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Product Description
Where to Start
In order to start to learning to play the Great Highland Bagpipe , you must first begin with what is called the practice chanter. It is here you will learn what you need to become proficient in all the technical aspects of the pipes. In order to do this, you must learn the essentials on the practice chanter before graduating to the bagpipe.
What do I need?
Practice Chanter
First and foremost you need a practice chanter. There are two kinds of materials used in the manufacturing of these instruments; black wood and polypenco (plastic). The most popular because of its durability and price is the Plastic Chanter. Dunbar, John Walsh, and McCallum are all fine bagpipe makers that produce a quality practice chanter in both wood and plastic. Most makers offer a standard length or long practice chanter (same spacing of holes as the bagpipe chanter) and some even offer a child's chanter child’s chanter that has smaller spacing for wee hands.
Tutorial Material
Any class or lesson would not be complete without reference material. There are many tutor books for piping and drumming that follow a step by step process.
John Cairns has developed a series of tutor books called Bagpipe Solutions. There are 18 volumes that cover everything from basic fingering, and exercises to advanced playing and technique. Each volume has been prepared to let the student learn in a progressive manner, and comprehend each aspect clearly. There is information on why the student needs to learn each aspect, how to study or practice what is contained in the lesson and how to apply skills learned. Each lesson identifies accomplishments that must be met prior to moving on to the next lesson. Books 1-5 learning levels all come with CD. These books cover each lesson taught in a great amount of detail, and can use this detail to assure that students comprehend all the specific details within the lessons provided.
The College of Piping Glasgow also has a successful tutor book program that has been in existence for over 50 yrs. The Tutor Book 1 or “Green Book” as it is referred to, has brought many successful pipers from basic first steps up to playing their first tunes on the goose. The books now come with a CD ROM that can show you details on technique as well as downloadable worksheets to help with theory and Institute of Piping Certifications. The Green Book gives you structured lessons from how to hold the chanter straight through to playing tunes with all embellishments. It includes annexes with exercises and extra tunes. There are two other books in this series by the College of Piping that cover Bagpipe Maintenance and advanced tunes etc. The books are mainly intended for use with an instructor and home study between instruction. Finally, the College of Piping has a tutor book and CD-ROM for Piobaireachd. This is a perfect learning tool for the student of Piobaireachd.
It is always preferable to have one on one instruction when learning the pipes. It avoids “getting good at doing it wrong”. However both these manuals with CD and CDROM are great improvements in self teaching if that is the way you choose to go.
Practice Chanter Reeds
Every practice chanter comes with its own reed. It is sometimes helpful to have a spare on hand. Gibson, John Walsh Stardard, and John Walsh Deluxe, as well as Warnock and Trutone are all decent reeds and work well in most chanters. It usually comes down to personal preference of the player.
When picking a practice chanter reed there are a few things to remember. Look at the reed. Look at the side of the reed for gaps in the blades. Look at the top of the reed. Are the blades too tight or too free (i.e. are they far apart or almost touching together) either will make playing the reed an unpleasant experience. Put the reed in your chanter, ensuring a secure fit in the reed seat and play a note or two. Is it the right strength for you and if you are at the level where you can play the scale, listen to the balance of the chanter. All these are factors in choosing a reed, but in the end it is what makes you happiest when playing.
Accessories and Maintenance items
There are always a few things you can use in conjunction with your learning experience. Hemp for chanters comes in yellow pre waxed or black waxed and will be a handy item not only for learning on the chanter, but later when you get to the bagpipe. Also, other items such as a carrying casewill help protect and secure the chanter and reeds when not being played.
Other Practice Instruments
Once you start learning to play the pipes, you will find yourself looking for other ways to vary your practice time. A great way is on a set of the many small pipe instruments that are offered today. There are small pipes that are bellows or mouth blown, shuttle pipes, electronic pipesfor quiet practice or concert, or even the Highland Hornpipe for ceilidhs. There is a wide variety of other types of pipes that can make learning interesting and fun.
Advanced Learning Material
Once you have reached a certain level of learning there is a whole new world of learning materials opened to you. Up to this point you would have been more concerned with the basics and learning them. Now you have the opportunity to learn tunes and there are many great piping books and thousands of tunes at your disposal. Some of the items you might be interested in are Jim MacGillivray’s Pipes Up and Pipes Ready DVD’s. They are a great resource for how to set up maintain and tune your pipes. A must have for any piper at the beginning stages. Jim also has an exercise book out called Rhythmic Finger work, that is filled with great exercises for keeping the fingers nimble and strengthening the embellishments. It also comes with a CD. Some of the other great books are the Scots Guards Collection Vol. 1 and Scots Guard Vol 2, Bruce Gandy’s four volumes of books, Archie Cairns Piobaireachd Tutorial with CD, Care and Maintenance of the Great Highland Bagpipe by Ron Bowen is another fantastic resource that covers maintenance and beyond. Pipe Major Angus MacDonald MBE’s two books are a must for any piper. These are a few among many many books we carry.
