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In the world of pipe bands, there are two main roads an organization chooses to go down. Neither one is better than the other, but they are two completely different roads. There are thousands of pipe bands around the world, and each falls into one of these two categories.
The first is category is "parade" or "street" band. The biggest distinction of parade bands (vs. competition bands) is their focus as an organization. Bands in this category are usually founded on the principle of performing music and having a good time. They are more concerned with looking good and performing well, and less concerned with some of the more complex and technical concerns of competition bands.
Many parade bands are branches of military sectors, (such as the US Air Force Pipe Band). Parade bands are often sponsored by other non-profit organizations, such as VFW or American Legion clubs, police and fire departments, schools, etc. Most street bands perform extensively throughout their area, including parades, civic functions, etc. These performances occupy most of their schedule.
The other category is competition bands. The main difference between competition bands and parade bands is also their focus as an organization. Competition bands focus their attention and efforts on (you guessed it) pipe band competitions. In a competition band, you'd typically find players that are very serious about their craft, and devote a surprising amount of time to personal improvement, band rehearsals and traveling to competitions.
This is not to say that pipers and drummers in competition bands do not enjoy themselves. Many enjoy the personal satisfaction of achieving a challenging goal. Others like the feeling of winning a competition, and the sense of teamwork involved. Many simply enjoy the challenging aspect of playing in a serious band, especially one that is focused on specific goals.
Bands that choose to compete must spend lots of time perfecting required tunes, getting a good sound from the instruments, working on band unison, etc. The goal is to assemble many gifted individual players, set goals, work as a team, and play as one band, one sound.
Competition bands in North America generally compete from May through September, at competitions held on weekends in different (often remote) locations. Bands often travel great distances to compete against other bands of similar ability level. Competition bands generally compete in anywhere from three to eight competitions per summer, around one or two per month.
Throughout the fall, winter and spring (known as the "off-season"), competition bands spend a majority of their time preparing for the upcoming summer, rehearsing anywhere between two and ten hours per week as an ensemble. Bands that compete also must perform around the area at private and public engagements and hold fundraisers throughout the off season to raise the money necessary for travel expenses, uniforms, instrument maintenance, and competition entry fees.
In the US alone, there are hundreds of pipe bands. Most pipe bands seem to be located toward the East Coast and the Midwest, though there are a number of pipe bands throughout the country. A great deal of these pipe bands are non-competing, parade bands. There are several pipe bands in each state that do choose to compete as well, though the number is less significant.
Canada likely has more pipe bands than the US, with the majority of these bands in the province of Ontario. There are also hundreds of bands across Canada, including British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Canada seems to have a greater ratio of competition bands to parade bands then does the US. Undoubtedly, Scotland and Ireland seem to bolster the greatest number of pipe bands than any other country in the world, though that is changing. In the countless pipe bands around the world, many other countries field pipe bands, many of which compete internationally.
When a pipe band chooses to compete, they must register with a governing pipe band association. These are like the leagues in sports; a band registers and follows the rules of the association they wish to be a part of (usually determined by geographic area). Bands within the association compete against other bands in the same association in pipe band competitions. Occasionally, bands will travel to competitions sanctioned by other associations to compete. For instance, most bands in the Ontario, Canada area are members of the Pipers and Pipe Band Society or Ontario (PPBSO), and generally compete at PPBSO-sanctioned events, against other PPBSO-associated bands. The bands may compete outside of their association events, at competitions such as the World Pipe Band Championships (sanctioned by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association), held in Glasgow, Scotland.
Competing bands and soloists must be affiliated with a recognized association in order to take the field. They must also adhere to strict guidelines in the areas of grading, uniform, tune selection, and rosters. The association acts as the governing body, and sets rules on what bands must wear and what types of tunes are required for competition events. They also monitor the current band roster, and make sure that a player only competes with one band per season, for example. Finally, the association helps to decide the grade level of each band, in order to keep competition fair.
In the realm of pipe band competition, bands that register with a pipe band association must register as a band of a certain grade level. Grades are a way to divide bands into playing or ability level. Bands are graded from numbers 5 to 1. The most serious, professional pipe bands are Grade 1 (highest ability level), and the beginner bands with newer players are Grade 5 (lowest ability level). Grades range in numbers of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. (In solo competitions, the Open level is added, to allow professional pipers and snare drummers to compete against one another.)
In competition, bands and soloists compete against other bands in the same grade category. This largely keeps competition fair. If a band gains several more experienced members or significantly improves during the off-season (or a band loses players and becomes less competitive), they may request re-grading by the association. The association will re-evaluate the status of a band, and place them in the appropriate grade level for the following season. Additionally, bands that continue to dominate their competition events may be re-graded by the association as well. Once a band is registered in a certain grade, they must compete in that grade for the entire season (barring a few exceptions).
Bands are judged as much by very strict, standardizes criteria as they are by subjective means. Bands who choose to compete at a given Highland Games (sanctioned by a pipe band association), must meet certain requirements. Bands in similar grades are required to perform tunes of the same style, to allow fair judging. For instance, a band competing in Grade 5 may be required to perform a medley (or set of tunes played continuously) of marches in a certain time signature.
