The Oklahoma Scottish Pipes and Drums (OSPD) was established in August of 1998 with the expressed goals of

1. Preserving and perpetuating Scottish Pipe band traditions, ideals, customs, minstrelsy, and attire (the band now wears kilts featuring the Scottish National Tartan).

2. Promoting Celtic customs and culture

3. Providing a means of learning, developing skills in, and performing high quality music of Scottish, Irish, Welsh, and other Celtic traditions.

The Oklahoma Scottish Pipes and Drums strives for musical excellence in all of its performances, engagements, and functions, whether they be private, public, paid or volunteered. In order to achieve and maintain musical excellence OSPD has:
 

1. Established a rigorous schedule of several practice/rehearsal sessions per week.

2. Insisted on continual improvement within the band, and frequent feedback from pipe band experts by participating in numerous pipe band and solo pipe competitions each year. Evidence of OSPD's success is exhibited by the numerous trophies and medals garnered by the Band and its Soloists.

3. Scheduled several Seminars/Workshops each year, lead by professional level musicians, to enhance individual skills and promote Band cohesiveness.

4. Constantly encourage a positive teaching atmosphere and band camaraderie to enhance the learning process.

OSPD welcomes serious students and provides lessons at no charge. Sincere dedication is required and the student must be willing to commit to regular attendance at weekly group lessons, and to daily personal practice. Generally a student begins on the practice chanter and learns the basic notes of the bagpipe scale along with the traditional embellishments (grace notes and doublings) which are required to play the Great Highland Bagpipes properly. This may take 6 months to a year of DAILY practice. After that time, the student progresses to the pipes and spends the next several months building up the stamina necessary to produce a steady, even tone. Finally, the proper technique for balancing drone and chanter sounds will be developed along with numerous other skills necessary for the competent piper.

The Oklahoma Scottish Pipes and Drums encourages all who are stirred by the sound of the Great Highland Warpipe to investigate membership in the Band and/or lessons on the bagpipe.

OSPD practices and rehearsals are held several times a week at the Church of the Savior, 5600 NW 63rd in Oklahoma City.

1) Beginning Bagpipe Lessons Tuesdays 6pm-7pm
2) Band Practice Chanter/Drum Pad Practice Tuesdays 7pm-9pm
3) Full Band Rehearsal Thursdays 7pm -9pm
4) Oklahoma Piobareachd Society meeting last Tuesday of each month 6pm-7pm (for the study of the classical music of the Bagpipe)