How do you tell a bad bagpiper to stop playing?

**Tartan Hiker** · 22nd December 08, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by Jack Daw

When I was a fledgling piper, I piped outdoors, but not in a public place that would have engendered an audience.

Hey Jack...was that "engendered" or "endangered"?????

**Nighthawk** · 22nd December 08, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

Hey Jack...was that "engendered" or "endangered"?????

In my case... the latter for sure! Now- ask me if I care. Seriously- go on! Ask me!

**hospitaller** · 22nd December 08, 11:26 PM

there's something else I just realized with these kind of posts/questions, is a sort of false sense of superiority.

meaning, someone thinks he/she looks better in a kilt than others so a 'kilt don't' thread is started.

someone thinks they know so much about bagpipes (whether they play them or not) that they actually would consider telling a beginner to stop playing.

I guess im somewhat know for my 'stick my neck for the underdog' attitude, and it is for things like these.

not everyone can afford $1000 worth of hose and sporrans, I know it so if someone wants to proudly wear the cheap ones they made or bought on ebay...good for you

I know enough about bagpipes to know that I enjoy listening to them, and they are hard to learn and master. So if a newbie sounds horrible, I enjoy listening to it just as much as I enjoy watching a baby taking its first scary steps. learn to walk before you can run or so it goes.

it just surprises me someone would actually even consider telling someone to stop doing something because in their minds 'it's horrible or sub-par'.

**Phogfan86** · 23rd December 08, 01:00 AM

As a struggling new piper and the father of same, if you say something, you can never be sure that person won't quit because of what you said. Seriously. It's an incredibly difficult instrument to learn and master. We already know we stink. We don't need that confirmed by a total stranger.

And remember: you can always tell a bad piper...but you can't tell him much.

**Southern Breeze** · 23rd December 08, 03:00 AM

**McClef** · 23rd December 08, 04:49 AM

How about saying "you have delighted us long enough"?

**Jack Daw** · 23rd December 08, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

Hey Jack...was that "engendered" or "endangered"?????

LOL! Good'n!

**davedove** · 23rd December 08, 05:56 AM

My thought is to let it go. You were not asked to be a critic, so your input would probably be unwanted. Now, as it said in an earlier post, if you are proficient enough to offer constructive criticism, that wouldn't be so bad, but might still be unwanted.

**Jack Daw** · 23rd December 08, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by hospitaller

there's something else I just realized with these kind of posts/questions, is a sort of false sense of superiority...someone thinks they know so much about bagpipes (whether they play them or not) that they actually would consider telling a beginner to stop playing.

I've never asked a bad piper not to play. I've only fantasized about it

Believe me, I never feel superior to any piper after listening to Jim MacGillvray, Mike Cusack, E.J. Jones, Donald McPhee, Ed Neigh, Jimmie Mitchell, etc...

**Jack Daw** · 23rd December 08, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by Phogfan86

As a struggling new piper and the father of same, if you say something, you can never be sure that person won't quit because of what you said. Seriously. It's an incredibly difficult instrument to learn and master. We already know we stink. We don't need that confirmed by a total stranger.

And remember: you can always tell a bad piper...but you can't tell him much.

I don't equate a learning piper with a bad piper. I teach and love to hear new pipers learn. Bad pipers are those that don't belong on the instrument. My comment about not piping in public when I was new was meant to be self-effacing. I apologize for any offence.