I’m new to Uilleann pipes and I was introduced to them by a good friend who directed me here. I do not know a lot about them and hence have lots of beginners type questions I’d like to ask.
My main big questions is that are there rules as to what beginners should be asking. I know other boards like you to read a FAQ which answers basic questions.
Is there one on this board? If so I can’t find it.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
The only FAQ deals with how to work the board.
Thanks
I don’t know of any official rules about question content.
It’s worth using the archive/search facility, I’m told, as many beginner questions repeat themselves…so you might just come across your answer immmediately.
If the question has been asked & answered a dozen times in the recent past, the enthusiasm of responders will be less if the same question appears again!!
Anyway, good luck with your piping
By the way…whereabout are you?
[I’m in the Scottish Highlands just south of Inverness]
Boyd
George… Welcome to C&F !
Ask away. How else can you learn?
Don’t let anyone intimidate you for a lack of knowledge about Uilleann Pipes. Afterall, you came here seeking knowledge.
Thanks for the welcome and guidance about using the board. Boyd I am originally from Glasgow but for sometime have lived between Manchester and Carlisle.
Tony I don’t get intimidated easily! However I know what you mean…I’ll probably just read all the back posts to learn some more.
Nice to meet you.
Hi George,
Seth Gallagher has a nice FAQ section on his website, http://www.uilleann.com
Patrick D’Arcy’s website has a vast amount of information:
http://www.concentric.net/~pdarcy/page1/page1.shtml
Hope this helps,
Larry Dunn
There’s a bunch of uilleann pipers in Glasgow, so if you get back there you could meet up with some of them.
[I’ve got contacts for just about all U. pipers at all levels of experience in Scotland].
It really pays to have a few players around you…means you have lots of advice, different instruments to look at and try, and people who’ve already made all the mistakes able to tell you what to do or what to avoid.
Boyd
http://www.strathspeyinmay.com
ps/ Guys “bunch”???
What is the collective term for several uilleann pipers?..a gaggle? …a triplet? [etc]…
On 2003-02-27 13:13, boyd wrote:
http://www.strathspeyinmay.com
ps/ Guys “bunch”???
What is the collective term for several uilleann pipers?..a gaggle? …a triplet? [etc]…
A nuisance… especially when trying to decide which tune everyone knows to play!!
Slan go foill
Liam
I believe the collective term is a “depression” of pipers (esp. after a sharp change in humidity)
Larry Dunn
Maybe a collection of pipers should be called “a gurgle” (especially if it’s a group of quarrelsome pipers) or “a cran” (if they all agree and are congenial!)
DB
It may be used to refer to a weekend workshops/concert event, but all “tionol” really means is “gathering”. I think it can be used correctly in a more generic sense, but whether such a usage would register with others is doubtful.
“Gaggle” is good, so is “murder”, or “gang”, etc. Be creative.
Someone a whileback called the grouping a poverty of pipers. Joking or not it sounds good to me.
Marc
A group of pipers? it depends on the circumstances.
A pleasure of pipers playing
A poverty/pleading of pipers purchasing
A plague of pipers practicing
The last one suggested by my wife 
Cheers, Mac
Or perhaps, judjing from recent posts regarding tuning, a mismatch of pipers…
Mrk
Big George,
A few things you can do to speed up the learning curve:
a) Sit in front of a mirror and ensure you hold the pipe in a similar fashion to one of the masters; Liam O’Flynn, Seamus Ennis, Paddy Maloney, Paddy Keanan (noting his is unorthadox).
b) Cut your wife’s broom handle 1 1/2 feet short and make an exact replica of your chanter with respect to hole size and positioning. While you are out and about, practice. You will be surprise at how much you learn. People may look at you funny, but all the people on my bus now know me as “the guy with the stick.” This helps your fingers learn to move alone and memorize the detailed moves and timings for basic scales and subsequent ornamentation.
c) Don’t get a 1/2 set. Numerous established pipers have told me that rushing to a set with drones can realy slow down mastering of the chanter. Liam O’Flynn played a chanter alone for 5 years before he got drones.
d) Practice without blowing the reed. Each morning from 6:00 to 6:45, I sit and go through a list of ornaments with just a whisper of air going through the pipe – that is all you need to know that you fingers are landing/lifting at the right time. This helps a lot.
e) Know when to put the pipes down. It is better not to touch them on an off day (and there will be off days) than it is to have a terrible practice and be discouraged.
f) Establish three pipers you can call for advice, encouragement when you need it. Count me in. Email me privately and I will send you my number. I wasted a lot of time that I could probably save you.
g) Understand that it is an obsession, meaning that you will be passionate about it and the people around you will not. The cadre of people that appreciate them are few and far between (that is until someone that has never heard them hears you play [well]).
Cheers,
Virgil
Toronto
ps. Mark – how is that Kennedy reed blowing?
[quote]
On 2003-02-27 21:24, vcolby wrote:
Big George,
“c) Don’t get a 1/2 set. Numerous established pipers have told me that rushing to a set with drones can realy slow down mastering of the chanter. Liam O’Flynn played a chanter alone for 5 years before he got drones.”
I fundamentaly disagree with this.The drones will give you an accurate indication if you are using the bag/ bellows correctly.If you get a wavering on the drones/drone then you are not.You don’t need to have all drones on plug one or two if you wish but the sooner you are familiar with them the better.That way you will avoid bad habits.
Liam OgFlynn probably couldn’t afford the drones when he first started thats why he waited 5 years.
Slan go foill
Liam
[ This Message was edited by: Uilliam on 2003-02-28 03:21 ]
I’m pretty sure Liam O’Flynn started at late primary school age [under 12] so both his physical size and the money would have come into the “drones or not” decision.
It does help to have your tunes flowing on “automatic” on the chanter before taking them to a half or full set, but slow airs can be a good way into the drones if you get them early.
Right…I’m off for a wee tune!!
Thanks guys for all the help. I have very kindly been oferred the chance within the next week or so to try both a practice set and a half set.
Perhaps when I have a go on these I will get scared right off the things!!
Anyhow I’ll see what developes and get back for some ideas as to where I start. Should also be getting a tutor book of some kind…so really cannot wait to get trying my hand at playing!!
Thanks again.
Uilliam,
Good point on using the drones to ensure proper pressure control.
The alternative is that to get a sense of your pressure control from the back D. If you can hold your back D smooth without wavering, then your pressure control is fine.
Buying drones as a beginner just to ensure your pressure control is not reasonable considering the cost and the frequency of “drop outs” from the piping community (people that give up for the difficulty of the instrument.) It is reasonable if your disposable income is such that you can afford it. You will also have to wait longer for a 1/2 set than a beginner set.
Thanks for that point Uilliam. Off to practice ornamentation for the afternoon.
Cheers,
Virgil