Gonna learn the pipes...doin' the happy dance!

[Avonlea22]

Yuppers, I'm quite excited, because I just found out that I'm going to be taking a bagpiping class starting next Tuesday!

NC state offers a class (although it's not part of the regular curriculum) for the great Highland Bagpipes. It's offered twice a year, and I just emailed the instructor my intentions to take the class.

Once we're ready to actually play the pipes, I will also be able to borrow pipes from the school, so I don't have to spend heaps of money for a set for some time.

Now, I just need to get a hold of a practice chanter. Do any of the pipers here have any suggestions. I'm looking at spending around $75.00

I'm so excited!!!

[Wompet]

Happy for you, but envious. I got my Master's at Edinboro Univeristy of Pennsylvania, which started offering the pipe minor after I graduated and moved to Texas. Fortunately there are enough pipe bands in the Buffalo-Niagara region that I have a chance again of learning.

Good luck in your studies.

[Southern Breeze]

Congratulations and the best of luck!

[GMan]

I can sense the excitement here. Way to go.

[haukehaien]

First of all, ask your instructor if he or she has a preference as to what type of PC to get. Some instructors prefer that everyone in the class have the same model so that you will be in tune when practicing together.

If the instructor doesn't care, then I would suggest getting a long poly PC from Dunbar, Gibson or John Walsh. Buy poly because you WILL drop the PC at some point, and it's nice to have one that bounces rather than cracks. A long PC is closer to the size/feel of the regular pipe chanter, and makes transitioning a little easier. Dunbar's Millenium 2000 Extra Long is very nice. If that's the route you decide to take, this page can help you find a good place to buy.

Your PC will come with a reed, but you may want to go ahead and buy another to go with it.

Above all, avoid the cocus-wood PCs from Pakistan/India. They don't sound very good, and practicing on them will tend to make it more difficult for you to tune your pipe chanter later on.

How long does the class run? Is it a limited time, or is it ongoing?

Best of luck.

[highlander_Daz]

Id strongly reccomend a full size chanter, and DONT even consider anything from pakistan. good luck !

[Avonlea22]

First of all, ask your instructor if he or she has a preference as to what type of PC to get.

If the instructor doesn't care, then I would suggest getting a long poly PC from Dunbar, Gibson or John Walsh. Dunbar's Millenium 2000 Extra Long is very nice.


How long does the class run? Is it a limited time, or is it ongoing?
.

Thanks for the info. I just got an email back and he's not particular about getting a certain brand, but he did suggest Dunbar, Gibson and a couple of others, like you. I've read a lot of good things about Dunbar's Millenium 2000 extra long, so I'll probably go with that one.

I'm still trying to get the info on how long the class runs. From my understanding, it's an indefinite amount of time. Something along the lines of "the fee is $100 for as long as you participate in either the class or the band..." was in the original e-mail. I can tell the instructor is busy trying to get stuff organized for the first class, so I'm gonna give hime some slack.

[Owl of Oban]

Outstanding, you'll have a blast!

I have a Dunbar poly PC and love it. The full size is a must, the poly is smart because as was mentioned above, you WILL drop it.

Enjoy yourself and just keep at it. The pipes will drive you nuts, but are worth it.

-John

[Sherry]

Congratulations, Brian. Hope your neighbors will still like you after this class. :grin:

My 9yo DS really wants to learn pipes, but he needs to stick with violin/fiddle for a while to get a firm foundation in that. (He knows the differences, he knows how to play them properly, but he still plows through quarter notes & half notes as if they're all dotted quarters! <sigh>) At least he will know how to read the treble clef when he gets to the pipes.

[Piper]

Hi Brian,
Congratulations on starting on the pipes. When asked about how difficult it is to play the pipes I generally explain to folks that the chanter only has 9 notes, so it's fairly easy to get started on, but it takes a very long time to master.
I'll offer a different opinion on the practice chanters. I've found a standard length to be more comfortable. You generally play the PC while seated at a table, with the end resting on the table top. The long chanter might be a bit awkward. The finger holes of the longer chanter are spaced more like those on the actual pipe chanter, but regardless of which length chanter you choose, your hand and arm positions are very different when playing the practice chanter as opposed to the pipes. What I have found to be more important than the length of the chanter is having finger holes that are countersunk. This makes it easier to position your fingers, and gives an approximation of the feel of the larger holes on the actual pipe chanter.
Again, congratulations, and I hope you enjoy yourself.