Bagpipes Starter Kit with Tutor Book Practice chanter for beginner

Product Information

However, Dumbar seems to have pre-empted this fear and consequently slap the product with a lifetime warranty, meaning you can rest assured that it will deliver the said quality and expectation. If it doesn’t, you know you can always return it for another one. So, this is one of the reasons why people are investing in this bagpipes. For the owner, the MacCallam comes ready with a range of accessories that enhance its value and mobility. This is a recommended model as it includes a complimentary copy of Learning to Play Bagpipes by Shepherd as a well as a guide to get started with the instrument. Practice chanters come in two sizes: ‘regular’ and ‘long.’ The long chanter is so named because the finger holes are the same distance apart as those on the pipe chanter. This of course makes a lot of sense. However, for well over a century, practice chanters were shorter than pipe chanters, and these are what we now call ‘regular’ chanters. There is less call for them today, though lots of younger children start on the regular-sized chanter. Some companies (like this one) also offer a child’s chanter for very young children, which is even smaller than the regular. Stuart has also been successful on the solo piping circuit over the years, winning the Silver Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in 1988 and being placed second in the Gold Medal in both Inverness and Oban in 1995 and 1998 respectively, gaining an invitation to the Glenfiddich Championships in 1998.

People who are 5'7'' or below might benefit from a small or extended small pipe bag. People who measure around 5'9'' to 6' might enjoy a medium bag. Taller people who are 6'1'' or higher might do well with a large bag. Prior to joining The National Piping Centre, he worked as a reed maker and is a time-served Mechanical Engineer.Margaret began learning the pipes at age 8 and was initially taught by her father Con Houlihan and Stephen Power (ex Scots Guards).

Stuart completed his Army service in April 2008 having served 30 years and was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June of that year in recognition for services to Army Piping and a distinguished career. Stuart is currently a part time Instructor at the National Piping Centre teaching on the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland BA Scottish Music – Piping Degree. In addition to this Stuart is also the Director of Music for the Massed Pipes and Drums at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland, which takes place annually in July. David, from Glasgow, started playing pipes at the age of 9. Learning first from his father, Stuart, he went on to have lessons at the National Piping Centre. David was fortunate enough to have many brilliant tutors including the late, great Donald MacPherson, whom many regard as the finest piper of the 20th century. When choosing a beginner set of bagpipes, give some thought to the size and weight of the instrument. For beginners, a smaller size may be more comfortable to handle, as well as easier to play. The weight of the instrument can also affect how easily it can be carried and played for extended periods of time. A lightweight set of bagpipes may be easier to handle for those with limited upper body strength, whereas a heavier set may provide more stability. Think about these factors and find a set that is comfortable to handle and play. You’ll be glad you did when it comes to your overall experience and progress. Bagpipes Brands Clare Lynas started piping at the age of seven in her local pipe band, Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia with PM Bob Martin. Throughout her piping career she has received tuition from Ian Speirs, Ian MacFadyen, Tom Speirs and most recently Roddy MacLeod MBE.Margaret is a qualified examiner for the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board exams (SQA approved) after passing the Institute of Piping Graduate Certificate with distinction in 2004. The chanter reed is the hardest and loudest reed the bagpipe has. It fits into the chanter where your fingers rest to play a tune (exactly like a practice chanter). Bagpipe Chanter reeds are made of cane which is a fibrous and natural material. These reeds thrive on regular playing to stay stable and easy. These are not the same kind of reeds that fit into your practice chanter. AAR Bagpipes – AAR is a trusted brand for beginner bagpipers, known for producing instruments that are both easy to play and affordable. Wilson played for the local Strathearn Pipe Band in Grade 4, before joining the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band where he enjoyed success in Grade 2 and 3. Having joined Strathclyde Police in 1982, Wilson was a member of the police pipe band winning the Grade 1 World Championship on 5 occasions. He later became a member of the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band.

With the McCallum polypenco pipe chanter, you can conveniently hold down on the bagpipes holes and generate the tunes you want. Glenfiddich Piping Championship, overall winner (5times), MSR winner (twice), Piobaireachd winner (10times); Northern Meetings, Inverness – Highland Society of London Gold Medal, Bicentenary Gold Medal and Clasp (2), Former Winners MSR; In 2005 whilst still living in Perth, Australia, Alisdair became the first fly in guest player for the world renowned Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, 12 times winners of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Associations World Pipe Band Championship. In 2006 Alisdair was appointed to the position of Pipe Major of the Western Australia Police Pipe Band which he held for 12 months before relocating to Glasgow in October 2007. Typically, I recommend that most people start with a medium bag. It is important to remember that a pipe bag is an interchangeable part of the instrument. This means that you can change, upgrade, and swap styles and sizes later on into playing. You can more accurately choose a size from both your height and your stamina level:

1-on-1 Bagpipe Coaching

Some other notable career wins are the Gold Medals at Inverness and Oban, Senior Piobaireachd Oban (3), Bratach Gorm (4), Silver Chanter (3), Former Winners MSR Oban (5), Former Winners MSR Inverness (4), P/M Donald MacLeod Memorial (9), Springbank Invitational (9), Dan Reid Memorial (7), Donald MacDonald Quaich (3), Former Winners MSR London (5). For those that have been disappointed by some other bagpipes having a weak chanter, you need to give the AJW Great Highland Bagpipes a serious look. These bagpipes come with a leading-edge chanter that will perform wonderfully well for you at all times. Expect it to take about a year to develop foundational skills and be able to competently play some tunes. Achieving an intermediate level can take 1-2 years with regular practice. Becoming an advanced player may take 5+ years. Be patient and focus on gradual improvement. How often should I practice bagpipes as a beginner?