The Oregon State Defense Force Pipe Band
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Rick Johnston

I married into piping.  My father-in-law has been a piper with the Cameron Highlander Pipeband in San Diego for most of his adult life.  His daughters competed all over the west coast in highland dancing.  He shared his love of pipe music with me and taught me to play. Now I have taught my sons to play the pipes. I love the family tradition associated with piping. Most pipers are taught to play by a father or other relative. It makes for a special bond between father-son. Playing the pipes gives me an emotional connection with my audience that I never felt with other instruments. When I play for weddings and funerals, complete strangers will come up and give me a hug and tell me a story about how grandma or some other relative loved the pipes and how they think about them whenever they hear the pipes played. I feel very blessed to share my music with them.