Do all pipers wear kilts?

[Steve Barclay]

Here's one who didn't!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CPqFuBiwV4

[OC Richard]

If the question is about Pipe Bands, oddly enough, though the various Pipe Band Associations in the USA (EUSPBA, WUSPBA, etc) require Pipe Bands to compete in Highland Dress, the RSPBA (Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association) does not.

Bands are only required to be in matching uniform.

So, as has been pointed out, bands such as The Royal Army Of Oman Pipe Band and Breton Bagad bands and Spanish gaita bands, all of which wear trousers, compete (and sometimes win) at competitions in Scotland.

And British military pipe bands such as those of The Scots Guards, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, etc have their drummers in trousers. (A clause in the RSPBA rules allows for the pipe corps and drum corps to wear different uniforms.)

Under competition rules in the USA these bands would be DQ'd.

Another interesting quirk in the rules is that a pipe band in which each member wore a kilt in his own tartan would be OK in the USA but DQ'd in Scotland.

So, a pipe band from Texas, when competing in the USA, must wear Highland Dress, but in Scotland could compete in blue jeans, Western shirts, cowboy boots, and cowboy hats, as long as the entire band matched.

[kiltimabar]

But wouldn't tartan trews be considered Highland dress?

[Pyper]

Bands are only required to be in matching uniform.

In addition to EagleJCS's comment, bands in EUSPBA are not required to wear uniform attire. I think we all to do to a greater or lesser extent, but in our band we have mis-matched sporans and hat pins, and in some other bands they have mis-matched kilts. Shirts generally seem to match, but that limits us pretty severely, as there are few options that are available in men's, women's, and children's sizes.

Since under the rules you can have dual musicians, you could have someone in one band play pipes, and in another play tenor drum, and in that case you might have a tenor drummer in a totally mis-matched uniform (which we did exactly a few years ago once or twice).

[OC Richard]

WUSPBA rules state

"Therefore, appropriate conduct at Highland games sanctioned by the WUSPBA includes promptness at all events; the wearing of appropriate Highland dress while on the field; ..."

RSPBA rules state

"Dress
3.47 At all contests Bands must appear in uniform dress which must be the same except for minor detail, e.g. where Drummers wear uniform different to that of the Pipers.

3.48 Any further exception must have the approval of the National Council."

As mentioned above, evidently EUSPBA does not have rules about dress but I've heard it stated that "most" individual contests require Highland Dress both to compete and to receive prizes. I wonder which contests do not (if any), and what pipers wear at these contests.