Quote Originally Posted by michael steinrok
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.)