Synthetic Drone Reeds, Shepherd/Warnock/Apps/EzDrone Chanter Reeds, and a gortex bag will take you a long way. Be sure to keep extra chanter reeds around. If your pipes kick your butt you are not practicing enough and your reeds are almost certainly too hard. And remember this saying... 'It takes seven days to make a drummer and seven years to make a piper' Don't be in a hurry. (and no, you won't actually be a grade 2 drummer in 7 days)