Proposed addition to the FAQ..

Uilleann Pipes
1

Hey everyone, here are some proposed additions to the FAQ. Please review, comment, and edit as appropriate. Next week I’ll compile the comments and publish a “final” prior to sending it to Dale and company for appending to the FAQ.

I also plan to add a section about Where to find info on making reeds?, but ran out of time for this go round.

Once again, I’ve drawn, stolen and plaguarized the wealth of knowledge you have contributed to this board. Thanks!

Regards,
Gary

5) What tutor book/CD should I get?

Four tutors that are the most popular, none of which are complete, but taken together will help you cover a lot of ground:

  1. HJ Clarke’s Tutor “The New Approach to Uilleann Piping” - book & companion CD
  2. Denis Brook’s “The Union Pipes: A Workbook” - book from Irish Piper’s Club-Seattle
  3. Mad4Trad - Uiilleann Pipes Tutorial - CD-ROM with video clips
  4. NPU - 3 videos

The books will give you the dots and the cross-fingerings. The CDs and videos will let you see/hear what its supposed to look/sound like.

What none of these sources helps with is the physical reality of wrestling with the octopus. That’s where an articulate instructor can be of the most assistance.

Once you have the basics down you can branch out into some of the NPU books of transcripts of the masters like Patsy Tuohey, and Willy Clancy. Also, Ennis’ own tutor book ‘The Masters Touch’ available from NPU. Quirky terminology, but useful and entertaining.

For a complete list of all known tutors…
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=10480

For a “required” reading/listing list…
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=12354

Discussion of Mad4Trad, NPU and Clarke tutor…
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=12012

Sources for tutors, etc…
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=2661

6) I’m travelling with my pipes, can I carry them on the plane?

Yes, the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) has negotiated with the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) to secure the right for any musicians to carry on their instruments on airline flights.

You also need a case which is appropriate for carry on luggage (see next topic).

The AFM recommend that you print a copy of the letter of agreement and carry it with you, being prepared to show it to security personnel should there be a problem. Below is a link to the AFM page. Go to that page, and click on “here” to download a copy of the agreement in Adobe Acrobat Format.

www.local1000.com/carryon.php

See this thread for details…
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=11172

7) Where can I find a good case for my pipes?

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=14668
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=16331

2

I am OK with the proposed additions to the FAQ. It could go a long way to aid and assist newcomers to the world of UPs, get them up and going without having to do too much ‘digging’ for instructional material. There’s a bunch of it out there, but one has to ask a billion or so questions or spend most of their waking hours ‘surfing’ to look for them. I would certainly include links to the websites of willing and participating pipe makers, who are most often great sources of piping and all that it entails. And, of course, there is always Patrick D’Arcy’s Obssession page that, by any stretch of the imagination, is perhaps one of the most helpful sites out there when looking for source material and recordings.

3

Question for people outside the US: How is it within Europe? I understood that the TSA is the US authority for these issues. Does this letter help in the old world as well?

Thies :confused:

4

Hey Gary, where did you get that Guinness swilling smiley?

5

http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/guin.gif

Hhmmmmmm…Guiness! Nectar of the gods! -gary

6

Mother’s milk for sure. Thanks for the info. Now all I have to do is figure out how and where I am going to use it.

7

Gary, just a note to say thanks for keeping on top this. Its a lot of work for no recompense, but much appreciated.

djm