The higher the grade, the more difficult the requirements are, and the more quantity of tunes is required. Also, the difficulty level of playing is also raised for higher grades. For example, a Grade 5 band would only have to submit one medley of marches (around 3 tunes). A band in Grade 2 may have to perform a medley of tunes of different styles and time signatures (around 6-8 tunes). The length of time allotted depends on the grade as well, ranging from 3-5 minutes to 7-10 minutes. Higher-grade bands (Grades 2 and 1) must also prepare two selections of required tunes (which judges draw at the stating line to determine which they will perform). This adds to the complexity and difficulty of tune requirements in competition.
Lower grade bands (Grades 4 and 5) may be required to perform a "Quick March Medley", or a set of quick marches that are played continuously. Grade 4 bands may also be required to perform a Medley (a set of tunes of different styles and tempos, played continuously). Medley tunes usually consist of (but are not limited to) marches, strathspeys, reels, hornpipes, jigs, and slow aires. Grade 3 bands may be required to perform a Medley as well as a March, Strathspey & Reel (MSR), consisting of one of each of the three tune types. MSRs differ from Medleys in that the former is generally a "meat & potatoes" type of event, where very traditional tunes are played (with a greater focus on technical aspects); the latter is more of an expressive composition that allows more creativity. Grade 2 bands are often required to submit one Medley and two MSRs. At the starting line, a judge chooses which MSR they will perform, only seconds before competition. Similarly, Grade 1 bands are required to submit two MSRs and two Medleys, each drawn at the line.
There are typically four judges that critique a competing band. These judges are usually seasoned professional players, and must pass an exam to be certified by the association in which they judge. In most associations, there are two piping judges, one drumming judge, and another for overall ensemble. Points are tallied and weighted as per the rules of the association, and the overall winner is awarded.
Pipe sections and drum sections are judged on technical ability and technique, unison within the section (corps), use of harmonies or dynamic s, score composition and tuning. The ensemble judge listens for overall effect within the entire band, how well the two corps play together, the tune selections chosen, and overall band sound. After the Closing Ceremonies are concluded and the winners are announced, each band receives a sheet from each judge, containing his comments about the performance, and any numeric points awarded.
Some players choose to compete in solo competitions. Solo competitors are also governed by the pipe band association and must follow strict rules. The grading and judging is very similar to that of pipe band competition. Pipers and snare drummers are categorized into appropriate grade levels, and compete against their peers. Players may compete in grades 5 through Open, a category for professional drummers. The winners of amateur grade levels receive a medal or small trophy, as well as the judges comment sheet. Soloists in the Open grade receive a small monetary prize in addition to a medal and comment sheet.
Solo competitors must play tunes of a required time signature and style as well. Pipers perform alone, while snare drummers must be accompanied by a piper (who is not judged). Competitions are held in the morning (before opening ceremonies), beginning with the lowest grade level. Winners in each grade are announced at Closing Ceremonies.
Most pipe band competitions feature bands from around the geographic area, and several bands that have traveled great distances to compete. Most pipe band competitions have between 5-15 competing bands. Some larger competitions (such as the North American Pipe Band Championships in Maxville, Ontario and the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland) may include as many as 30-80 bands.
The day of a pipe band competition is usually a stressful and tiring one. Bands from all parts of the country (sometimes even from other countries) arrive in the small town hosting the Highland Games. The competition is usually held in a large, open field. Players stagger in early in the morning and find their bands' campsite. Solo pipers and drummers warm up themselves (and their instruments), and prepare for solo competitions. Soloists compete as early as 8 A.M., and continue competing until around 11 A.M.
Solo results are tallied and posted. Bands begin to assemble at their campsites and warm up for the opening ceremonies. Usually held on the field of a small stadium or grandstand, each pipe band present assembles together in a "Massed Band" on the field. Traditionally, the bands perform as one "super band", playing tunes together and marching about the field. This is an incredibly impressive sight for spectators, and traditionally kicks off the Highland Games.
After Massed Bands has concluded, bands return to their camp areas and prepare for the days competition. Bands are notified of their playing time by staff members, and begin to tune their instruments and cram some last minute rehearsal in. Bands compete in their respective grade, beginning with Grade 5 and concluding with the highest grade present (up to Grade 1).
Bands begin competing around 1 P.M., and competitions continue until around 5 P.M. or until the last band is finished. After a short break to tally the scores, the judges turn in their calculations as the bands assemble once again for Closing Massed Bands (closing ceremonies). Once again, all the bands present assemble as one, and perform a short set of tunes and march a formation.
Before long, a representative begins to quiet the crowd and announce the results of the morning's solo competitions. Winners accept their prizes, and the band results are announced. Typically, results are announced for the top three places of each grade, beginning with Grade 5. Some also announce caption awards, such as "Best Drum Corps" and "Best Bass Section". The Pipe Major from the winning band accepts the respective trophy, and readies the band.
The winning band in each grade is allowed the right to "march off" the field, beginning with the lowest grade winner. There is quite a bit of prestige associated with this, as the winning bands are allowed to march past not only the spectators and judges, but also the other bands they competed against. The winning band may play whatever tune selection they want as they march off in victory. The remaining bands must perform several more tunes as a massed band (the last thing players want to do after a long day of playing).
The competition day is concluded at the end of Closing Ceremonies, around 6 P.M. After the crowd dissipates, players often retire to the beer tent, an area for band members and friends to congregate and catch up with friends in other bands. As the bands return to their camps and prepare to pack up their things, the winners are often seen posing for a quick band picture with the new trophy. Win or lose, band members in all bands are anxious to relax after a long day of playing.
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2:55 PM:
5:00 PM: 
5:30 PM: Marching Off 
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