Bagpipers: feedback please?

**Coemgen** · 12th September 07, 05:10 PM

Well, I'm giving in to something I've been trying to avoid for quite some time:

I've decided to learn to play the bagpipes.

One of my friends, who is very musically inclined, plays the bagpipes, as well as tenor snare drums, the bugle, and runs an amateur recording studio, has offered to help me learn to play.

Because we both attend separate colleges, he recommended that I get the "Bagpipe Solutions" tutors and use those, and when we could get together during school breaks and such, he'd give me more formal instruction.

Upon consulting with him, and looking at some of the prevailing opinions here about the quality of various practice chanters, I am thinking that I will get the J. Dunbar Kitchen Pipes from hotpipes.com, which have for the chanter and blowpipe a removable Extra-Long "Millennium 2000" Practice Chanter.

Of course, as I am a Poor, Starving Liberal Arts Student, this will basically mean that I am spending no more money this semester, as I will have spent it all on this.

I would like to know what those of you who already have learned to play the pipes have to say about this plan of action.

I don't take things personally, so please be as cruel as you want.

**PiobBear** · 12th September 07, 05:46 PM

I've no experience with Cairn's program, but it seems awfully expensive to me. However, if it is what it purports to be, it might be the best option in your situation.
I have played a set of Kitchen Pipes, they're OK, particularly if you live in a dorm or something, but not neccessary. Dunbar is a good PC (I have one), although I like Naill's better. The only good one I could find on EBay was this War-Mac Practice Chanter for $9.75, which would be plenty good enough to start with.

**BEEDEE** · 12th September 07, 06:57 PM

Just get the Dunbar practice chanter for now. Hotpipes can drill the mouth piece now or later for the kitchen pipes. You will be on the chanter for some months before you graduate to anything else, so delay the kitchen pipes for now.

Brian

**beloitpiper** · 13th September 07, 02:46 AM

I agree, don't invest in pipes just yet. Get a chanter. I recommend a Gibson practice chanter, but any quality one will do. As far as a book, the only one I have ever recommended is the College of Piping Tutor.

**Macman** · 13th September 07, 10:08 AM

I agree that if you're short on cash, just get the practice chanter. My experience is that I bought the practice chanter and learned on it for the first year, bought the kitchen pipes after about a year, and then bought the full pipes soon after that and have "played" them (and of course the PC too) for the next year and a half. The kitchen pipes were bought as sort of an "in-between" to the full pipes, but I have to say that I only ever use the kitchen pipes now if I'm going away for a few days and can't play the full pipes wherever I'm going. They have the advantage that you can play the full kitchen pipes or practice on the PC only. They also take up almost no room in a suitcase. I have found hotpipes to be an excellent supplier if you do decide to purchase the kitchen pipes, and I'm really happy with the Dunbar they sell as well.

**scoutniagara** · 16th September 07, 05:50 AM

You can't go wrong with Dunbar. Many of our champion pipe bands here in Ontario, use Dunbar pipes for their uniformity in all playing conditions. Of course, the Dunbar shop is only a ten minute drive down the "hill" from me, and my own pipes are Dunbars. I have two Dunbar practice chanters, a full size for keeping my fingers in shape for my pipes; and one a bit smaller, but pitched better for playing with others and my bands.

**Coemgen** · 17th September 07, 12:20 AM

Thank you all for your input. However, I'm going to invest instead in a pair of season's passes at Disneyland for my girlfriend and me, since I want to spend lots of time with her before she leaves for college next year (she wants to go to Cambridge or Oxford).