Pipes and Drum bands ?

[Miah]

I know the topic of play'n pipes has come up in the past.
This weekend I watched a few Pipe and drum bands.
After watching them I realized the snare drum parts are not that dificult to play. ( it seemed to me anyway)
I have wanted to get back into Music for a while and have been play'n tuba and all, but thought maybe attempting to join a pipe and drum band would be fun. anybody every a member of one?
Dues for the Panama City Pipe and Drum Corp are 10$ a month. I figure it may be a way to meet more people like minded localy as well. Just looking for input from anybody that may have been in or is currently in a band.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Barleyjuice was formed by a few members of the Loch Rannoch Pipe Band. After marching around in sub-zero temmeratures in kilts, the notion was born that Pubs are one h_ll of a lot warmer! Presto... guitars, drums, fiddles and pipes playing traditional (and a little neo-celtic) music!

There are a LOAD of fire companies, police forces, and such that have bands. As long as you live around the area... you'll be welcome. Naturally, some talent DOES help too!

It CAN be expensive though. Don't expect some of these groups to pay for a handsewn kilt from Scotland... or the spats... or the fly-aways... or the instruments... or the bar tabs.

[highlandtide]

I say go it for Miah! But like Jimmy said it could be expensive.

[Jerry]

I'm trying to get my daughter interested in trying the pipes. She has a BS in music, and can play any woodwind instrument, with the Oboe as her major instrument, so I believe that she could play the pipes. The problem is where can I find a set of beginners pepes for her to kearn with and not break me.I have seen some in the $200 to $300 range, but I don't know how good they might be. Here is the link to one place I have been looking:

http://www.ethnicsounds.com/Bagpipes...sp?ProductID=5. These are just about the price of a traditional kilt from Usa or an 8 yarder from Bear, but it might be worth it if I can get my daughter involved with the pipes and a pipe band. She loves her music but the only opportunity she has had to play recently was to play "Amazing Grace" as an Oboe solo at her grandmother's funeral last month. It is amazing, but the Oboe sounded a little like the pipes. And as a side benefit, for me, she might even stop calling my kilts "skirts".

[Jimmy Carbomb]

JerMc,

There are plenty of English Chefs, but I'm not about to have them cook at any restaurant I'M eating at! Point being... the bagpipes are a WHOLE different animal!!! The best trained musicians are STILL going to need the expertise of a master to even understand the theory in the fingering and breathing! And that comes from experience!

NOW... and this is the good part... there a load of bagpipe instructors that are MORE THAN HAPPY to load or rent a set to their students. If you were here in Philly, I could even recommend one to you.

Do the search for a teacher, and see what he or she has for contacts on rentals. This way, IF she gets miffed... you're not out a load of bucks, and you can still get a kilt!!!

[Riverkilt]

For sure on the pipes Jimmy.

A couple years ago my lady bought me a chanter for Christmas through a mail order place.

I couldn't play it for anything. I huffed and I puffed and I fiddled with the reed. Nada, nil, nothin' honey...Figured it didn't work because it was too inexpensive.

So, found a bagpipe instructor with a little store down in Flagstaff (300 mile round trip) and went to see him to buy a "better" chanter, one that would work.

Fortunately took the gift chanter with me. The guy "checked" it and he played it with ease. Gave it back to me and I still couldn't do anything with it.

Embarrassing. Sadly, he's too far away for lessons. I resolved to huff and puff harder when I got home...didn't work. That chanter makes a find decoration now.

My admiration for pipers had grown immensly.

Ron

[Rob Wright]

Go for it Miah If it doesn't work out at least you can say you gave it a try.

Rob Wright

[Miah]

I got to get the family into it and behind me. If I were to play anything I would do Snare or tenor drum as I marched in Drum and Bugle Corps as a percussionist.

[GMan]

Been thinking about this one Miah, with your musical background and your desire, plus throw in knowing that you know the hard work involved, I too say go for it!

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Barleyjuice was formed by a few members of the Loch Rannoch Pipe Band. After marching around in sub-zero temmeratures in kilts, the notion was born that Pubs are one h_ll of a lot warmer! Presto... guitars, drums, fiddles and pipes playing traditional (and a little neo-celtic) music!

There are a LOAD of fire companies, police forces, and such that have bands. As long as you live around the area... you'll be welcome. Naturally, some talent DOES help too!

It CAN be expensive though. Don't expect some of these groups to pay for a handsewn kilt from Scotland... or the spats... or the fly-aways... or the instruments... or the bar tabs.