Scholarship Package is $7000 a Year And Subsidized Kilts

[TechBear]

Sorry to be all sizzle and no steak, but the on-line version of the story is in the Wall Street Journal's "subscriber only" section. The article is on the front page, though, so if you walk by a newsstand that carries the WSJ, you can read the first couple of paragraphs for yourself Here is an excerpt of the article copied as "fair use." Typed in by hand, so all spelling errors are mine.

Package is $7000 a Year And Subsidized Kilts
Nation's only bagpipe major is big noise on campus; jigs, marches and AC/DC
by Paul Glader

PITTSBURGH - As the only student majoring in bagpipes at any American university or college, Nick Hudson walks a loud, lonely road.

A recent day found him practicing by himself in a basement room at Carnegie Mellon University's student union. Pulling back his shoulder-length red hair, the 18-year-old freshman jammed rubber plugs into his ears before he adjusts the reeds and tuned the drones of his instrument. Then, tucking the bag under his arm, he began to step methodically around the room in time as he played Scottish jigs, classical pieces called piobaireachd and, to show the instrument's versatility, a lighting-fast rendition of "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC.

...

Bagpipes are enjoying a resurgence in popularity, amid a broad interest in folk music and ethnic music. Jeff Mann, chairman of the Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations, says there are 9,000 bagpipers in North America registered with the 10 regional associations, up 50% since 1999. The count doesn't include those who play as a hobby but don't belong to the bagpiper organizations.

...

Mr. Hudson started playing the pipes in junior high school in Cleveland, because he liked its shrill, distinctive sound. As time went on, he says, he fell in love with the music. His passion for the instrument turned out to be the ticket to CMU. The school gave him a $7,000-a-year scholarship, equal to about 15% of his tuition and fees. There are other perks: subsidized kilts, bagpipes to play, and paid trips to represent the school in competitions.

The article mentions Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas and St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, North Carolina, as two of a very few colleges in the United States that offer formal education in bagpipes. Carnegie Mellon University, though, is the only one that has a full major. At CMU, instrument majors must take classes in harmony, music theory, eurythmics and music history in addition to studio lessons in their instrument. Since the major was introduced in 1990, only six students have pursued the major. Two graduated and now make their living playing and teaching the bagpipes, while three didn't finish the program (the article implies that the graduation rates for other instruments is similar, as the music theory and other academic courses are demanding.)

And because it has to be said.... You know why bagpipers march around when they play? They are trying to get away from the sound. :rolleyes:

[mbhandy]

And because it has to be said.... You know why bagpipers march around when they play? They are trying to get away from the sound. :rolleyes:

OK so here we go:

What is worse than one bagpipe player?




The WHOLE BAND.

MrBill

[Pour1Malt]

Q. How dae ya get twa bagpipes to play in perfect unison?

A. Shoot one.

[RockyR]

What's the difference between bagpipes and a trampoline?

You take your shoes off before jumping on a trampoline.

[michael steinrok]

Practisin in da basemen,wha da heck wron wid him? He shud pla out in de open and blast ever one

[TechBear]

Practisin in da basemen,wha da heck wron wid him? He shud pla out in de open and blast ever one

The article mentioned that he had been chased away from CMU's famous music practice rooms by violinists and opera-singers-in-training because he kept drowning them out and they can't hear their own music. And he's not allowed to practice out on the green because the teachers can't get themselves heard. So... he practices in a basement.

Oh, and lest this thread spawns any more bagpipe jokes, the article also mentions that the earplugs are for good reason: pipes can get as loud as 120 decibles, the same as a loud chainsaw, or even louder; the plugs are so that he won't lose his hearing.

Then again, if I were learning to play the bagpipes, I don't think I would mind becoming a bit hard of hearing (at least, with regards to what other people said about pipers.)

[An t-Ileach]

The UK Houses of Parliament have old security rules that consider a sgian dhubh and dirk to be ceremonial wear, but bagpipes to be a weapon of war: you're not supposed to take pipes into the Palace of Westminster.

[Kilted KT]

The UK Houses of Parliament have old security rules that consider a sgian dhubh and dirk to be ceremonial wear, but bagpipes to be a weapon of war: you're not supposed to take pipes into the Palace of Westminster.

of course it is a weapon of war...have you ever heard the pipes played badly? A poorly-played set of pipes can kill a whole room full of people with only a few notes!

as an aside, it is also said that poorly played bagpipes has on occasion provoked wild moose into thinking it is mating season. Be warned.

[An t-Ileach]

Ah, fortunately there aren't too many moose in London, eh?

[chasem]

The article mentioned that he had been chased away from CMU's famous music practice rooms by violinists and opera-singers-in-training because he kept drowning them out and they can't hear their own music. And he's not allowed to practice out on the green because the teachers can't get themselves heard. So... he practices in a basement.

That's weak. Most schools with a [decent] music department I've ever visited have had phenomenal rooms for the students to practice in on their own time. The rooms are sound-proof, and also have mic/speakers to emulate various room situations (ie: ampitheatre, church, field, etc). I've been in the main room one time, and 2-3 rooms were occupied by trombonists and trumpets (both are typically arrogant in their playstyle, and very obnoxiously loud) and it took me a few minutes to realize the rooms were unavailable.