Competition Music Requirements and Contest Dates

Competitions

  • Tintern Grammar – Saturday April 18th 2026 tbc
  • Competition 2 – Ballarat Grammar Saturday May 9th 2026 tbc
  • Competition 3 – Scotch College Saturday May 30th 2026
  • Competition 4 – Camperdown Saturday June 27th 2026 
  • Vic Champs Recital Saturday July 25th 2026
  • 2026 Victorian Championships – PLC July 25th AND 26th 2026

The following tune requirements are for the 2025 VPA competition season.

Tuning Time

Tuning Time Rules – All Grades

  • Piobaireachd: Maximum of 5 minutes tuning time, starting from when the chanter is first sounded.
  • Element 1 (Light Music): Maximum of 3 minutes tuning time, starting from when the chanter is first sounded.

  • Elements 2 and 3: A quick retune of up to 2 minutes is allowed between these elements. 

  • Separate Events: If Element 3 is a separate event (e.g. with a significant break after Elements 1 and 2), a maximum of 3 minutes tuning time applies.

Adjudicators may instruct players to begin if they exceed the time limits.
Failure to start promptly after instruction, or exceeding the allowed tuning time, will result in disqualification. No score sheets or points will be awarded.

Tuning  Assistance

Novice, D and C grade are permitted to have outside assistance for tuning before each Element whilst in the competing room. Tuning time allowances (see above) still apply.

Tune Requirements For All Contests

Light Music

A Grade

Element 1  –  1 x 2/4 March of 4 or more parts (Submit 3 tunes)
Element 2  –  1 x Strathspey of 4 or more parts into 1 x Reel of 4 or more parts (Submit 3 of each tune)
Element 3  –  1 x Hornpipe of 4 parts into 1 x jig of 4 or more parts (Submit 3 of each tune)

B Grade

Element 1  –  1 x 2/4 March of 4 or more parts (Submit 2 tunes)
Element 2 –  1 x Strathspey of 4 or more parts into 1 x Reel of 4 or more parts (Submit 2 of each tune, judge will pick which tunes to be played)
Element 3  – 1 x Hornpipe of 4 or more parts into 1 x jig of 4 or more parts (Submit 2 of each tune, judge will pick which tunes to be played).

C Grade

Element 1  –  1 x 2/4 March of 4 parts (own choice)
Element 2 –  1 x Strathspey of 4 parts into 1 x Reel of 4 parts (own choice)
Element 3  –  1 x Hornpipe of 4 parts into 1 x jig of 4 parts (own choice)

D Grade

Element 1  –  1 x 2/4 March of 4 parts (Own choice)
Element 2  –  1 x Strathspey of 2 parts into 1 x Reel of 2 parts (Own choice)

Novice

Element 1  –  2 parts of 2/4 March (Own choice)
Element 2  –  2 parts of Slow air/Slow march (i.e. 2 parts with repeats or 32 bars of music)

Piobaireachd

Piobaireachd Set Tunes 2026

A grade tune list

Submit 3 full tunes from the A grade list below

Nameless Hiharin dro or dro, PS4,K
The Pride of Barra (#), PS5, K
The King’s Taxes, PS5, K
The Earl of Seaforth’s Salute, PS5, K
Beloved Scotland, PS6, K
The Macdonald’s are Simple, PS9
The Battle of Bealach nam Brog, PS9
Lament for Captain Donald McKenzie, PS15

(#) denotes that Crunluath a’mach must be played

 

B grade tune list

Submit 2 full tunes from the B grade list below

Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg, PS1
The Rout of Glenfruin (#), PS8, K
Farewell to the Laird of Islay (#), PS9
Lament for the Iolaire, Donald Macleod Piob 2019 edition
Lament for John Morrison of Assynt House, Donald Macleod Piob 2019 edition
Marquis of Argyll’s Salute, PS10

(#) denotes that Crunluath a’mach must be played

C Grade

Submit 1 full tune from the VPA set list including crunluath variation and crunluath a’mach where applicable.

D Grade

Competitor to play Ground and next variation only of a tune from the VPA set list

Note: If the tune has a ground followed by thumb variation or ground doubling then this is all that needs to be played. If the tune has ground then Variation 1, then this is all that needs to be played.

Novice

Competitor to play Ground only of a tune from the VPA set list