Reactions to kilts

**scotswelshrunner** · 24th March 13, 09:35 PM

While reading the blog "A year in a Kilt"( http://www.ayearinakilt.com), I also thought I'd post a few comments on my third week in a kilt. Everyone has a story to tell about the reactions and experiences of donning this delightful article of Highland dress but I'm going to try to blog about it more often. Follow if you'd like.

http://hiroshigeowl.blogspot.com

What are your favourite stories about reactions in public to the kilt??

**pbutts** · 25th March 13, 03:35 AM

R. G. Hardie with an "e" on the end. Nicely done.....the photos aren't bad at all. Practice lifting your middle fingers independently when you're doing other things and the practice chanter will come along nicely.

**OC Richard** · 25th March 13, 04:15 AM

First, about the Highland pipes and the Irish whistle, I've been playing Highland pipes since 1974 and the whistle since around 1976 so I'm here if you have any questions. I would recommend not trying to learn both simultaneously. I've had students who have done, and the progress on each is slower. I would focus on the Highland chanter first and after about a year, when you've developed the "muscle memory" on the chanter, you can start working on the whistle without hindering you piping progress.

It's much easier learning now, what with the internet and Skype lessons and all. You really should get a teacher... it's amazing how much time a beginner can waste, how much their progress can be slowed, by practicing something wrongly for months until somebody finally points it out to them, or they realize it's wrong on their own (not very common).

You're right there by Portland which I believe has a thriving piping scene. I'll do a bit of looking into that and see who is teaching up there. Colin Gemmell is an amazing player and teacher but I'm not sure where he's located nowadays.

About your kiltwearing, you look like "an old hand" at it, not a newbie at all!

About kiltwearing stories, I've been wearing kilts regularly for 35 years now and really not much has happened of note. Southern California is so multicultural anyhow, yesterday all the women I saw walking along our street were wearing traditional Indian dress.

The thing that stands out, to somebody interested in the history of things as I am, is the ignorance I run into. One time I was piping somewhere and a teenage girl comes up and says "are you Scotch-Irish? My family came from Scotch-Ireland!"

I wonder if she's ever tried to locate her ancestral home on a map??

**scotswelshrunner** · 25th March 13, 09:12 AM

Thanks for the info and hints OC. I have a few options in the Portland area for pipes and when I can clear my schedule,will attend some free lessons by the River City Pipe band. Life has changed since I bought the chanter and whistles so they are on the back burner for a wee bit. As for the kilts, well ignorance is bliss some say but I still call it laziness. Youngs kids excepted of course but there have been enough movies,books and media attention devoted to a kilt and being Scottish that there is no excuse. After Braveheart and Rob Roy I expected everyone to know but I guess not.

**OC Richard** · 25th March 13, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by scotswelshrunner

will attend some free lessons by the River City Pipe band.

Well it may be that you get what you pay for. I checked their website and discovered that they are a noncompetition band. I hate to sound like a snob, but the truth is that musicians who are serious about the music and who are good players play in competition bands. I listened to a YouTube video of that band and it's my impression that a band that sounds like that is not in a position to teach serious beginners.

Right there in Portland you have the Portland Metro Pipe Band, a Grade Two competition band. Every piper in such a band will play at a level far higher than any piper in a noncompetition band. A band that reaches Grade Two will have instruction of a very high standard, and it is such instruction that you should seek.

Listen for yourself!! Here is Portland Metro competing in Grade Two at the World Pipe Band Championships. This is the Mecca, as it were, for serious players

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkHuj5G9HMo

Now listen to River City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztEhMBJjPRk

Please maximize your time and effort with serious lessons from serious players. Your progress will be far quicker and you will end up a much better player.

**scotswelshrunner** · 25th March 13, 10:06 PM

Thanks OC. I shall try my best to make it work with the piping. So far it has been slow and I've not been able to practice much at all since buying the chanter. Work and life have mixed in. We ALL know how that goes. But at least I have the goods. Now to make the time.
And yes, Portland is a great place for piping. We have a great Scottish/Welsh and Irish social scene.

**Stan** · 28th March 13, 11:49 AM

I've just looked at and read your new blog. Interesting. It seems that you've come a long way from your post about your first day "kilted". Congratulations. Many of my experiences have been the same, and I'm looking forward to reading about more of your kilted outings, experiences and observations.

Stan L.

**bikercelt1** · 28th March 13, 04:14 PM

James,

I'll second much of what O C Richard said. Get a teacher. I can recommend Rob Barrick. He's been very patient with me, I don't think I could have gotten as nearly as much out of learning the pipes without him. You can contact him through The Scottish Country Shop in Portland or PM me and I'll put you in contact with him. There is a fellow named Gordon at the Country Shop from Glasgow that I believe also teaches though I don't know any one who has taken lessons with him. I do know people that have heard him play and say he's an awsome player. There is also the Oregon Pipers Society that holds meetings and competitions monthly during the "non-games" season. The next meeting will be April 20th.

As to reactions to the kilt, I've been wearing it long enough that most the time I no longer pay much attention one way or the other unless they get in my face. My wife and daughters, however, get a great deal of amusement out of watching other peoples reactions. Browsing through your blog it looks like you got it down. If your pictures are any indication I'd think you'd been wearing the kilt for a long time.

Now, pipes, maybe small pipes, and shakuhachi,,,hmm,,,

Jamie

**scotswelshrunner** · 29th March 13, 04:22 AM

Thanks for all the wonderful responses! As for the pipes and a teacher, I'll keep all of the good information at hand for future reference. Jamie, I do know Gordon at the Scottish Country Shoppe and have heard him play at the store.Very good indeed!
I just wish I could make time to get going on the chanter. Seems every moment I have is taken up right now so my goal is to clear a wee bit of time and DO IT!
Being in a one bedroom apt makes a chanter a bit more daunting and even loud. The shakuhachi,well not nearly as much.