So I was asked to...

[Nick the DSM]

Well, a good neighbor died on Sunday. She was a lovely person and she was strong for an 80 year old woman with bone cancer and other problems.

She loved to hear me play(struggle is more like it) the bagpipes. As I return from an errand my mom tells me that the daughter asked me to play a tune or two. Apparently it doesn't have to be perfect.

Ummmm, I'm not so sure. The service is to be held on July 2nd so it's pretty close.

Thing is right now I'm still only playing with one drone and I can't really play for long yet.

Should I just go for it?

[piperdbh]

Well, a good neighbor died on Sunday. She was a lovely person and she was strong for an 80 year old woman with bone cancer and other problems.

She loved to hear me play(struggle is more like it) the bagpipes. As I return from an errand my mom tells me that the daughter asked me to play a tune or two. Apparently it doesn't have to be perfect.

Ummmm, I'm not so sure. The service is to be held on July 2nd so it's pretty close.

Thing is right now I'm still only playing with one drone and I can't really play for long yet.

Should I just go for it?

Yes. Put rubber bands on one tenor and the bass drone reeds, play a couple of tunes, one at a time if you have to, and don't look at any of the family while you're doing it. And let us know how it went.

[Steve of Lansing]

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. I grew up surrounded by little old neighbor ladies, and they always seemed like they were the same as family.

If you were specifically requested to play a tune or 2, I would say go for it.

The fine lady liked hearing you play, not necessarily pipers in general and it sounds like she got a lot of enjoyment in life out of hearing you.

Play for her memory, and you'll remember it fondly for the rest of your years.

Always, -Steve

[davidlpope]

Tough spot. Publicly performing before you feel you are ready is a bear. A couple pointers, if you do play:

1. As David said, use rubber bands on a tenor reed and a base reed. Don't rely on corks when you're doing this in public. You should be able to keep a single tenor going.

2. Choose one or two simple tunes. Scots Wha Hae, Going Home, etc. Then practice, practice, practice those tunes until you can play them in your sleep.

3. Have your instructor give you a very weak reed so that it doesn't choke off. The quality of the sound will not be as important as whether or not you get through the tune.

Best of Luck,

David

[EagleJCS]

Going Home and Amazing Grace would probably fill the bill. Either all together or play one, stop and play the next one.

As above - don't look at the family while playing (or before, for that matter).

Break a leg!

[Woodsman]

Yes I would do it. You could even preface by telling the audience what you just told us -she loved to hear you play.

[weepeskythistle]

Yes I would do it. You could even preface by telling the audience what you just told us -she loved to hear you play.

I agree. Say something, honest and humble and how SHE liked hearing you. You are doing it for her memory.

[piperdown]

Well, a good neighbor died on Sunday. She was a lovely person and she was strong for an 80 year old woman with bone cancer and other problems.

She loved to hear me play(struggle is more like it) the bagpipes. As I return from an errand my mom tells me that the daughter asked me to play a tune or two. Apparently it doesn't have to be perfect.

Ummmm, I'm not so sure. The service is to be held on July 2nd so it's pretty close.

Thing is right now I'm still only playing with one drone and I can't really play for long yet.

Should I just go for it?

Absolutely!!

Deciding whether or not I could play at my dads service was one of the hardest decisions I ever made. I did it and will remember it for the rest of my life. You will too.
Pick a spot on a wall somewhere and go for it. Good luck

[Nick the DSM]

Well, I'm going to do it.

Thanks, guys!

[ohiopiper]

You've got time yet to order an Abedour reed. They're super easy. Not the greatest tone on the top hand, but with the drones set to match the chanter reed pressure, you may be better off with it than without it for a one-time thing. Have your PM or instructor set up your drones for the soft reed if you're not comfortable doing it yourself.

I just have a personal opinion that the pipes really sound "lacking" when the bass is gone. With the bass going, one more tenor doesn't make much of a difference.

Just my opinion and worth what you paid for it.