I just found this forum while messing about the net, and I must say this forum is fantastic. Great information and lots of valid arguments. I have been piping for almost four years and I never had a lesson or have ever played the pipes outside he confines of my own home. There are plenty of pipers around Dublin and the NPU is also based here also, but I never ventured to pursue any help.
I have worked with Heather Clarkes fabulous tutor and the NPU’s 3 video’s and have found this quite adequate for my needs. I have seen here on your forum that many others have been doing just that themselves and it can be done, very hard at first, but it gets easier with lots of work and effort.
I started to learn with a set of pipes made in the Middle East (practice set) and it sounded horrible and wouldn’t go into the second octave. So, I splashed out and got a half set that had been made by Michael Dooley and this was a joy to play and much easier to work with. I have also been thinking it may be time to start thinking of getting a set of regulators added and learn how to play them also.
Thanks everyone and I hope I haven’t bored you all too much.
Hya Shane,welcome to this forum…fantastic as it may be for someone stuck in the middle of nowhere… :roll: but it is absolutely NO SUBSTITUTE for one 2 one tuition.
As ye are in Dublin why on earth don’t ye take advantage of Na Piobaire Uilleanns Saturday and Tuesday classes???
I don’t want to piss on your happiness but if ye have been playing for 4 years there is a good chance that ye have picked up bad habits(we all have),now would be the time to discover if ye have,and correct them,and if ye havenae any bad ones just think of the fun ye can have with all those new friends waiting for ye.Get your arse down there and enjoy!!!
Slan go foill
Liam.
PS if ye are ever in Scotland give me a call and I’ll show ye the piping scene in Glasgow.
Welcome to the fun…er insanity (you’ll have to decide that one for yourself!) :roll:
I’ve only been playing for a few months, and I agree with getting first hand instruction.
Just got back from the 2004 Florida Tionol, where two corrections were pointed out to me. 1st my blowpipe was too short, and 2nd I was gripping the chanter too hard and needed to relax my fingers more.
Perhaps the combination of the two (the short blowpipe was making me sit at an odd angle), but in one weeks time my playing has taken a hugh leap for the better.
It might have taken me years to identify and overcome that on my own.
You’ve got a tremendous opportunity in your back yard, take advantage of it! You’ll meet some great and truely generous people willing to help you make a go of the pipes.
This forum has been a great help as well, learning things that I probably would never have learned otherwise (and I’ve learned alot about piping too!).
Thanks Liam and Gary. Yeah man I hear you alright, but I don’t get much of a chance to get to the likes of the NPU due to work commitments, I don’t drink or smoke, Dull boy should I say. So I’m not the type to hit the pubs etc. But I play the pipes for my own enjoyment and the only sufferer apart from myself is dear Brenda (my wife)
I play pipes just for the craic and I enjoy it and I’m not one for lessons, as I’m sure I’ll drive some poor guy mad if he tried to teach me. As for the bad habits, I’m sure there are many in my playing, but I still love playing a few hours worth each week.
