Let the fun begin - The Pipes are Calling

**Spartan** · 13th January 09, 08:20 PM

I just got home from my first lesson! It went well. This is going to be good.

The lessons are at the Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix. www.azirish.org
My instructor is the Pipe Sergeant for the Glendale [AZ] Police Pipes and Drums http://www.glendaleaz.com/police/pipesanddrums.cfm

While I'm with my instructor, my wife is taking mandolin lessons with Pat McCrossen. She wanted a mandolin, which I gave her for Christmas many years ago. It's been sitting in the closet for lack of someone to teach her how to play it. So she's in one room in the Irish cottage, and I'm in the next. See photo on the ICC website, above. (Sorry, Andy (our son), you don't get the mandolin yet!)

Now, get to the scales!

FYI, I've got a Gibson practice chanter.

Thanks, beloitpiper, for the excellent piece "So You Want to Play the Bagpipes"!

**piperdbh** · 13th January 09, 08:31 PM

Kudos to you both for a fine choice of pastimes!
Remember to keep those fingers straight and practice slowly.
It gets more exciting, the farther you go. The taorluath is especially fun!

**SteveB** · 13th January 09, 09:10 PM

Congratulations on the first lesson.

I believe that we have a very large class of pipers in training here on X-Marks.
BeloitPiper's advise is excellent.
My first lesson went well, I am using the McCallum Long Chanter in polypentco, which my tutor thinks is best for me to work with. I have a tendency to put a death grip on the chanter. He is giving me exercises that will help my overcome this. I don't mind the plastic chanter falling from me to the floor in this part of training. I do not want it to happen to my Dunbar Long in Blackwood. He thinks this is right for my old hands that are rather insensitive from years of hot machining to become sensitive to the instrument's touch. I plan on making it work, so I know that it will take me longer then the younger students. We are both fine with this. The value of a tutor is just this - customizing the training to be successful.
Good luck and keep up the practice. I have the good fortune of an hour and a half of undisturbed time every evening.

**beloitpiper** · 14th January 09, 12:37 AM

I'm glad you took our advice (it was a group effort) and you're getting proper training. Best of luck!

**Bart_In_A_Kilt** · 14th January 09, 04:42 AM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

I'm glad you took our advice (it was a group effort) and you're getting proper training. Best of luck!

...but where to get lessons in Wisconsin?

Have played woodwind instruments since I was a kid, but not reciently.
Last time was a few years back with an american legion marching band in Oconomowoc. Background with Clairinets and Sax's. would that be a leg up?

Bart

**piperdbh** · 14th January 09, 06:42 AM

Originally Posted by Bart_In_A_Kilt

Have played woodwind instruments since I was a kid, but not reciently. Last time was a few years back with an american legion marching band in Oconomowoc. Background with Clairinets and Sax's. would that be a leg up? Bart

It will help in that you can read the treble clef notes and rhythms. Fingerings are kind of like those of the recorder, but different enough that your fingers won't get confused. You don't have to worry about key signatures, transpositions, register breaks or any of that junk. (There are plenty of other technical things to keep your mind occupied, however!)

I'd call funeral homes, Presbyterian/Episcopal churches, and wedding planners in your area to find a local 'piper who could get you started on the chanter. There's also probably someone reading this post who lives close enough to help you. Keep us posted on your progress.

**JimB** · 14th January 09, 07:10 AM

Congrats on your first lesson!
I'm excited for my first which will be this Saturday. Report to follow!

**Spartan** · 14th January 09, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by Bart_In_A_Kilt

...but where to get lessons in Wisconsin?

Bart

I know that there is a piper in the student body at Nashotah House, I don't know that she's connected in the area and will be graduating in May. To my untrained ear, she sounded good.

I would check with the owners of The Pub in Oconomowoc. They've got musicians in there regularly. (I also noticed a waiter there wearing a kilt.)

Check for pipe bands in Waukesha and Milwaukee. You should be able to come up with a connection.

**Standard** · 14th January 09, 12:20 PM

Congratulations on your first (of many I'm sure) lessons. I'd like to learn to play the pipes too, but since I haven't shown much promise in the music area thus far in my life I'm not so sure that the pipes would be a good choice.