i have just begun to tackle my practice set. i have “the art of UP” videotape volume 1 and clarke’s “new approach” book. (there is noone that i know of in my area to give me lessons). these materials are fine, but they skip the basic basics. forget sounding off a note, i want to know why my bellows burp and belch like a whoopee cushion.
also, i can’t seem to get the neck of the bag straight. is it possible that my arms are too short? my armpit to wrist is 19 inches (48.6 centimeters).
i’m sure these beginner questions are quite annoying, so if you know of any other site i could pester, please do tell. or perhaps any tutorials that deal with mainly the mechanics of this animal.
Welcome Jen. Hey, everyone was a beginner at one point or another. This is the place to come if you have questions, especially if you don’t have any pipers in your area. (You ever look up Pat Sky though, he’s in Chapel Hill I think and an awesome guy). To answer your question about the bellows, check your inlet valve. Make sure the flap is pointing down with respect to the bellows postion when strapped to you, and that when it’s in a closed position there aren’t any leaks. The valve piece should come out of the bellows, so you can check it. Hope these suggestions help. Those tutors you have are top notch, practice diligently and you’ll be on your way quite well.
thanks. that helped 89% of the problem. now if it makes a noise, it’s more like a hiccup.
are you familiar with l & m highland bags? they make one for the UPs and that’s what i have. i went to their site where they commented on how the neck was long. can mine be cut back to fit me better as i honestly cannot get the neck straight at all no matter what postition i have the chanter or bag in.
Yes, they can be cut back. But be forewarned, make sure either you yourself know or have someone that knows how to tie the chanter stock back in. Otherwise there could be leaks and all sorts of bad news. If you’re in North Carolina, you should definitely look up Pat Sky for possible lessons and any pipe maintenence you might need.
I’d advice you to leave the neck of the bag alone.
Next time you meet an advanced piper, have them look at it.
More than likely you will want to glue a bit back on when you get drones/regs later..
I’ll second the “DON’T CUT ANYTHING JUST YET!” sentiment. i just sent a brand new L&M bag down with a Murray practice set to a friend, who subsequently cut WAY too much off. Now she can’t hold the chanter at the right angle and her playing is suffering. That’s a $120 mistake. Take the drive, if you have a piper within several hours of you and have them help to get you all set up. It’s seriously worth it. Pat Sky’s name has come up, and if he’s within any sort of day trip type distance, DO look him up and have him get you going!
jen, the length of the neck is for a very specific reason. it has to do with the best way to hold the chanter, and it makes a difference in a way that matters only when you go on to a full set. but its good to handle it from the beginning as it is. that is an excellent bag, designed by and for seth gallagher for his sets.
most of us have very bad habits in terms of how we do the bag and bellows. if you are starting, you have a chance to get it right, and at the same time practice some other critical skills like simple long tones, and simple low register notes with full closure of the chanter (the full closure silent note is actually your most important note on the pipes). if you already know what i am talking about, great. if not, say so in this thread, and i or someone else will go into detail about bellows technqiue.
Always nice to see another woman round here.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the neck of the bag is too long since some of these things seem to be made with bigger people in mind…Hopefully Pat Sky can help you out there.
it is slightly possible that the bag may be a touch long for you - but PLEASE do yourself and check with as many experienced pipers IN PERSOn as possible before you cut anything. Much like scraping a reed one stroke too many, what’s done cannot be undone - meaning it’s a permanent adjustment that can be very costly if you’re not certain what you’re doing.
i’m in asheville so i guess i will have to make the drive.
meir wrote:
if you are starting, you have a chance to get it right, and at the same time practice some other critical skills like simple long tones, and simple low register notes with full closure of the chanter (the full closure silent note is actually your most important note on the pipes)
no i do not know what that means. a summary of my music background and where i’m at is:
-i studied piano for 12 years
-play brazillian drums
-know my fingering chart
-however i’m having a hard time playing a single note as i can’t keep the neck straight at all or seem to find a comfortable angle for my chanter. i can’t see how small children can play. i’m 5’ 3" and i suppose have short arms.
-can’t stop laughing, between my belching, squeaking and wrestling with this disobediant overgrown manatee of a bag.
You may also want to poke around on the net for some videos of pipers and watch their bag position etc. As a general rule of thumb, the chanter is usually held at an angle to the left (assuming you’re playing right handed, and also tilted away from the piper at a fair angle. if you’re holding the chanter more or less straight up and down you should try to lean it away more and see if that helps your bag situation. Also make sure your grip is correct - don’t over curl the fingers, particularly the top hand. Try to keep your fingers more or less flat with no more than a gentle curve to them at most. That should help to establish a good posture while playing.
Jen,
There are a couple of pipers in your area. Make your way downtown to the Jack of the Wood Pub any Sunday afternoon about 5PM. Quinto Espina has recently resurfaced at this session (after quite a sabbatical) and a young man by the name of Duncan Wickel, an incredibly fine musician. This list’s own J. Devereaux may be found there, probably playing fiddle but may be able to help with the pipes as well.
Good luck to you. And if you make it west over the mountains give me a shout.
Rick
i met quinto awhile ago and have been on the lookout for him. i know that pub well and will definitely seek them out. i am SO relieved to know there are others in town. the more i practice the more i feel like i’m creating bad habits from the start …ie. having the bag so far back that i’m squeezing the dang flamingo neck and not the body.
btw, someone mentioned to me that they thought pat sky wrote an article about belching bellows. does anyone know where i can find that as mine have started up again.
If your bellows has a leather flap it may have dried out a bit. Rubbing in some leather softener may help improve the seal and avoid the farting bellows syndrom. Be EXTREMELY careful not to tear the flap off at the hinge where it connects to the blowpipe. This is a very thin layer of leather, and easily ripped.