In order to start to learning to play the Great Highland Bagpipe , you must first begin with what is called the practice chanter. It is here you will learn what you need to become proficient in all the technical aspects of the pipes. In order to do this, you must learn the essentials on the practice chanter before graduating to the bagpipe.
What do I need?
Practice Chanter
First and foremost you need a practice chanter. There are two kinds of materials used in the manufacturing of these instruments; black wood and polypenco (plastic). The most popular because of its durability and price is the Plastic Chanter. Dunbar, John Walsh, and McCallum are all fine bagpipe makers that produce a quality practice chanter in both wood and plastic. Most makers offer a standard length or long practice chanter (same spacing of holes as the bagpipe chanter) and some even offer a child's chanter child’s chanter that has smaller spacing for wee hands.
Tutorial Material
Any class or lesson would not be complete without reference material. There are many tutor books for piping and drumming that follow a step by step process.
John Cairns has developed a series of tutor books called Bagpipe Solutions. There are 18 volumes that cover everything from basic fingering, and exercises to advanced playing and technique. Each volume has been prepared to let the student learn in a progressive manner, and comprehend each aspect clearly. There is information on why the student needs to learn each aspect, how to study or practice what is contained in the lesson and how to apply skills learned. Each lesson identifies accomplishments that must be met prior to moving on to the next lesson. Books 1-5 learning levels all come with CD. These books cover each lesson taught in a great amount of detail, and can use this detail to assure that students comprehend all the specific details within the lessons provided.
The College of Piping Glasgow also has a successful tutor book program that has been in existence for over 50 yrs. The Tutor Book 1 or “Green Book” as it is referred to, has brought many successful pipers from basic first steps up to playing their first tunes on the goose. The books now come with a CD ROM that can show you details on technique as well as downloadable worksheets to help with theory and Institute of Piping Certifications. The Green Book gives you structured lessons from how to hold the chanter straight through to playing tunes with all embellishments. It includes annexes with exercises and extra tunes. There are two other books in this series by the College of Piping that cover Bagpipe Maintenance and advanced tunes etc. The books are mainly intended for use with an instructor and home study between instruction. Finally, the College of Piping has a tutor book and CD-ROM for Piobaireachd. This is a perfect learning tool for the student of Piobaireachd.
It is always preferable to have one on one instruction when learning the pipes. It avoids “getting good at doing it wrong”. However both these manuals with CD and CDROM are great improvements in self teaching if that is the way you choose to go.
Practice Chanter Reeds
Every practice chanter comes with its own reed. It is sometimes helpful to have a spare on hand. Gibson, John Walsh Stardard, and John Walsh Deluxe, as well as Warnock and Trutone are all decent reeds and work well in most chanters. It usually comes down to personal preference of the player.
When picking a practice chanter reed there are a few things to remember. Look at the reed. Look at the side of the reed for gaps in the blades. Look at the top of the reed. Are the blades too tight or too free (i.e. are they far apart or almost touching together) either will make playing the reed an unpleasant experience. Put the reed in your chanter, ensuring a secure fit in the reed seat and play a note or two. Is it the right strength for you and if you are at the level where you can play the scale, listen to the balance of the chanter. All these are factors in choosing a reed, but in the end it is what makes you happiest when playing.
There are always a few things you can use in conjunction with your learning experience. Hemp for chanters comes in yellow pre waxed or black waxed and will be a handy item not only for learning on the chanter, but later when you get to the bagpipe. Also, other items such as a carrying casewill help protect and secure the chanter and reeds when not being played.
Other Practice Instruments
Once you start learning to play the pipes, you will find yourself looking for other ways to vary your practice time. A great way is on a set of the many small pipe instruments that are offered today. There are small pipes that are bellows or mouth blown, shuttle pipes, electronic pipesfor quiet practice or concert, or even the Highland Hornpipe for ceilidhs. There is a wide variety of other types of pipes that can make learning interesting and fun.
Advanced Learning Material
Once you have reached a certain level of learning there is a whole new world of learning materials opened to you. Up to this point you would have been more concerned with the basics and learning them. Now you have the opportunity to learn tunes and there are many great piping books and thousands of tunes at your disposal. Some of the items you might be interested in are Jim MacGillivray’s Pipes Up and Pipes Ready DVD’s. They are a great resource for how to set up maintain and tune your pipes. A must have for any piper at the beginning stages. Jim also has an exercise book out called Rhythmic Finger work, that is filled with great exercises for keeping the fingers nimble and strengthening the embellishments. It also comes with a CD. Some of the other great books are the Scots Guards Collection Vol. 1 and Scots Guard Vol 2, Bruce Gandy’s four volumes of books, Archie Cairns Piobaireachd Tutorial with CD, Care and Maintenance of the Great Highland Bagpipe by Ron Bowen is another fantastic resource that covers maintenance and beyond. Pipe Major Angus MacDonald MBE’s two books are a must for any piper. These are a few among many many books we carry.