How do you tell a bad bagpiper to stop playing?

**The Celtic Gypsy** · 22nd December 08, 01:39 PM

My two cents as a non-piper, just listening:

I have a friend who is a top notch piper with credentials up the wazoo, many prizes and awards for her talents. We will be somewhere and she will say,"That is a really bad piper." My response is usually "Really?" At this point, my pipe music ear can't tell the difference. I am learning tho and am beginning to pick up and some of the really major errors. Still and all, I have a hard time knowing what is good playing and what is bad overall. I guess it is something you need to be around for some time to begin to know what is good or bad. On the other hand, we were at a German Fest and i commented on the band that was playing saying it was a really bad ompah-pah band - her response was "Really?" I guess it's all in ones background.

**macwilkin** · 22nd December 08, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by The Celtic Gypsy

My two cents as a non-piper, just listening:

I have a friend who is a top notch piper with credentials up the wazoo, many prizes and awards for her talents. We will be somewhere and she will say,"That is a really bad piper." My response is usually "Really?" At this point, my pipe music ear can't tell the difference. I am learning tho and am beginning to pick up and some of the really major errors. Still and all, I have a hard time knowing what is good playing and what is bad overall. I guess it is something you need to be around for some time to begin to know what is good or bad. On the other hand, we were at a German Fest and i commented on the band that was playing saying it was a really bad ompah-pah band - her response was "Really?" I guess it's all in ones background.

Reminds me of the oft-told story of a Russian general who was invited to the officer's mess of a Highland regiment during the Second World War. As the pipers began to play and march around the table, as is custom in the mess, the general began drumming his fingers on the table, and then excitedly turned to his host and said: "They're playing a tune!"

T.

**cessna152towser** · 22nd December 08, 03:07 PM

As others have said, best to distance yourself. If you criticise the piper he may feel insulted as he probably thinks he is quite good. There was a quintet of young kiwis playing pipes at Glenfinnan last year, and to a Scot who hears a lot of good pipe bands they sounded absolutely awful. They made the bagpipes sound like cats in distress and although I felt embarrassed for them I knew it just was not my place to tell them how awful they sounded. Meanwhile the American and Japanese tourists stood transfixed listening to the sound of their pipes, believing this is what Scottish bagpipes should sound like.

**Nighthawk** · 22nd December 08, 05:24 PM

My two cents as a bad piper- it may be someone like me who has only been playing for half a year, and is practicing. I don't have pipes yet- only a chanter- but when I do get my pipes... am I really supposed to practice in my house?

Better to have complete strangers hate me than my family...

**hospitaller** · 22nd December 08, 04:14 PM

bottom line is... 'nunya'

nunya business if someone plays well or lousy.

to his ears he/she is the cat's meow, and truth be told, everyone started playing any instrument, fairly badly, that's how people get better.

if you like it, say so, if you don't...keep walking.

**pipesndrumsnun** · 22nd December 08, 05:48 PM

Quite honestly, you'd be lucky not to get punched in the nose! Just like your mama always said, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"... I totally agree with Keith A.!

**Jack Daw** · 22nd December 08, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by hospitaller

bottom line is... 'nunya'

nunya business if someone plays well or lousy.

to his ears he/she is the cat's meow, and truth be told, everyone started playing any instrument, fairly badly, that's how people get better.

if you like it, say so, if you don't...keep walking.

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