Learn the Bagpipes

If you love curling, you probably love the sound of the bagpipes.  The instrument, with Scottish heritage is interwoven into the curling world.  They are often played at bonspiels and tournaments as either an opening or closing ceremony.  Players can be "piped" on to the ice, normally with the familiar song "Scotland the Brave".

I've had an interest the bagpipes for many years, starting in 1971 when I was piped onto the ice at my first junior bonspiel.  I've always wanted to learn the instrument but the entry to learning seemed too difficult.  I was told by my piper friends that it takes years of training with a year or two starting on the practice chanter before learning the pipes themselves.  I did buy a practice chanter and learned the basic notes.  Through a chance encounter, I learned that the Gibson Bagpipe Company was located just down the street from my home curling club in Nashua, NH.  I stopped by to enquire.  The owner said he could build me a set of custom pipes and it would take about three months. I did not hesitate and ordered them immediately.  Expect to pay $1500 for a good set made with African Blackwood.  I love my Gibson pipes. They have a smooth, mellow sound.

The Great Highland bagpipes are fascinating (pictured below).  It is a wood-wind instruments with three "drones" and a melody chanter, all with their own reeds (the vibrating reeds make the sound). I am not a professional piper but I enjoy playing the pipes nearly every day.  Below are the steps I used to enjoy the instrument without the barriers to entry.  Once I received my pipes, it took me a month or so before I could make any quality sound.

Steps to Learning

1. Buy a practice chanter and learn the scale.  There only nine notes.

2. Visit the numerous bagpipe videos on the internet.

3. Buy a good set of pipes.

4. Start with an "easy" chanter reed.

5. Buy the bagpipe tuner app. and tune the instrument.

6. Start making noise.

7. Learn the embellishments. They are key part of bagpipe music. 

8. Continue practicing with the practice chanter AND the full set.

Things that were easy:

• Buying the practice chanter on line.

• Buying the pipes.

• Playing the notes on the scale.

Things that were harder:

• Tuning the pipes (a bagpipe A is not the same as a concert A).  Use the app.

• Applying the proper, consistent pressure to the reeds.

• Learning and playing the embellishments.

• Memorizing the tunes.

• Practicing the full set at home.  The pipes are very loud, over 100 decibels.

Despite advice to the contrary, I purchased the pipes before I was proficient on the chanter.  With the amount of videos available, I was able to  learn myself in a short period of time.  I can now play many tunes that sound pretty good.

Enjoy.

Grayland Cousins - CurlTech Managing Director