Learning Bagpipes

[PiobBear]

A. I’m in grad school so I don’t have a lot of time, about 45min a week, to practice. Is that enough?

You can't possibly be serious.

B. Are Bagpipes hard to learn?

There was an article posted on the BBC a few years ago to the effect that the bagpipe was perhaps the hardest instrument of all to learn. Imagine carrying a greased watermelon under one arm, while patting your head with one hand and rubbing your belly with the other, while marching in cadence while doing long division in your head at the same time (and winking to the colleens as you march by).

C. What’s the average price range?

With about $1000 in your pocket you can start looking for a good used set.

D. About how many hours would it take to get the hang of things?

"To the making of a piper go seven years of his own learning, and seven generations before. At the end of seven years, one born to it will stand at the beginning of knowledge, and lending a fond ear to the drones, may have parlay with old folks of old affairs."