Everyone cover your ears

[Tattoo Bradley]

During the past weekend at the Oklahoma Scottish Games, I met a piper who holds free lessons. My wife actually is on board with it, and doesn't have a problem ( then again, she hasn't heard bad piping..so we will see how long it lasts)

Please bear with me as I try to transcend the moose calls and actually produce real bagpipe music!

Arrrrrrrrr!!!! You lucky dog! I'd be willing to PAY for lessons. But, there's no piper in my area! Have fun with it.

I've got to chime in on this one. As most of you know I am a Dr. of Audiology. And just by guesstimate I'd say that most pipers are exposed to greater than >100 dB which is certainly enough to cause temporary and subsequent permanent hearing loss. Hearing protection is good insurance for both of you. O'Neille

HAHA! O'Neille, Pipers are probably good "job security" for ya!

[Panache]

Kilted KT,

Here's the site of a friend of mine who wanted to record his experiences and insights into taking up the bagpipes as an adult. Lots of good information and links for the aspiring piper.

http://www.bagpipejourney.com/

Cheers (and get some ear protection like O'Neille said!)

[chasem]

man, that sounds great!

I'm in the same situation as TB sadly

[switchblade5984]

Arrrrrrrrr!!!! You lucky dog! I'd be willing to PAY for lessons. But, there's no piper in my area! Have fun with it.



HAHA! O'Neille, Pipers are probably good "job security" for ya!

same as above! except there are pipers in the area

[Andrew Green]

Good luck! Aside from more kilts, and a couple basket hilts (custom), I am saving up for a set of learner pipes. Does anyone know a good brand to start?
Totally checking out that site posted, as I know it's gonna be a long and difficult process when I do get a set.
So I totally sympathize with your situation.

[Piper]

I took up the pipes later in life (just shy of 50). I've been taking lessons for 6 years, been on the pipes for 5. Your instructor should start you out with a practice chanter. Basically its a version of the pipe chanter with a mouthpiece . That's what you'll learn the basics on, and you'll use it as long as you're piping for practicing and learning new tunes. It'll be a while before you're ready for the pipes. How long varies with the individual. Follow your instructor's lead on that. Also, be warned that the "bargain" pipes you see on e-bay and in some music shops are generally made in Pakistan. Pakistan produces good blades, and some very fine embroidery work, but the pipes leave much to be desired. I speak from experience. The first set I bought was through an ad in a local paper. Paid $185, thought I had a real bargain. My instructor asked "What ever posessed you to buy Pakistani pipes?" Who knew Pakistanis made pipes? I had to put another couple of hundred dollars into them to make them playable, and the sound quality still wasn't there. A good set of pipes can be had these days for from $700 - $1000. Of course, the sky's the limit, pricewise, depending on exactly what you want. I chose a set of Dunbar P3's. They're made of Delrin, rather than African Blackwood (with 11 grandkids I was looking for something bulletproof), but they get good comments as far as sound and appearance go. Most good pipers with admit they can't tell the difference is sound between a well set up poly pipe and a well set up blackwood pipe. Set up is something else you'll need your instructor's assistance with.
I took up the pipes for my own enjoyment, I don't play in a band (tell folks I play for my enjoyment and the neighbor's annoyance), but I truly enjoy it. Have fun.

[Bob C]

I always hate to read about someone taking up the pipes, because it reminds me of my own failure to grasp the concepts, years ago, and gives me the bug to try again.

Seriously, though, good luck. In fact, I picked up a video tutor over the summer and was recently invited to try free lessons again. Maybe...

[cessna152towser]

I used to be able to play about ten simple tunes on the bagpipes but never good enough to join a marching band.
Besides buying a small chanter, you might find this a useful learning tool as it plays the notes at the same time as illustrating them on your PC screen.
http://members.aol.com/pipwriter/

[haukehaien]

Good luck! Aside from more kilts, and a couple basket hilts (custom), I am saving up for a set of learner pipes. Does anyone know a good brand to start?

There is, sadly, no such thing. Don't fall for eBay sales pitches like "Great beginner's pipes!" The steps to learning the pipes should be:
1) Find an instructor.
2) Get a practice chanter. The PC is what you will start learning the pipes on; you need to have the notes and gracings down cold in muscle memory before you start trying to deal with breathing, the bag and drones. Seriously, I think there are many people who fail at the pipes because they start with a set of pipes rather than the PC. Often they bought a set of cheap pipes off eBay and became depressed when they sounded like a cat trying to go to the bathroom through a sewn-up bum, not realizing that it's almost impossible to get good sound out of those monstrosities.
3) When your instructor says you're ready, then buy a set of pipes. Saving for them now is a good thing; expect to spend anywhere from $600-1500 for a good set. By that time, hopefully you'll have had the chance to play your instructor's pipes, and will have heard some of the different brands out there and will have some idea of the sound you want. Like Piper, I bought Dunbar P-3s. I wanted the Delrin because of the ease of maintenance, and I wanted Dunbar because I love the big Henderson sound they put out. YMMV.

I bought a set of Pakistani pipes when I was first starting. (Between instructors, no Internet advice ... not a good thing.) They were awful. In fact, the first thing I thought when I got my Dunbars and started playing them was "My gosh, this is SO EASY!"

Oh, and jsut to respond to another them in this thread, I wear earplugs whenever I play, practice or otherwise. It's an excellent idea if you want to be able to hear anything later in life.

[billmcc]

Good luck! I am saving up for a set of learner pipes. Does anyone know a good brand to start?

I highly recommend Dunbar P-series (polypenco) pipes. I have had a Dunbar P-3 for 10 years and love it.