Neighbours tell schoolboy to pipe down

**wgority** · 11th December 05, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by highlander_Daz

most pipers use a practice chanter at home and full pipes at band practice. as for "quiet pipes"? i can only guess that they mean a goose, which is still quite loud.

"I love pipeing and not being able to practice at home is very frustrating" -does he no have a practice chater?.

The practice goose is not the only choice here. There are also Scottish Smallpipes (both bellows- and mouth-blown varieties) as well as Border (or Lowland) Pipes. There are also numerous manufacturers of Parlour and Fireside Pipes. All of these are much quieter alternatives the Highland Bagpipe, allowing the richer sound and larger harmonic accompaniment of drones.

The practice chanter is a wonderful thing in and of itself, but there are times when you want or need that richer feel. It would be like you practicing with an unplugged Gibson Les Paul electric guitar. You can do it, but do you want to?

For the Council to disallow him even to attempt practicing with any of the above named alternatives without a fair hearing betrays frightening levels of arrogance and ignorance.

**highlander_Daz** · 11th December 05, 07:50 AM

As a piper I can sympathise with this young man, and Im well aware of the practice alternatives, however just becasue some one is a Scot doesnt mean they want to listen to the pipes, I wouldnt dream of Striking up at home and subject my neighbors to the pipes, agreed the council should come and check the levels of his practice goose and Im sure that it will fall within noise limits. Again its a storm in a tea cup and can only bring bad publicity onto pipeing in general.

**bubba** · 11th December 05, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by Raphael

The family is just very selfish. If the sound of the bagpipe is bothering the neighbours, may be they should look into sound proofing a room for the son to pratice in. Besides, do we know how good the kid is? He may not be that good and the sound coming out of his bagpipe could be more nosie than music.

Raph, the very same council has him teaching the pipes and playing at civic events so he can't be too bad. Now, if he got a set of kitchen pipes for practice there's no good reason to forbid it other than bureacratic laziness. Personally, I think he should push the issue with the smaller pipes and get an independent reading on the noise level and submit the result to the council. That should settle it once and for all. I know if it was me I'd start charging for my services in teaching and playing at events. No freebies.

**GlassMan** · 11th December 05, 10:52 AM

He has to be at least decent. According to the article that same Council hires him to play at events and started an initiative to get him to teach other youngsters to play the pipes.

**Raphael** · 11th December 05, 11:00 AM

The family is just very selfish. If the sound of the bagpipe is bothering the neighbours, may be they should look into sound proofing a room for the son to pratice in. Besides, do we know how good the kid is? He may not be that good and the sound coming out of his bagpipe could be more nosie than music.

**wgority** · 11th December 05, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by Raphael

The family is just very selfish. If the sound of the bagpipe is bothering the neighbours, may be they should look into sound proofing a room for the son to pratice in. Besides, do we know how good the kid is? He may not be that good and the sound coming out of his bagpipe could be more nosie than music.

Just selfish? I must, with all due respect, disagree with you. According to the BBC's coverage of this story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4512780.stm) the council's acceptable decibel level is a mere 41 decibels. According to most of the available sources I have checked (including http://www.sfu.ca/sonic-studio/handbook/Decibel.html ) place a normal conversation as being 60 decibels. 40 Decibels is the sound level of a quiet house. Is this town council going to prevent people from conversing in their own homes if this little factoid gets out?

The Herald article indicates that the council's noise abatement officers carried out a "simulated test". How was this simulated, where and when?

I maintain my point that the town council is being unreasonable for no good or discernable reason. I agree that the young man should moderate his practice, but during normal daytime hours, I'd not see problems with his taking his pipes out into the garden.

I further contend that the council is being unreasonable in not allowing him to practice with any other form of bagpipe in his own home without testing (or even simulating) the actual instrument is being narrow minded.

Finally, if the Renfrewshire council want him to play at various community events (as the Herald article contends they have), then they should either provide him a place to practice or institute a slightly more well thought out noise abatement program.

**highlander_Daz** · 12th December 05, 04:51 AM

I think the 41 decibels is the volume that the pipes cannot exceed inside the complainants house, but that does seem very low, however if thats the limit the council are obliged to take action, better to change the rules.

**Ranald** · 12th December 05, 05:09 AM

Originally Posted by highlander_Daz

Its not a case of anti scottishness at all, the GHB is a very loud instrument and just because someone is a Scot doesnt mean they want to listen to bagpipes being played all the time. it is a little irrisposible of this young man to practice outside and, most pipers use a practice chanter at home and full pipes at band practice. as for "quiet pipes"? i can only guess that they mean a goose, which is still quite loud.

"I love pipeing and not being able to practice at home is very frustrating" -does he no have a practice chater?.

I love to play my electric guitar through my Marshall stack but I wouldnt dream of plaing it in the house it would be very inconsiderate.

I say let him play.
As a youngster he needs to practice frequently to get stronger and to get better.The practice chanter and goose will not acheive that.
I was woundering myself that maybe he could be allowed to play in the school hall after school time, or maybe the local church.
Once again and this subject has come up before.. familiarity breads contempt.
It has been said that back in history that not all scots wore the kilt, not all wanted to be associated with a rebel cause more like.This to my mind is the same thing.
I on the other hand go to the local fields when I want a blast of the tunes of glory.
Just my view.

**Big Paul** · 13th December 05, 09:49 AM

Let him play LOUD and PROUD!!

**mbhandy** · 24th December 05, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by highlander_Daz

Its not a case of anti scottishness at all, the GHB is a very loud instrument and just because someone is a Scot doesnt mean they want to listen to bagpipes being played all the time. it is a little irrisposible of this young man to practice outside and, most pipers use a practice chanter at home and full pipes at band practice. as for "quiet pipes"? i can only guess that they mean a goose, which is still quite loud.

"I love pipeing and not being able to practice at home is very frustrating" -does he no have a practice chater?.

I love to play my electric guitar through my Marshall stack but I wouldnt dream of plaing it in the house it would be very inconsiderate.

Here Here!

MrBill