I thought I would add my piece here, as a playing piper.
From my experience, many folk who say they hate the sound of the pipes have never been blessed by the sound of a genuinely good piper. Quality makes a difference. Often, band pipers have strong reeds which are loud. If I am playing indoors to an audience, I will opt for a weaker reed - bringing the volume down. Why is it necessary to make peoples ears bleed when you play ? The duration a piper should play to any audience should not exceed 15 minutes in any one session. People get bored if they are 'forced' to listen to a long recital. Lastly, play tunes which people know and can clap or sing along to. Mix your tunes well.
At the end of my sessions, I often invite a member of the audience to come up and try the pipes - there's always somebody who has dreamed of playing them. I get them to fill the bag with air, I play the chanter whilst they go blue in the face. Often they will manage a few bars of a tune. The audience laughs and the victim is delighted with their efforts.
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I ride on ma fleet footet grey, My sword hingin doon bi ma knee, Ay ne'er was afraid o a foe 'N' wha daurs meddle wi me ?
In battle I ride a'ways the foremost, My straik is the first in melee, Ay ficht fer kin and Country, 'N' wha daurs meddle wi me ?
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