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.