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Yesterday, the piping world lost one of its greats and I lost a friend and mentor. Much will be written in the coming days and months about Alasdair Gillies and how he was quite possibly the greatest light music competitor of all time.  He was a brilliant player, with an unmatched competitive record:  winning the Silver Star at the Northern Meeting for the Former Winners March, Strathspey and Reel eleven times. I feel lucky to have known Alasdair, to have taught with him, and to have had many lessons with him. I studied light music with him extensively and intensely in the years leading up to and during my first years competing in the big competitions in Scotland. The big competitions (Oban and Inverness) are split into A and B grades. My first year competing in Scotland, I did not get in to either of these big competitions, so instead I went around the games ...