Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the St. Joseph's Pipe & Drum Corps?
2. How did the Pipes & Drum Corps get started?
3. How is St. Joseph's Church associated with the Band?
4. When does the band meet?
5. How is the band funded?

1. What is the St. Joseph's Pipe & Drum Corps?
The St. Joseph’s Pipe & Drum Corps is a nonprofit youth organization, which is a group of kids, instructors, parents and volunteers, along with a huge parish of support, dedicated to bringing the history and culture of Scottish Pipe Band music, both traditional and non-traditional, to the greater Sandpoint area.

SJPD has the distinction of being the only pipe & drum corps in the entire Diocese of Boise, which encompasses the whole state of Idaho.

Some of their recent events include the nationally televised “Extreme Home Makeover” here in Sandpoint, and their first main-stage production of Steamtrain to Sandpoint, at the Panida Theatre, selling out the entire house. SJPD has proven that they love to perform, adding all sorts of fun surprises to their stage.

The band wears the traditional MacKenzie tartan.
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2. How did the Pipes & Drum Corps get started?
Founded by Pipe Major Dan Walden, along with the pastor at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in 2001, it began with a passion for the Scottish highland bagpipe, and grew into a need to teach young people about this great Celtic legacy. As a piping instructor, Dan has been able to inspire his pupils to explore non-traditional areas of Celtic music as well, with the addition of guitars, drum sets, fiddles, electronic keyboard, and a variety of other instruments. This adds to their repertoire to enhance their performances. Soon to join the ranks was Dan's younger brother Sean, at the ripe old age of 14 years, yet already becoming a proficient snare drummer. He quickly became drum sergeant, and the ranks grew.
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3. How is St. Joseph's Church associated with the Band?
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church picked up the ball and became our primary sponsors, .....and SJPD was born. Many countless dollars have been gifted to the band, so that youngsters of any faith may be a part of something fun and educational. We like to call ourselves "multi-demoninational."
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4. When does the band meet?
The band meets during the school year at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Mondays, from 5:30-6:30 pm for pad and chanter school, and from 6:30-7:30 pm for band practice (making changes when necessary to accommodate the students’ busy school schedules). In the late winter they gear up for the St. Patrick’s Day gigs, which are a source of funds and FUN! The summer months will find them readying for the upcoming Highland games, in which they competed as a field band this past summer for the first time.

Students become proficient as beginners, working on practice chanters and drum pads, and are eased into the performance activities as they become ready. They, in large part, teach each other, coaching and supporting as they learn and practice their craft. During this time they also build wonderful camaraderie, and the band resources other instructors as much as possible. they currently have about 18 active members, with several more in the wings on pads and chanters.

Building Commaraderie

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5. How is the band funded?
A band of this sort requires a great deal of funding and dedication on the part of the members and the volunteers who help it all go. Uniforms, bagpipes and supplies, drums, drum harnesses—all of this costs a fair amount of money. Therefore, fund-raising is definitely a part of this band’s function, and comes in the form of doing what they do best–performing!
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