Anyone involved in the Pipe Bands?

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bubbahana Official ARFCOM Callsign: The Squire Joined Feb 2007 Posts 2586 EE 100% (10) IL, USA	Posted: 1/22/2024 10:26:35 PM EDT A couple years ago I joined my fire department's pipe and drums... we have had multiple instructor changes since I have joined and it has been difficult to have continuity in my time. Just throwing it out there to see if anyone has any resources to help develop on my own when instructors aren't available.
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ajroyer

Joined Jun 2009
Posts 1736
EE 0% (0)

IL, USA

Posted: 1/23/2024 9:11:36 AM EDT

[Last Edit: ajroyer] [#1]

Our band died out several years ago. Our pipe major was the OG that started it all. When he went off the job, no one took it over and the few of us just stopped. There were only 3 to 4 of us during my time. One of my most memorable performances was when 2 of us led the Labor Day parade in Pana.

I recently had a family ask if I can teach them to play the pipes. I broke out my chanter and am disappointed with how much I've forgotten. I'm going back through the College of Piping Tutor 1, 2, 3 and our old marching tunes, trying to retrain my fingers with the grace notes on familiar tunes.

Back when I was proficient I had talked about getting some small pipes to make it easier to play inside. I never did, but wonder if that would have kept me going. It's a thought for you.

If you're still starting out, it definitely helps to have someone walk you through certain parts. I would start with youtube for the particular tune or grace note you're working on. If any of the instructors that you like are still around, try to get individual lesson times. There are also private pipe bands that could be an option. Around Springfield it's St Andrews Pipe Band. The state honor guard has some guys that pipe as well. I'm not as familiar with either organization, since our pipe major had some bad blood with both.

BearPiper Member Joined Jan 2010 Posts 117 EE 100% (1) KY, USA	Posted: 2/17/2024 7:56:27 PM EDT [#2] Bubba, Are you anywhere near St Louis? They’ve got a great group of pipers we’ve run into in DC!
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JQ66

Member

Joined Nov 2012
Posts 28316
EE 100% (4)

PA, USA

Posted: 2/19/2024 7:34:34 PM EDT

[#3]

You should see if there are any folk music schools somewhere nearby. Probably big city.
Pittsburgh PA has one called Calliope, and amongst other instruction they have both scottish bagpipes and irish uillean pipes.
Currently I am taking a bluegrass banjo introductory class. Last fall I took fiddle - that I struggled with.

Maybe some time in the near future I will take a bagpipe class. They only ask you get a practice chanter. Uillean pipes they want you to buy the whole thing

sully

Joined Feb 2001
Posts 2439
EE 100% (40)

MN, USA

Posted: 4/4/2024 3:52:12 PM EDT

[#4]

Have you researched to see if there are any other pipe bands or pipers near you? Your screen name has IL listed, so maybe check out the Midwest Pipe Band Association and see if you can find someone to hook up with near you. It helps to have someone else to play with, especially nice to try and play in unison.

For online I have found these useful:
Get Bagpipe Ready

Matt Willis Bagpiper

I've been playing pipes for 27 years and still learning, but this is my $.02 worth:

For anyone else who reads this that is interested in learning to play the pipes, I would highly recommend that you find someone to teach you, do not run out and purchase bagpipes or a cheap practice chanter (Stay away from the cheap Pakistani stuff), you want to get a decent practice chanter and practice chanter reed, then learn from an experienced piper to get you on the road to getting to real pipes. Figure you will most likely be on a practice chanter for a year before you are ready to look at a set of pipes. Then when you are ready to go to a set of pipes, you want to shut off the drones with corks, and learn just the bag and chanter together, then slowly open up one drone at a time. You will also not probably play in front of anyone for the first year as well, as it takes practice to figure out how to keep the drones and chanter steady and in tune.

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Greg Sullivan "Sully"
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