So I was asked to...

[Kaw-Liga]

You will be playing for her.

Play for her just like you have in the past.

Kaw-Liga

[Ruaraidh]

I know nothing about piping, but you have made the right decision. The decision not to play may cause more regret than any lack in playing skills.

[Guinness>water]

I'm glad you decided to play for her. Even if you could play it perfect, she wouldnt want that. She liked your mistakes and struggling!

Be honored.

[Pyper]

If you can get comfortable with two drones (bass and tenor) do that.

A couple tips:

Don't look at people, and don't try to talk before hand. Play whatever you're the most comfortable with. It's going to be a lot harder to play in front of an audience than at home, so anything you aren't super secure with probably won't come out.

If you get messed up and can't get back on the tune, then stop playing in a dignified way. The first time I played for an audience, I struck in my pipes, and couldn't remember how the tune started. So I just played low-A for what seemed like an eternity (probably under a second) until I remembered.

Spend some time between now and then imagining you're there at the service while you practice. Walk up, strike in, and play, just like if there was an audience. When you make a mistake, practice doing exactly what you will do if it comes to that.

On the day, get there early and allow your pipes to acclimate to the conditions. Spend only a few minutes warming up the reed, and tune them, then set them aside. If you fully warm them up, they will be horridly out of tune by the time you get to play, but if you tune them cold, then they'll be in tune later. Practice tuning like that every day, so you can do it on the day.

When you walk up to play, imagine yourself being at home, practicing. You've done it hundreds of times, and it's no big deal. Everything is going to be OK.

I use Abedour (aka Soutar) reeds in my solo chanter -- best I've found, so far (for me, for my chanter), except the high-g tends to be really sharp, but tape fixes that.

[piperdbh]

So how's the practice going, young Mecklenburger?

[Nick the DSM]

Thanks for the tips. I'm just doing 2-3 tunes, so no big deal. Highland Cathedral/Amazing Grace, maybe another.

Mecklenburger?

[tripleblessed]

For the benefit of 'em what ain't fum 'roun' hyeah, from the XMTS dictionary: Mecklenburger - noun; One residing in and around Charlotte, North Carolina, seat of government for Mecklenburg County. Adj., of or pertaining to same.

[Seanmhair]

When my mother died, I asked a friend to pipe at her funeral.

When he agreed I started to pick up the phone to call her and tell her he would be there. You are a dear to do this!

[Nick the DSM]

Thanks for the definition, Tripleblessed.

[cessna152towser]

I'd say go for it. Best of luck and let us know how you get on.