Sounds like a pretty sweet deal. | Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format |
| Celtic Radio Community > General Discussion > Gonna Learn To Play The Pipes! |
| Posted by: Avonlea22 05-Jan-2006, 06:26 PM |
| Well, starting on Tuesday I will be learning to play the bagpipes! I've been wanting to do this for some time, and I just recently found a group affiliated with North Carolina State University. I asked a few weeks ago if they would have any classes, and earlier this week I was sent an email stating that they would be starting on Tuesday. The fee is only $100 and the cost of a practice chanter. You'll never have to pay again as long as you continue to participate. I'm so excited!!!!! |
| Posted by: stevenpd 05-Jan-2006, 08:06 PM |
| Fantastic! Let us know how it goes! |
| Posted by: Aaediwen 05-Jan-2006, 08:22 PM |
| I assume you can later use a full set too Sounds like a pretty sweet deal. |
| Posted by: Arien 05-Jan-2006, 09:56 PM |
| I'm jealous. That's something I have always wanted to do. |
| Posted by: Rindy 05-Jan-2006, 10:40 PM |
| I am so happy for you Avonlea22... Good luck in your new adventure.. Dreams can come true....  Slainte |
| Posted by: bob4328 07-Jan-2006, 11:01 PM |
| I have wanted to try it too, but have been afraid of the cost of the instrument. How much did a "chanter" cost if you don't mind telling? Does playing one translate into being able to pipe? |
| Posted by: gwenlee 08-Jan-2006, 05:51 AM |
| Good luck on your adventure Avonlea. My 15 year old started taking lessons this past summer. She goes on the pipes this spring sometime. bob my daughters chanter cost 60 dollars. When she goes on the pipes her teacher will be looking for a used set. Her instructor is with the Atlanta Pipe and Drum Band. So I'm sure she'll find us something. As far as the chanter goes that is something you will always use. Now how that translates into playing the pipes I'm sure there will be a lot of practicing. |
| Posted by: Emmet 08-Jan-2006, 05:59 AM | ||
Congratulations Avonlea22; sounds like an ideal opportunity! Best of luck! If you have any questions or would like any suggestions, please feel free to email me off list.
My McCallum AB2's in their current configuration would cost a minimum of $1400 to replace ($975.00, plus a blackwood Naill chanter, selling new for $350.00 (I prefer an older, lower pitched one), and Selbie Mk II drone reeds, $75.00). Of course, the chanter and reeds that come with a new set are perfectly fine, especially for a beginner. Practice chanters cost about $50.00-$150.00 and up; most students get the polypenco $50.00-$75.00 models. Naill makes a very nice one; I would assume Kron and McCallum do too based upon having played their pipe chanters. Pipers of all skill levels learn and practice technique and new tunes on a practice chanter, but that in and of itself generally isn't sufficient; you really need a tutor. The bagpipe has a reputation of being one of the most difficult instruments to learn, and is well-nigh impossible alone without the help of a competent piper. Many bands offer lessons, or know who does...do a web search for your area. Check with your tutor (when you find one); they probably have a preference. http://www.thepipershut.com/shop/index.php?action=category&id=2 has really good prices on pipes, chanters, etc.; http://www.college-of-piping.co.uk/acatalog/Tutor_books_and_CDs.html in Glasgow offers a practice chanter, book 1 of the College of Piping tutor books, and an accompanying CD-ROM for $52.75 plus shipping. |
| Posted by: Avonlea22 08-Jan-2006, 09:05 PM |
| Thanks everyone! The first class is getting close, and I'm getting real excited. I haven't purchased my chanter yet. I will probably buy it at the class, and I'm looking at the Dunbar Millennium chanter. It'll be $85.00 I won't even start looking for a set of pipes fro at LEAST 6 to 8 months. |
| Posted by: bob4328 09-Jan-2006, 04:15 PM |
| I too thank you for the replies. this is certainly the finest web site I have ever found. So much information and camaraderie. Very unlike some other places on the net. Not to mention the music, which was how I found the site to begin with. |
| Posted by: Avonlea22 11-Jan-2006, 05:06 PM |
| Well, I had my first class last night. I ended up buying a Dunbar extra long PC, and with tax, it was $90.00 I'm having some issues with my fingers. My pinky on my right hand has a hard time reaching the hole in the chanter, so my hand is getting sore when I practice. I think I just need to practice and it will work out. I also have issues with controlling each individual finger. This may be my biggest obstacle. For example, when I lift my ring finger, my middle finger want to lift along with it. It's a bit frustrating, but again, I think practice will make it work. Well, gonna go practice right now. |
| Posted by: MiLadyCeilidh 11-Jan-2006, 05:53 PM | ||
 Good for you! We will always be on that darn practice chanter for life.  |
| Posted by: Emmet 12-Jan-2006, 12:04 PM | ||||
Getting the low G is a bit of a stretch for folks with small hands (just be glad it's a chanter in Bb and not low A). Work on s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g your hand wide open, holding it for a moment, then relaxing; it'll limber up.
Something else you can do (like at work when you're not on the practice chanter) is place your hands flat on a table, and practice lifting your fingers one at a time, only as fast as you can do so perfectly. Precision, not speed (you're about to hear that a lot!); speed will come in time. Pretty soon you'll get it. Here's a web site you might like; http://home.mindspring.com/~shin-on/handcare.html PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! |
| Posted by: Avonlea22 12-Jan-2006, 01:44 PM |
| Thanks for the info and the link, Emmet. I realize that not all is lost, and practice, practice, practice will help out in the end. |
| Posted by: kiltedlover69 14-Jan-2006, 03:27 PM |
| I have trouble with my Taorluath and my grip toC. But I still have a long way to go.. pipes have to be played everyday and some. Since my first love is Heavy events..I will do that till my body can't handle the stress of heavy objects.. good luck.. KL69 |
| Posted by: MiLadyCeilidh 14-Jan-2006, 06:58 PM | ||
My throw on D is great ... but that grip, YIKES! |
| Posted by: BonnieLynn 14-Jan-2006, 09:26 PM |
| I run a Bagpiper directory and have visited HUNDREDS of piper and pipe band websites. I noticed that many of the Bands give FREE lessons and some even provide your equipment. Most bands are constantly searching for new members, pipers and drummers. So.... if you have been reading these posts and think you might want to learn the bagpipes, go to my directory and see if there is a band near you. Most practice as a group once a week (but of course you need to practice on your own every day). My Bagpiper/Pipe Band directory is at http://littlecoop.100megsfree5.com/Bagpipe/dir/bagpipes.html Also, if you are learning the bagpipes, or already play, a GREAT place to discuss your progress (or just chat with other pipers) is http://www.bobdunsire.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.php. It's a really great group of people there and you can learn alot just from reading the posts. |
| Posted by: MiLadyCeilidh 23-Jan-2006, 02:49 PM |
| How is those pipe lessons coming along? Are you doing better on the chanter? |
| Posted by: Avonlea22 27-Jan-2006, 05:57 AM |
| Actually, things are coming along quite good. We just started to learn our first tune (a Gaelic Aire that I don't know the name of). We learning grace notes and strikes. I'm getting mch better at the fingering, but still having issues reading the music. I don't know a lick about reading it, so that's my biggest obstacle right now. I will admit that I'm not practicing EVERY day, though. I'd say 5 or 6 out of seven days. It's coming along good, though. |
| Posted by: MiLadyCeilidh 20-Feb-2006, 11:18 AM | ||
Hey that is great. I now have Sgt. Mackenzie down on my pipes. Reading music is hard if you never played an instrument before. JUST ASK ME ...  |