Learn the bagpipes

‘Amazing Grace’ (of course) and I can play it almost all the way through on four breaths. Huzzah! I’ve been given two others to study, ‘Martyrdom’ and ‘Cold Siloams Shady Reel’, and I’ll get into them this week…

...But I am finally playing an actual tune on a bagpipe chanter! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

I’ve still got some crossing noises and other small issues to work out, but I’m over the moon about hearing myself play something that sounds like an actual song. I imagine I’m still a good way off from the full-sized pipe, but this is very encouraging. Whee!

It’d be untrue to say that I’m having an easy time with this. People aren’t kidding when they say that this is a difficult instrument. I’m having a hard time making my practise chanter not sound like a fevered cow now and again, and my right hand is not bahaving as I’d like it to.

Nonetheless, I’ll keep going with this. If I can make it to the point where I can play twelve tunes on the chanter and at least ONE on the GHB itself, I’ll be happy. Hopefully once I’ve reached that goal I’ll feel I’ve comitted too much time to the thing to just flat-out stop, but it’s been an uphill climb so far. Wish me luck!

I’ve gotten my first grace notes down this week (G-D-E), and have been drilling some of the harder note-switches to get rid of the horrible crossing noises I have been making. Though the going is slow, I am making progress.

It’s very exciting to finally be doing this! I look forward to practicing every day and am pretty anxious to get to my first tune (Amazing Grace). That looks to be several weeks away yet, but by the time I get there I’ll be thoroughly prepared. Yay!

I found a teacher at the highland games on Saturday. He’s the pipe major of the local pipe band and teaches out of one of the local fire stations (he’s a fireman). His lessons are free providing you take the instrument seriously and practice regularly.

Anyway, I had my first lesson yesterday and really enjoyed it. I’m a little nervous about cementing the habit to practice every day into my schedule, flighty as I am, but I’m encouraged by the fact that the availability of lessons rest entirely on my willingness to expend the effort to progress.

Whee! I’m off!

I was born in Edinburgh, to American parents, and am of Scottish heritage. The much-maligned bagpipes have always given me the goosebumps when I hear them. I think they make stirring, beautiful music. I’ve always wanted to learn to play them, but have always either been in the midst of learning some other, more popular instrument, or not had the time/resources to dedicate to them. Well, now I have both the time and resources available to me, so I plan to make 2008 the year I put away my excuses and begin to practice this gorgeous instrument every day. I’d like to be ready for the smallpipes by my next birthday (Feb 27).

I have started the process and bought a practice chanter…the journey begins