My significant other has shown an interest in Uilleann Pipes, but we aren’t sure where to begin.
Did most of you learn from someone? or from books?
If you learned from someone do you know anyone in the Tennessee area who could help?
Should he start with a “practice” set or invest in a quality set first? (he is a musician and understands what an expenisive undertaking this could be.)
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
The term ‘Practice set’ is a bit deceiving. It consists of a chanter (music stick) bag and bellows. This is considered the minimum requirements to make music.
These basic three components are found on all configurations of Uilleann pipes regardless of ‘quality’ or intended future upgrade-ability.
Due to the complexity of Uilleann pipes, poorly made or ‘bargan’ sets offer little in their ability to make music and have low resale value. It’s advised to attend a Tionol (music gathering) to hear and discuss pipes and to speak to several vendors/pipemakers in one location. This way, you can get on a makers list as most of the top pipemakers have waiting lists of more than two years.
Follow this link for the largest collection of up-to-date piper resources:
http://www.concentric.net/~pdarcy/
Hey Bluchngrl,
I’m a beginner, too, but I think I can at least start his off… When I asked those same questions, these are the answers I got. Most pipers told me to start with a practice set and learn good technique before throwing drones in the mix. Here’s a link to the thread where I asked some of the questions I’m sure you have.
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?topic=5034&forum=6&5
Maybe there’re some answers for you there. Hopefully that’ll help until some of our more experienced board residents can through in their nickel’s worth! Keep asking questions - they’re VERY helpful here!
Joey
P.S. One thing I know for sure: A “Practice” Set is still a high-quality instrument. Think of a practice set as a full set minus drones and regulators. The parts that you still have (chanter, bag, and bellows) are the SAME as you would find on a full set - no less quality. Some pipemakers do sell altered practice sets at lower prices (i.e. they use plastic parts). Generally, though, practice sets are full sets waiting for add-ons.
typo
[ This Message was edited by: joey_schu on 2002-11-11 22:11 ]
If you join the Uilleann pipers’ email list (search the net for instructions on signing up), you will probably find others in the area. I think there’s at least one piper from Nashville on that list, and I don’t know if he reads this forum.
Beware, though, that list is currently going through one of the off-topic/flame war periods that plague just about every unmoderated Internet discussion forum. It’s really not usually like that, and I think the off-topic stuff is dying down now.
Good luck.
Tim
Hi here’s a link that I found online for pipers in specific locales.
http://www.uilleann.com/contacts.html
TTFN, Phiz
I’ve seen this bag pipe set at the lark of the morning web site http://www.larkinam.com/MenComNet/Business/Retail/Larknet/Bagpipes
under “highland bagpipes rosewood BAG003”
I’m a tinwhistle player and this set is at a resonable price, I would like to know what you think about this set. Does anyone out there have it?
thanks
If you purchase that set I’d say you need to be sure you have the wall space to hang it.
Seriously, these are very substandard sets and you will be horribly disappointed. If you’re truly interested in learning GHB’s, then do your homework, get a practice chanter to see if you want to pursue the discipline needed, and see if there’s a local pipe band/instructor and go talk to them.
Teri
Especially spend some time reading through the posts on this forum… lots of good stuff here. Go back for months. Ask a lot of questions. Check out for Irish bars in your city, often times a band will play and a piper will pop up! Listen to the sounds and try to talk to them.
Thanks to everybody, it looks like by the end of the year I will have a piper under my roof (well probably still a wanna-be piper, but a wanna-be with a practice set). I’ll still be around asking questions and lurking, but wanted to say thanks to everybody!
Dawn