Robert Meade entered the pipe band world in 1961 as a 12-year-old piper with the Robert E. Peary High School Pipe
Band. In short order, it became apparent that the pipes were not the instrument for Bob, so the youngster switched to
drums. By his senior year, 1967, he was an accomplished Bass and Tenor Drummer.
In 1965, while still playing with the school band, Bob joined the Denny and Dunipace Pipe Band [now known as the
City of Washington Pipe Band], first as a Tenor Drummer and then as their Bass Drummer. At this time, the band was
Grade II. He played with Denny from 1965 to 1979, though he did take some time off between 1968 and 1971 to serve
in the Army in Vietnam and other fun vacation spots.
From 1979 to 1997, Bob played Bass for a variety of bands. Well, mostly it was the same band under
different names: Dunloggin Pipes and Drums, Clan Campbell Pipes and Drums, Tir na Mhairi Pipe
Band, and Dunloggin - the Pipes and Drums of Tir na Mhairi. He also played back-up Bass for his old
band, The City of Washington Pipe Band, for several Icelandair gigs.
Bob took some time off from 1998 to 2000 to write his book, Keeping the Beat: Bass and Tenor
Drumming for Pipe Bands - Volume I: Beginners. He also wrote and starred in the accompanying
training video. During this time period, he also taught workshops throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and
developed new items for the Meade Custom Drumming product line.
In 2000, Bob came out of "retirement" to play Bass for the Ulster Scottish Pipe Band, Grade III, before
moving to his current position as Bass Drummer for the Grade I City of Washington Pipe Band. He is also currently the
Senior Bass and Tenor Adjudicator on the EUSPBA panel, a member of the Music Board and Grading Committee,
and the author of the current adjudication guidelines for Bass and Tenor within the EUSPBA.
In his forty-plus years in the Pipe Band world, Bob has taught Tenor and Bass drumming at the Southeast Branch
Workshop (Atlanta), the Delco Workshop (Pennsylvania) and other workshops throughout the U.S. He has taught all
but one member of the current EUSPBA Tenor/Bass Adjudicator panel and has provided training and lessons to
countless bands, including: the Robert E. Peary High School Pipe Band, the Rockville High School Pipe Band,
members of the Dunloggin Pipes & Drums, Ulster Scottish Pipe Band, the Mary Washington College Eagle Pipe
Band, Dalriada Pipe Band, Guilford & Glencoe Juvenile Pipe Band, Laurel Highlanders Pipe Band, MacDonald Pipe
Band, Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band, Strath James Pipe Band, Tidewater Pipe Band, various Shriners' Pipe Bands,
Lionhart Pipe Band, Delmar and District Pipe Band, Prince George's County Police Pipe Band and more. The list
goes on, but the memory is short.
With Meade Custom Drumming Supplies, Bob manufactures a complete line of specialty drumming supplies such as
Bass Mallets, Parade Bass Mallets, Rhythm Tenor Mallets, Flourish Tenor Mallets, Traditional Tenor Mallets, Snare
sticks, Bass Drum carrier / harness, Snare Drum carrier / harness and Tenor Drum carrier / harness. All items are
handcrafted with care to improve your drumming experience. He is, first and foremost, a drummer himself, dedicated
to the advancement of the art form. As such, he is continually adding to and improving his product line as the growth of
the idiom increases. He hopes that you enjoy your Meade Custom Drumming Supplies.
Band. In short order, it became apparent that the pipes were not the instrument for Bob, so the youngster switched to
drums. By his senior year, 1967, he was an accomplished Bass and Tenor Drummer.
In 1965, while still playing with the school band, Bob joined the Denny and Dunipace Pipe Band [now known as the
City of Washington Pipe Band], first as a Tenor Drummer and then as their Bass Drummer. At this time, the band was
Grade II. He played with Denny from 1965 to 1979, though he did take some time off between 1968 and 1971 to serve
in the Army in Vietnam and other fun vacation spots.
From 1979 to 1997, Bob played Bass for a variety of bands. Well, mostly it was the same band under
different names: Dunloggin Pipes and Drums, Clan Campbell Pipes and Drums, Tir na Mhairi Pipe
Band, and Dunloggin - the Pipes and Drums of Tir na Mhairi. He also played back-up Bass for his old
band, The City of Washington Pipe Band, for several Icelandair gigs.
Bob took some time off from 1998 to 2000 to write his book, Keeping the Beat: Bass and Tenor
Drumming for Pipe Bands - Volume I: Beginners. He also wrote and starred in the accompanying
training video. During this time period, he also taught workshops throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and
developed new items for the Meade Custom Drumming product line.
In 2000, Bob came out of "retirement" to play Bass for the Ulster Scottish Pipe Band, Grade III, before
moving to his current position as Bass Drummer for the Grade I City of Washington Pipe Band. He is also currently the
Senior Bass and Tenor Adjudicator on the EUSPBA panel, a member of the Music Board and Grading Committee,
and the author of the current adjudication guidelines for Bass and Tenor within the EUSPBA.
In his forty-plus years in the Pipe Band world, Bob has taught Tenor and Bass drumming at the Southeast Branch
Workshop (Atlanta), the Delco Workshop (Pennsylvania) and other workshops throughout the U.S. He has taught all
but one member of the current EUSPBA Tenor/Bass Adjudicator panel and has provided training and lessons to
countless bands, including: the Robert E. Peary High School Pipe Band, the Rockville High School Pipe Band,
members of the Dunloggin Pipes & Drums, Ulster Scottish Pipe Band, the Mary Washington College Eagle Pipe
Band, Dalriada Pipe Band, Guilford & Glencoe Juvenile Pipe Band, Laurel Highlanders Pipe Band, MacDonald Pipe
Band, Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band, Strath James Pipe Band, Tidewater Pipe Band, various Shriners' Pipe Bands,
Lionhart Pipe Band, Delmar and District Pipe Band, Prince George's County Police Pipe Band and more. The list
goes on, but the memory is short.
With Meade Custom Drumming Supplies, Bob manufactures a complete line of specialty drumming supplies such as
Bass Mallets, Parade Bass Mallets, Rhythm Tenor Mallets, Flourish Tenor Mallets, Traditional Tenor Mallets, Snare
sticks, Bass Drum carrier / harness, Snare Drum carrier / harness and Tenor Drum carrier / harness. All items are
handcrafted with care to improve your drumming experience. He is, first and foremost, a drummer himself, dedicated
to the advancement of the art form. As such, he is continually adding to and improving his product line as the growth of
the idiom increases. He hopes that you enjoy your Meade Custom Drumming Supplies.
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