Starting to learn the pipes

**BonnieT100** · 16th February 07, 07:19 AM

Finally found a pipe band closer to my house than 40 miles. Ordered my chanter and book and had my first lesson last Tues, which consisted mostly of how to hold the chanter, how to read the notes (it's been 20 years since I last looked at a piece of music), and how to play the right hand notes. I like it a lot, of course it's only been a week. My schedule works great for the practice plan recommended - 15 min in the AM, 15 at lunch, and 15 or more in the evening. My platoon sgt and a couple of my squad leaders are amused. I caught them acting like an Indian snake charmer yesterday. All in good fun though. I'm not sure how fast I'll progress though. I'm headed to Louisiana for 5 weeks next Friday and then to the sand box sometime in June, for a year. Guess I'll try to get as much of the basics down as possible before then and then spend the year practicing. PErhaps I should get a microphone so I can send back samples for guidance. Hmmm...

**haukehaien** · 16th February 07, 07:46 AM

Congrats on taking up the pipes! As far as being away from an instructor, you've got several options:
1) You may find a piper there; there have been a few pipers on the Bob Dunsire foums (http://bobdunsire.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi) who have been posted there. I don't know if any of them are still in Iraq or if they've come home.
2) Learn the basics as best you can and keep up with a good CD/DVD learning system. The College of Piping's Highland Bagpipe Tutor (commonly called "The Green Book") is a an absolute requirement, and Jim McGillivray's "Rhythmic Fingerwork is also quite useful. Read Andrew Lenz's article on becoming a self-taught piper (and why you shouldn't do it) for a lot of great resources, including teachers who give online lessons: http://www.bagpipejourney.com/articl...f_taught.shtml

Good luck! The pipes are frustrating, demanding, difficult and obnoxious - until the first time you get the drones to lock in and the chanter to sing and that wild, sweet, skirling sound is all around you - then you'll feel that it's all worth iit.

**Macman** · 16th February 07, 12:21 PM

Congratulations, and enjoy the journey. I'm a beginner, and I agree with the previous post. Sometimes it drives me crazy, but it is worth it. Have fun!

**thescot** · 16th February 07, 12:39 PM

Congratualtions. You're going to be very popular in your unit as a piper, and you'll be plaing a lot sooner than you think. Everyone wants the pipes on special occassions, and once you master a few tunes, you're in.

BTW, what's you MOS, unit, etc.? If you're going to that big sandbox overseas, what'll you need to help you out as a piper? Something might show up at mailcall if you let stuff like that out.

We tend to appreciate service and sacrifice here. Coming from a guy who's too old and beat up for the Corps anymore, "Thank you for your service."

**Splash_4** · 16th February 07, 12:52 PM

Hear, hear! I was not a Marine, just a flyboy, but your service is much appreciated!

**BonnieT100** · 16th February 07, 01:36 PM

I appreciate it guys. I'm not a Marine - I'm a paratrooper. I'm a platoon leader in the signal company of the first brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. Used to be an 11B with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Went to OCS and changed branches because my back and knees are really screwed up from my younger days. I guess the Army decided it wanted combat arms veterans leading the support guys in the major divisions, so now I jump out of planes - and limp a lot more. I'll let you know if I need anything. Reeds are about the only possibility that comes to mind right now.

**thescot** · 16th February 07, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieT100

I appreciate it guys. I'm not a Marine - I'm a paratrooper. I'm a platoon leader in the signal company of the first brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. Used to be an 11B with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). . . .

Glad to know you don't do anything exciting!

Never could figure out why someone would jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Heck, they had to make me jump of out a perfectly good helicopter! and people were shooting down there! What were they thinking?

Anybody in the Airborne is OK with anyone here, that's for sure. As an old platoon sergeant, let me say how good it is to see a mustang in charge of the troopies. I'm sure your own platoon sergeant is happy as well.

We'll be looking forward to hearing more from you in the future.

**MadBagpiper** · 18th February 07, 03:13 PM

Good on ya man!

If you have any questions just give me a holler and I'll do my best to aid you in your journey.

**BonnieT100** · 19th February 07, 10:15 AM

Thanks, I appreciate it. My instructor had me get "Beginning the Bagpipe" by Pipe Major Sandy Jones. Since I'm going to be doing a disappearing act for five weeks next weekend, I got the CD for it too, which hopefully will come in handy for my next trip. Right now, I'm going with a one chapter a week rate. Keeps me humble - getting pretty good with my right hand after a week, so I tried the left one last night. Humbling, very humbling.

**porrick** · 19th February 07, 01:01 PM

Good on you fpr taking up piping! I don't have access to a teacher, the closest one being some 1,200 mile round-trip away... (!) I have to rely on book/CD tuition (Green Book), and got my first pipes a month ago.
Biggest challenge is breathing and lip-strength. On the bright side, things improve quite quickly: less than a year ago I struggled getting the practice chanter to play, and almost passed out trying to play the scale up and half-way down. Today, I really have to concentrate on blowing carefully enough not to overblow the reed

I wish you enjoyment - be patient, and stay with it