Pipes Ordered

[English Bloke]

... And I had a set of Doug MacPherson pipes for a time, which are unheard of around here...

Douglas Macpherson's webiste is HERE

His pipes are beautiful and well worth a shufftie just to admire the artistry.

[NewPiperinNY]

I have not posted much for the last four months as I traded all of my internet time for a practice chanter. I joined a local pipe band and have been doing my best to learn to play pipes.

Last night, at the end of my lesson I was given the green light to order pipes. Today my wallet is empty and somewhere on the east coast (NJ, I think) a box is preparing to come my way.

I am told the real work is just beginning, but the jonesing is full on!

Good luck... You have been given some great advice. Let me give you some as well.

I was lucky in that I was able to learn the pipes substantially enough to step 'into the circle' 4 months after picking up the chanter. Not really lucky, I worked my butt off. But I practiced what the band showed me, I took private lessons and I practiced the right way.

My band has a piper who claims to practice 5 -6 hours a day. He purchased his pipes not long after I did. I believe that he practices what he THINKS is correct as opposed to KNOWING what is correct. The difference is important. His playing has no rhythm, he can't follow a melody line, and his posture is HORRENDOUS. He's a nice guy, but seriously deficient musically. When something is slightly off to him, to everyone else it's as wide a difference between Amazing Grace and Itchy Fingers.

I write this in hopes of keeping you from falling into the same trap. I don't know if you are a musician (other then a piper) but if you aren't... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take your time. A well played bagpipe is a thing of beauty. Learn the basics, and then learn them again. The alternative is scary to hear. That isn't to say we don't all make mistakes, but at least use every mistake as a learning tool. Take every criticism from where it comes and use the ones that come from those you trust.

Find a private tutor that can help you where the instructor in the band can't. And DON'T trust everything you get off the internet.

I believe you're getting your pipes from Gerry? nice store and a great guy..
Keep us posted on your progress...

Good luck!

[piperdbh]

I myself, just two days ago, picked up an early Lawrie set probably from the 1881-1900 period. They had been on a wall hanging over somebody's fireplace for many years. They're ebony wood, with real ivory projecting mounts, and thistle-engraved nickel ferrules, slides, and endcaps.

I'd be afraid that the wood would have dried and cracked while hanging over a fireplace.