this one...

Unfortunately, Jock, most civilian pipe bands (here in the States anyway) are made up of volunteers. Some of these bands (pejoratively called 'street' bands by some in the competitive piping community) are happy to have anyone join the band and make a joyful noise together. They may or may not wear a uniform, and may or may not wear the kilt and accouterments correctly. Since they're volunteers, some people don't feel pressured to wear the kit the way they're told to. "I don't like it up there", "It feels weird", "It's uncomfortable there", "I can't breathe with the kilt that high", "If you don't let me wear it the way I want to, I'll take my pipes/drum & go home", etc.

Some bands, however, are competition bands, and try to do a better job at dress & deportment (D&D), even if the band isn't being graded on it. The EUSPBA - Eastern United States Pipe Band Association - doesn't grade bands on D&D, just the drum majors, which is a solo competition not connected with band performances. Some competitions may employ a separate judge for grading a band's D&D, but that grade doesn't affect the musical grading/outcome. Wearing a uniform (matching kilts, hose, etc.) and calling it a uniform helps with getting everyone on the same "page". This may also help to explain why some band members don't wear their kilts, etc., to/from a competition. (They don't want to damage/soil the uniform.)

While I was pipe sergeant in my band (a competition band), I tried to encourage wearing all of the kit properly and would occasionally pull people aside to gently admonish and assist with correcting errors (kilt at or just above the knee, please; hose 2-3 fingers below the knee; garter flashes on the outsides of the legs, not one on the inside and one on the outside of each leg, etc.). I also try to set the example and wear the kit correctly myself.