Am I a Scot?

[Donnie]

[Flag Folder]

A Very Warm and Sunny Welcome from the HIgh Desert of Southern California.



Bruce, another American mongrel of Scots-Irish Bavarian descent.

:ootd:

[mrtackytn]

Welcome to X-Marks - from Music City, USA -Nashville, TN !!
As far as DNA & Kilts go . . . if ya got 'em, wear 'em !!!

[BEEDEE]

from coastal North Carolina. Don't forget that primarily the clans are of highland origin, families are lowland, but both are Scots.

Brian

[ghostlight]

Welcome to the rabble from another American with Scottish ancestors!

[Mike S]

Absolutely, you are an American of Scottish descent. The Clan system was in point of fact a feudal, martial assemblage more than anything else. People of no relation came into the "fold" and swore allegiance to the chief and the clan, often taking the surname of the ruling family. The idea that there is a long standing heraldic blood tie among each and everyone sharing the same superficial name is in fact Victorian fiction.

Long story short, your maternal DNA plays every bit as much a part in your family history, heritage, and rightful claim to it, as the paternal.

[StevieJoePayne]

Again, thank you each and all. As you imagine, I was elated finding my link to Scotland. I have always been sensitive to the feelings expressed by many who claim, with authority, to be Scot. Often they also suggest and sometimes quite declare that you can't be a Scot unless you can trace your male ancestor. That just seems not fair to me and I like the more liberal interpretation that says that my grandmother many generations ago is a much a Scot as was her father, which makes me at some level a Scot-American. This was why I posed the question as I did not want to step on anyone's kilt. I bought some music of the pipes and I am looking at buying a chanter and taking some lessons. I live near Tulsa and there are a few pipers there. I have met a few but it's often difficult to really get to talk to them. Again, thank you for your kind replies.

Stephen

[Wolfhawk]

from the West-o-Plex
(west of Fort Worth Texas)

Slainte

[Dr Mac]

from Bryan/College Station

[SteveB]

Stephen,
If you are interested in the pipes, be prepared to devote a lot of time to learning. First find a tutor, and find out what the tutor recommends for a practice chanter, before buying one. In the Celtic Musicians Forum you will find a sticky written by Beloit Piper. This reflects the experiences of many of us on Xmarks the Scot in the journey to becoming a piper. I am at the beginning, working with a tutor, who is a Grade 2+ piper, that I see once a week for two hours and practice at least an hour a day on the prescribed lessons. After five months, I am memorizing tunes, and being trained on the goose. This is how my personal training is going as worked by my tutor, training this real auld man. I am ten years older than his father, BTW. Each tutor will work with the student to develop the skills according to each students individual needs and abilities. The route chosen for me by my tutor is not the same as chosen for some of his other students. Without an experienced tutor, there are far too many bad habits than can hinder the piping experience.
Slainte