I am a self taught musician for the few instruments that I know. I do not know the pipes yet but I also was planning on buying a practice chanter here soon and self teaching myself. I cannot read music, so I'm usually forced to learn by hearing alone and I'm actually really good at it.

They didn't have sheet music for thousands of years so I figure it's natural to play by ear.

However I'm sure JS Sanders knows more about this topic in regards to pipes and he may be right regarding a difference in style from a self taught/ instructor taught piper.

I saw go for it personally.