Keith Orr is the lead drummer with Field Marshal Montgomery pipe band. Keith was initially taught by Arthur Morrow, a local man who was the leading drummer of Faughan Valley pipe band and later by the legendary Bobby Rea. Keith is married to Heather and has two children; Leanne and Jenny.

As a professional drummer and educator; did/do you have a day job and how does this affect you?

I have run my own plumbing and heating business for the past 23 years – this takes up a lot of my time, and between work and band, things can be quite hectic at times. I retired from solo playing when I was 25 – I just could not find the time required for the preparation for solo wok, and took the decision to put 100% into band work.

How and when did you get into pipe band drumming?

I think I had the inclination to be a drummer from a very early age. I joined a local band in and around 1975 to learn how to drum, and hopefully play with the band eventually – not for a second thinking I would be Leading Drummer within 3 years.  My father steered me in the direction of pipe band drumming, previously being a piper himself. He was very much the driving force at the beginning of my career and a keen and active supporter right through my playing career until he sadly passed away in 1999.

What was it about pipe band drumming that attracts you to it instead of rock or jazz drumming?

Northern Ireland has always had a strong history of producing good pipe bands and competitive drum corps in all grades. I watched bands parading at home when I was a boy, and would have come home and made my best attempt to try and replicate this! Pipe band drumming seemed so complex and impressive compared to other marching bands – this was an art I wanted to master. I did actually have some early experience of kit drumming at an early age, but everything was basically self taught.

Who would you consider your favorite or most influential percussionists, marching or otherwise and why?

I have very early memories of a Cozy Powell record that my brother listened to. I set about learning the various rhythms, and it was interesting to see where these were used then and even now in the pipe band idiom. Alec Duthart of course was the ‘big man’ both in competition and in stature when I was starting out. To see him in person was quite a thing then as trips across the sea to Scotland were few and far between. The material that Alec was writing thirty or forty years ago was extremely advanced and is still relevant today. To this day my first memories of seeing Alec with the Shotts corps are very vivid. Bobby Rea was a huge influence, with both with his appetite for the pipe band scene and for his musical and rhythmical approach which he was so noted for. I played under Bobby in the RUC drum corps for 4 years and during that time won the Scottish drumming Championship, and many local championships. I don’t think that any drummer could have escaped the influence of Shotts or Boghall during the 1980s and 1990’s under Jim Kilpatrick and Tom Brown (later succeeded by Gordon Brown). These were two very influential drummers throughout this era, and the material played by both Jim and Tom certainly had a lasting impact on me and still plays a huge role in the make up of many modern drum corps.

Which events would you consider ‘defining’ moments in your career and why?

There have been many – but to name a few:

• My first solo win at age 16 in the Junior category, made even sweeter by picking up a 3rd place in the Senior grade after ‘playing up’.
• Winning Grade 1 Scottish Drumming Championships with RUC band in 1983.
• Winning the All Ireland senior title in September 1984 (age 19), after which I took over as leading drummer of the Grade 2 Graham Memorial pipe band.
• Winning  the Grade 2 World Championships (band and drumming title) in 1985 during the first season.
• 1st Competition in Grade 1 with Graham Memorial was at Stranraer where drum corps secured 4th place.
• The point everything changed was a very wet August day in Bellahouston Park in 1992 where the drum corps won the Grade 1 MSR section at the World Championship.  This win came after a 2nd in the same event the year before, and was followed by 3rd in the 2 consecutive years after.
• In 1993 the same drum corps moved to McNeillstown Pipe Band and won their first overall major drumming title – the European in Falkirk.
• The biggest challenge was yet to come however – the offer to take the reigns at Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band in the winter of 2002 was too good to turn down, and a great honour for me personally.
• Winning the first major championship as a band on the first day out with FMM
• The season of 2004 was a very special year and most definitely a defining moment in my career – the Field Marshal drum corps won the Scottish, European, 2nd at the Worlds, British and Cowal Championships. This enabled the corps to win the coveted Alec Duthart Trophy and become the Champion of Champions 2004. This was especially pleasing for me as I have always valued the Champion of Champions very highly.

What’s your current corps set up and why do you choose it?

The corps currently plays HTS 800 snare drums and Hosbilt tenors and bass. Our current tenor set up use a 4 tone system with Powermax heads. Snares use Cybermax heads and Remo bottom heads. I find the Cybermax gives a good clear sound and with good pitch and body while still coping with he demands put upon it. The 800’s were only released in August 08, so as yet we have not had a full season playing them, but first signs are very promising.

What are your plans during the coming months?

We are currently working and finalizing material for the 2009 competition season. The band has a new medley selection this year and the finishing touches are being added at the minute. We have already played two concerts at the end of March, both of which went well with the band being received extremely well and very positive feedback from both audiences. We have also changed our practice regime this season, and have been working on that during closed season and will be refining this during the summer months.

What are your feelings about the future of pipe band drumming in general?

I think pipe band drumming in general is in great shape.  The standard of all corps in Grade 1 is extremely high at present and continues to improve and progress.  I am not sure where the number of players in drum corps will finish; my view is if they continue to increase in size, the excellent level of unison now achieved may suffer. I think the pipe band ‘medley’ format will be pushed to different areas over the next few years, and this will challenge drum corps to push the boundaries to accommodate this.

Do you have any advice for aspiring drummers out there?

Like any hobby or passion, you get out what you commit to it, so dedication is essential, and also a strong will to succeed. I think you have to believe in your own abilities and everything is possible if you approach it in the right way. Also watching and learning from the top bands and solo players can pay great dividends as you advance through the grades.