Hello all. I want to get into piping and my original motivation was because I enjoy Irish music and I wanted to do something that touched on my heritage (being mostly Irish). When I first got the idea I looked into going with the GHB and getting a tutor, and I was about to go out and get a practice chanter when I started reading more about the pipes and learned about the Uilleann pipe. Now I know that this is what I want to do. I enjoy the versatility and the sound and of course the fact that it is Irish.
However I have thus far been unable to locate any tutors for this particular pipe and I am wondering if a dedicated learner can be self-taught from materials like the NPU videos and the Clarke book/CD. I have no experience with musical instruments but I do consider myself a good learner overall (not sure if this will translate into musical talent!).
I am hoping to save up a little money and get a good ‘budget’ practice set, I have been looking at the one from Patrick Sky as a possible candidate. However he does say that he doesn’t recommend upgrading his budget model, what is the particular reason for that? Will I regret going that way if I want a half set down the road?
Thanks for any insight you all can give me. I am excited about starting this journey.
Pat’s budget chanter’s cannot be upgraded with keys, but you can always add drones to the budget set when you ready, just cant add keys to the chanter… Seth
Not to dissuade you, but starting out on the pipes if you have no previous experience playing an instrument and no teacher nearby can be pretty daunting. It’s not impossible by any means, but it’s a pretty significant challenge. You might be better off starting on the whistle and playing that for a few years before getting the pipes, or at least learn the whistle at the same time. That is the route that many pipers took. Even though the fingering for the whistle is not the same as the pipes, many of the ornaments are the same or similar, and the whistle is a LOT easier to make music on after a short time, so you feel like you’re making progress. Dozens of people get into the pipes and then give up after a few years of frustration; I know, I was one of them. But the longer you play another instrument like the whistle or the flute, the easier it will be to pick up the pipes. I’ve just started on the pipes again, and it’s amazing how much faster I’m progressing now in my 40s than I did in my late teens/early 20s.
I see your point. I figured if I was going to learn fingering anyways I might as well learn it on the instrument I want to play but then again the pipes do have other things to learn at the same time.
Like I said, don’t let it stop you, but be prepared for slow going. It’s just that you have a few other cards stacked against you, like not having a teacher who can guide you through the beginning stages. I learned from books (there were no videos or DVDs for piping when I started the first time, in 1978 or 79) and they didn’t provide a lot of detail so I was pretty much on my own, learning by ear and figuring things out on my own through experimentation. That was hard. The whistle came easier.
I’d say jump right in. Get yourself a quality instrument 'cause worse case you have to sell and they hold their value fairly well. also there is nothing more frustrating that having to deal with a sub-par practice set.
Get both the books and videos and see which way you take to better. It’s frustrating and will take time, but it’s rewarding.
The biggest advice that I’m sure others here will also give you is get to a tionol (piper’s gathering) or at least sit down with a piper once you have your set. You will learn more than you can imagine in a short amount of time and figure out how to tame this beastie.
And while this list can be at times frustrating, it is a great resource with some great people.
Pat Sky can make you a good instrument at a good price and in a reasonable time. You can pick up a penny whistle at a local music shop and start practicing right away.
Get a good tutor, like the Heather Clarke book and CD. Also the Art of Uilleann Piping vieo from NPU.
Stay away from the “it’s too good to be true” instruments being offered on the web… they are most likely Pakistani (or of similar ilk) and not worth a red cent. If you haven’t already, read the sticky regarding these instruments on the index page of this forum.
There are quite a few very good pipe makers who frequent this forum. I’d say they all are worth looking into. They are also the best to ask concerning what you may be looking for. Good luck dude, and above all, have fun.
I’ll be starting on the UP soon as well. I’m orgering a half set from Cj Dixon as soon as I scrape the money together. I already play the whistle and the GHB so I think I have a basic understanding of the UP. I even made a couple of my own chanters a while back. I’m most interested in that darn chanter reed. Are there any “no nos” I should avoid as far as adjusting it, or is this a trial and error that all U-pipers must go through. Kinda like a hazing for nubies? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Well I met Seth Hamon last night and picked up my set. He gave me a really great set with a few upgrades from the normal budget practice set. He played it for me and it sounded great. I am practicing today, just learning to hold a few notes for a while. My biggest difficulty now is just being able to properly cover all the holes so air isn’t escaping while I’m trying to play a note. I swtich from A to D and sometimes it screams at me in an awful way since I am not covering all the holes completely. That’s a good way to check.
Seth was nice enough to give me the Clarke tutor book and the MadforTrad CD so I’ve got some good material to start me off with. I ordered the NPU DVD as well. I’ll put up some pictures of this set in a little while. I can tell this will be an uphill battle but I’m being patient and having fun so far.
Yes, never try to adjust or squeeze the bridle with your teeth; always use good long-nose pliers. Having said that though, I was adjusting my bridle with my teeth the other day because I couldn’t find my pliers. I then found my pliers, began to use them, only to have them slip off the bridle and crush the cane. Caused a split down the side which I sealed with superglue and reed is back to its usual fine-sounding self again. Phew!! And no, it wasn’t because the bridle was slippery from saliver, but because I was watching Deal or No Deal at the same time (just take the money!!! Don’t be greedy!!! _squeeze…slip…crack…_D’Oh!!!)
Another reason blowing into the reed isn’t a very good thing to do is because of all the lovely microscopic organisms in your mouth that end up on the inside of the reed, where they party, boink like rabits, multiply and munch on cane while doing so.
