Chaps and GrainReaper:

I will echo all those comments from adult learners (and particularly OC Richard): you can learn, but get a teacher and devote your time and heart to the learning. I started when I was 48 (can that be ten years ago?) and am now a solid Grade IV player, with aspirations to Grade III. My background is in more traditional brass and woodwind instruments in elementary, junior high, high school and college. Knowing how to read music and interpret rhythm is important, but spending the time building technique is more valuable. Setting time to develop your skills, using milestones to measure and maintain progress and finding out what you want out of playing the pipes is important. Some want to march with the band, some not, others really like the light music, while the piobaireachd speaks to others. It's a wide world of opportunities and can seem daunting, but if you are realistic about your focus and what your goals are, you can get there. By the way, Richard's recommendation on the Gibson long chanter is spot on; I have one as my practice chanter and it's great. A good sound, the spread of the holes mimics the pipe chanter well and they are bullet-proof. That helps if you get frustrated one night on tachums and want to snap it over your knee. Good luck and let us hear about your progress occasionally.

JMB