Learning Bagpipes

**obuchiteck** · 10th July 07, 08:19 AM

My brother is in a Punk band and I was thinking about joining him. I would like to learn how to play the pipes but I have a couple of questions.
A. I’m in grad school so I don’t have a lot of time, about 45min a week, to practice. Is that enough?
B. Are Bagpipes hard to learn?
C. What’s the average price range?
D. About how many hours would it take to get the hang of things?

**highlander_Daz** · 10th July 07, 09:25 AM

forget bagpipes- get a long practice chanter and a logans tutor book, find a good instructor (or join a pipe band) and start from the beginning, like anything else its only hard if you cant doit, however the pipes are not an easy instrument to get to "grips" with (sorry pipers joke) hammer your practice chanter and get everything as accurate as possible, once you start mixing with other pipers you always get to hear of pipes for sale etc.

and check out this site

www.bobdunsire.com

**Keith A** · 10th July 07, 09:28 AM

I Started Taking Lessons 20 Years Ago. I Ended Up Joining The Navy And That Ended The Lessons. So Now 2o Years Latter Im At It One More Time. I Take Lessons Once A Week Private. You Need To Practice Everyday, Sometimes I Miss A Day. I Fit Most Of My Practice Time In On The Train To And From Work And I Have A Lot Of Free Time At Work So I Get Some In Then. I Would Say If You Have The Money Get A Ross Technologies Electronic Bagpipe. It Opens Alot More Time For You When You Can Put In Earphones And Not Bother Anyone With Your Practice. But It Not Easy And It Takes Time. A Good Friend Of Mine Plays For The Nypd Pipe Band It Took Him Three Years Before He Could Even Try Out, And Did Not Make It On His First Try.

**pipesndrumsnun** · 10th July 07, 09:33 AM

Hi!
I'm also a grad student (systematic theology) and a new pipe student. 45 minutes a week won't cut it, but you can take your PC to school with you and practice between classes...even if it takes going out to practice in your car!
If you look at your schedule, you most likely can find some little slots of time throughout the day where you can get some practice in...four 15 minute sessions a day gives you an hour (and it can be a great stress relief type of break from study)!
Good luck!

**obuchiteck** · 10th July 07, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by pipesndrumsnun

you can take your PC to school with you and practice between classes...even if it takes going out to practice in your car!

How? What's the ware, is just sofware or is it also a hardpiece connected?

**obuchiteck** · 10th July 07, 09:37 AM

I Fit Most Of My Practice Time In On The Train To And From Work

OMG! I just snorted milk out my nose. I was picturing myself on the Chicago "L" practicing the pipes during rush hour. HA! I would get my arss kicked.

**pipesndrumsnun** · 10th July 07, 09:48 AM

RE: practice on the train...this is why you need an electronic practice chanter...OR you could use this as a money-making opportunity to supplement the slim funds of a grad student - put a hat in front of you while you practice and let the highly entertained people throw coins and bills into it (OR, perhaps they can pay you to STOP practicing!!). Just a thought!

**pipesndrumsnun** · 10th July 07, 09:53 AM

I have taken my regular practice chanter and also an electronic one...the electronic one has tiny batteries and headphones so that nobody can be disturbed by your playing except for you!

You can often find reasonably priced used electronic practice chanters on bobdunsire.com...these are also good for practicing in convents and doctor's offices...check it out!

My doctor's assistant was very surprised when she asked me what it was I was doing when she came to call me...imagine the look on her face when I said that I was practicing my bagpipes!! CLASSIC!!

**BonnieT100** · 10th July 07, 10:28 AM

I would get the Technopipes instead of the Ross. It's more, but smaller and easy to carry. The ear phones are part of the on/off system and it uses a AAA battery. I was playing mine at Ft. Bragg right before we deployed. News crews were wandering around. One of them noticed me, didn't bother me until I had finished a couple of rounds of Amazing Grace and then once I "noticed" him, he asked what I was doing. Was kind of shocked when I told him. Comes in handy for breaks at work, or school. I also second the get a PC and an instructor, though the John Cairns series called Bagpipe Solutions is also very good. I'm using it now since my instructor is several thousand miles to the west and the closest piper is probably with the Black Watch down in Basra. Hmmm...maybe a day trip....

**Deasan** · 10th July 07, 10:38 AM

The electronic pipes are fun and a great tool (I like mine very much) but they do not take the place of a practice chanter. Taking up the instrument and learning properly really does require an investment in your time and resources. The Highland bagpipe is not an instrument that one can just pic up and play music on in a few days/weeks time and instruction by a teacher is of great importance. Firstly, you need to get a quality practice chanter (the best you can afford and one made by a respected maker) and a good tutorial such as the College of Piping (green book)Tutor or perhaps the first three volumes of John Cairns Bagpipe Solutions. Here is a link (Universe of Bagpipes) that offers lots of products, information and sound advice about some of the topics already mentioned in this thread to help you get started on your musical journey:

http://www.hotpipes.com/cat.html

Hope this helps, Deasan