Although Scottish bagpipes were once used to inspire troops into battle, two Powell River brothers are using them to soothe spirits and help commemorate wartime losses.
Aidan DeVilliers, 12, and Steffan DeVilliers, 10, are the two youngest members of Powell River’s Clansman Pipe Band; making their first public performance at this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony.
“Many people came up to speak with me,” said Steffan. “I got a lot of comments about how I was doing a good job.”
Although the brothers have been learning bagpipes together for three years, this was their first experience marching with the band.
“I learned you always start with your left foot,” said Aidan. “Although sometimes I noticed I was on the wrong foot.”
Despite marching hiccups, the two brothers said they had to memorize 12 songs before they could join the pipe band. Although Aiden said they probably learned about 20, including his personal favourite, “Scotland the Brave.”
Their teacher, master piper Ian Richmond, said it has been a pleasure teaching such enthusiastic learners.
“I have never taught such young students,” said Richmond. “They really learned quite quickly and it helps that they are so enthusiastic.”
Starting three years ago with the chanter, the small pipe part of the bagpipes, the brothers said they had to learn the music and practice finger movements before they graduated to playing the full bagpipe earlier this year.
“It’s a small bag but sometimes it does feel a bit big,” said Steffan. “But you play and get used to the feeling.”
Each bagpipe, composed of a chanter, bag and a set of three drones, takes time to master, especially in terms of breathing and keeping the bag at the right pressure, according to the boys’ teacher.
Although the brothers graduated to marching with the band just a few months after starting with the full set of bagpipes, this isn’t the typical experience for adult or even teenaged learners, according to Richmond.
“It usually takes three to four weeks to get used to just one of the drones,” he said. “But after that time the brothers had learned how to use all of them. Older learners just can’t do that.”
Their father, Dirk, said the neighbours enjoy hearing the boys practice on the family’s Paradise Valley farm.
“Our neighbour has a elderly father who is Scottish,” said Dirk. “He brings him to listen to the pipes and enjoy the green fields which remind him of home.”
Their mother, Ingrid, homeschools the brothers, as well as several younger siblings, and said piping could be a potential career option.
“I heard that the Queen of England has a piper play to her every morning,” she said, laughing. “That would be quite something for them.”
Nevertheless, the brother’s dedication to the bagpipes sometimes has its difficulties. Ingrid said she often has to call them away from piping to get them to the dinner table.
“It’s great they are so enthusiastic,” she said. “But it is sometimes quite a job to get them to stop.”
Watch the below video for the brothers in action.
