Hello all,
Anyone going to The Pipers Gathering in Vermont this weekend?
This will be my first time and I’m taking a lesson with Ben Koehler, meeting Bruce Childress (I have a 1/2 set on order) and attending the workshops and sessions.
If anyone is going and doesn’t want to admit it publicly (because of the NSP, SSP and Border pipes that will be there) you can contact me offlist at aprelias@hotmail.com 
Alan
I’ll be there and I’ll be hanging out in the intermediate workshops, I suppose.
I’ve been learning all alone for such a long time that workshops are not a comfortable experience for me. Deborah Quigley and Benedict Koehler are good teachers and made me feel fairly at ease last year. I’m curious about the sessions that the Pipers Gathering web site seems to be advertising, though. Historically, they’ve been spontaneous events, but I wonder if someone’s made an attempt to organize this year.
I was hoping to pick up my Childress full set in North Hero this year, but I hear that’s not going to happen. 
I’ll probably leave the NSP, SSP, and Border pipes at home. I’m not staying at Shore Acres this year and don’t want to lug a couple of cases about or leave anything in a vehicle.
I hear ya, man, it’s tough but the wait is worth it 
I will also be in attendance. 
It should be a fun-filled weekend and a great line-up of instructors is planned. 
I am also thinking this will be a great opportunity to hear some of the most well-known NSP pipers…Northumbrian music is lovely and much of it works well on the Uilleann pipes. 
Here’s hoping that we do not feck up our reeds playing in tents over grassy areas…I really do prefer playing indoors. 
I will also be in attendance this year. Although, for the past three, four?, years I’ve been there. I’m staying at the Holiday Harbour which is approximately a 10-minute drive north of Shore Acres.
Jonathan
“Here’s hoping that we do not feck up our reeds playing in tents over grassy areas…I really do prefer playing indoors.”
Last year a lot of the Uilleann pipe workshops were held in the instructor’s room which made for fairly cramped conditions. My own pipes did not fare well outside on Friday and Saturday when the weather was chilly and windy.
By Sunday, the chanter reed had settled down a bit, and so did the weather. I’ll be glad when the town hall situation is resolved in North Hero and the workshops and concerts return to the great indoors - not that I’ve seen any air-conditioning in that part of the country yet.
Wish I were going…you all will have a great time.
I wish I was going as well…that would mean I had my pipes already! (only 5 months and 2 days to go).
Bill, in June I went to Gaelic Roots and it was the first time I had ever played my whistle in a workshop type situation…or for that matter outside my living room. I was pretty nervous the first day, but soon got over it because everyone was helping each other to learn something new.
The speed at which learning happened, and the jump start it gave my playing to take me to another level of ability was worth the “pain.” My pace of learning has increased, largely due to what I learned in that one week.
The key (I think) is to keep an open mind and enjoy what you are doing…even if it pushes you a bit outside your normal comfort zone. Everyone else probably feels just as self-concious.
You are right, a good teacher makes a tremendous difference as well.
Hope you ‘guys’ (meant in a non-gender specific way) have a great time!
Regards,
Gary
I’ll be there - second time for me. Seeing and hearing the various kinds of bagpipes was a real treat. Not to mention beautiful North Hero and Lake Champlain!
I’ll be glad when the town hall situation is resolved in North Hero and the workshops and concerts return to the great indoors - not that I’ve seen any air-conditioning in that part of the country yet.
Bill,
I’ve heard that the Town Hall has been condemmed and will not be used at all, anymore. So it’s @ Shore Acres indefinitely, apparently. 
Jonathan
Jonathon,
I’m not surprised! I heard some talk last year that the town was trying to decide whether to renovate or tear down completely and build new. I guess I assumed that in either case, the Pipers Gathering would eventually return to the town itself and not become a permanent event at Shore Acres.
While Shore Acres is a nice place to have the event, I preferred the previous locale of the town hall. While it’s impossible to have it there until they build anew, it’ll be nice to have it back there when it’s built. Shore Acres is too expensive and the cost of renting tents is up there, I’d suppose. I’ll have to talk with Mike Dow about this and see what the figures are.
Regards.
My wife and I will be driving in from St. Paul…not much playing for me I’m afraid as I’ve managed to hurt my hand on the lathe…(don’t ask! It was 3:00 am..no alcohol involved..just LOTS of caffeine, ebony and the word “ahh-choo”) still have one of my fingers in a brace! grr..
I’m making the drive from Toronto this weekend. Really looking forward to it. I won’t be bringing my family this year though – trying to conserve a little cash.
Sheesh, Minnesota? How long a drive is that? My guess - 20 hours?
PR
How long a drive is it from TO, Paul? Let me know for future reference…
BTY-I met another Paul Read from TO two weeks ago-it seems Toronto is crawling with guys named Paul Read/Reid who are musicians!
That’s pretty funny Janice. Actually, there’s a nefarious Paul Reid who is a dead-beat father who owes his wife a few thousand bucks for child-support. How do I know this? Every time I renew my mortgage or do something significant financially, I have to sign an affidavit to swear I’m not this guy!!
Wierd.
Anyway, i think the drive will take about 9 hours or so. Wanna come? I have a spare seat 
Cheers,
PR
9 hours? Mine is looking to be anywhere between 17 (no stops, hitches, accidents etc!) up to 25! I’ll be bringing a cocobolo practice set, a boxwood practice set, another ebony half set, and my “travelling” set..which is a reproduction of the 4 drone timothy kenna set (circa 1760-80) made from applewood with antler mounts…plus a smattering of wooden whistles..all for sale! (except the kenna copy..I need SOMETHING to take camping and hiking and canoeing up in da nort of Meen-eh-soh-da…
the drinks are on everybody who DIDN"T drive 20 plus hours! 
I live in Brockville, I think about 2 - 3 hours away. Unfortunately, the group I play flute and whistle with is doing awedding reception Saturday night. However if anyone is passing by to or from the meeting, I’d be glad to provide a “rest stop” in exchange for for some piping tips!
Let me know off board
Chuck
Davey,
I’m really looking forward to seeing those antler mounts – I have a rack from last year that I’m wondering what to do with. Look forward to meeting you
PR