My 34 year old son has decided he wants to learn to play the bagpipes!! 
Where to start? All advice much appreciated. Ma is stumped by this one!!!
Iād start right here.
A good instructor will want him to play a chanter for a year first.
What kind of bagpipes?
Go to www,bobdunsire.com and sign up as a member (itās free). Then start posting in the appropriate forum, or go look in the Bagpipe Directory.
With best regards,
Steve Mack
First, find a pipe teacher. That person will be able to give direction as to where to find a practice chanter, what book they like to use, etc. Donāt even think about getting a set of pipes yet. Its way to early for that. One place to find a teacher might be a local music store. Usually, there is a bulletin board where people seeking instruction, and those who give instruction on various instruments will post their contact info. Also, probably one of the best things to do is attend any Highland games/Celtic festivals in your area. Find a piper and see if they can tell you who to contact. And really, most any local trad. musician should be able to at least point you in the general direction of a pipe teacher. If there are any pubs in your area that have session nights, that would also be a good place to find musicianās to ask. Iām assuming your son is intending to play the Great Highland Bagpipes, but if your talking Uilleann pipes, you may have a harder time finding a teacher. I have a teacher where I live for the GHB but have not found one for the Uilleann pipes. As a matter of fact, none of the trad. musicianās here even know of anyone in my whole town that even plays them. The bigger the town you live in, the better chance you have of finding a teacher. Good luck!
First of all, does he want to play the Great Highland Pipes (Scottish) or Uilleann (Irish)? The two are radically different in sound and playing technique. Donāt blindly enter into purchasing an instrument without consulting with an experienced playerā¦you can get rooked without even knowing it. If you have questions about Highland pipes I might be able to help you. For uilleann pipes, there are several people on the C&F uilleann board who are really fine musicians. Above allā¦ DONāT BUY PIPES FROM PAKISTAN, AND DONāT BUY ON EBAY UNLESS YOU ENJOY SETTING FIRE TO YOUR MONEY. There are some good instruments on eBay, but you really have to know your instruments to keep from getting a lemon. Feel free to email meā¦
Dave
What if he wants to learn Gaita (Spanish), Northumbrian (English), or something completly different? If he has no idea that there were so many types, I guess he wants to learn Highland. If he wants to learn Gaita Galega I could help out as I play (kind of). Seriously, whatever type find an instructor or player close by.
34 years old is a bit late to try an learn the bagpipes of any sort?!
Horsepoop! (IMHO)ā¦ Yeah, if he wants to be an anal retentive competition piper perhaps it is late (but not ātooā). If he wants to have fun it is never too late.
Cheers,
David
I have to disagree with this statement as well. I wish Iād been 34 when I took up the pipes. I was 10 years older than that when I started and Iām still having a great time with them. Absolutely, positively, the best life-changing decision I ever made.
Iām mostly referring to Uilleann pipes here. I do play Northumbrian, Scottish smallpipes and Lowland pipes from time to time, but I donāt play Highland pipes at all.
Well, I have to disagree with that statement as well. By researching a little, one can find many talents in the music scenario that have started late, even a pianist who started around 60. I simply canāt accept that the human being is not able to learn almost anything regardless of age. If we couldnāt always learn something, there wouldnāt be any sense in living anymore and weād just be determined for the rest of our lives by what we learned at a young age.
Absolute nonsense.
Didnāt Willie Clancy start at like 27?
Learning pipes are much like any other instrument. If youāre willing to seek out good instruction and devote 60-90 minutes of careful practice a day, one should be able to play at a competent (or better) level.
Scottish Highland pipes are a bit different from other instruments in that the ornamentation is very regimented, and it tends to either attract those who are most interested in the dress-up and march-around pagentry, or those who compelled to produce that sound, and no other will satisfy. Guess which group plays better?
Best, John
Bagpipes have always made my blood flowā¦I grew up with my dad being a competition piper. Iāve finally decided to learn bagpipes at 26 and he recommended that I should first buy a practice chanter and the āCollege of Piping Tutorā (I canāt remember the authorā¦but one of these other fine lads or lassies knows what Iām talking about Iām sure) Taking lessons from an experienced player is a good idea too.
I started playing at age 41, and still managed to get a silver medal at the Alameda Highland Games in the MSR one year as well as an award from Clan MacDonald for best amateur piper at another gatheringā¦ although 32 might be a bit ālong in the toothā if you want to be competing in the Dan Reid Memorial, I believe youāre never too old to learn and enjoy. My wife started tenor drum at ageā¦well, letās say later than I did, and in three years tied for Champion of Champions, WUSPBA, West Coast USA. Go for it, dudeā¦
Dave
Thanks to all for your help and opinions!! Funny, when I was 34 I never thought of it as being a bit long in the tooth but I know my son does! Hes forever moaning that heās getting āoldā!!
Donāt think he has competition in his head at this point but I would not ever rule it out. He competes at everything he does. Type A personality you know! THey are mad!
I am passing all this on to him and weāll see what he does in the end! 