I’ve been a learner since September. My two main resources are Heather Clarke’s book and the Mad For Trad CDROM tutorial. Both are very well done. However, I have noticed that (at least for me) both methods require quantum leaps in ability. They both start with easy airs and exercises and then, all of a sudden, throw in jigs like Garrett Barry’s, for example.
I find the beginning airs and exercises reasonably simple, but then I am stuck at these tunes that are quite a bit more difficult to tackle.
Can anyone perhaps point me to some improver jigs and reels somewhere in between?
Nahhh, you’re screwed, there’s no easy jigs and reels and you’ll be stucked there forever.
Now, how much for the pipes?
Okkkaayyyy, with practice you’ll manage, was just kiddin! If I were you I’d start with a few easy hornpipes like “Harvest Home” and “Boys of Bluehill” and few easy jigs like “Behind the Haystack” and “Leitrim’s Fancy”. I’d keep the reels for “after” the jigs.
On 2002-11-13 09:57, JamieKerr wrote:
I’ve been a learner since September. My two main resources are Heather Clarke’s book and the Mad For Trad CDROM tutorial. Both are very well done. However, I have noticed that (at least for me) both methods require quantum leaps in ability. They both start with easy airs and exercises and then, all of a sudden, throw in jigs like Garrett Barry’s, for example.
I find the beginning airs and exercises reasonably simple, but then I am stuck at these tunes that are quite a bit more difficult to tackle.
Can anyone perhaps point me to some improver jigs and reels somewhere in between?
Thanks!
Jamie
I’m afraid that jigs don’t get too much easier than Garrett Barry’s, but here are few common ones to try out:
The Rambling Pitchfork
Coppers and Brass
Moll Roe (this is a slip jig)
Quantum leaps? Maybe not. Make sure your reed is as good as it can be in terms of responsiveness, ie, if you have to crush the bag to get any note, it’s too stiff. Keep your forearms relaxed and be sure to press the bag with your upper arm and elbow only.
If I were you I’d start with a few easy hornpipes like “Harvest Home” and “Boys of Bluehill” and few easy jigs like “Behind the Haystack” and “Leitrim’s Fancy”. I’d keep the reels for “after” the jigs.
Depending on how much ornamentation you throw in etc.,! I wouldn’t offer HH as a easy hornpipe for a beginner! (all them e’AA f’AA g’AAs etc., followed by triplets running down. Jigs that don’t go into the top octave are advisable ( Bill Hartes/Jim Wards/Liz Kellys for e.g.)
Cheers
Alan
I’m afraid that jigs don’t get too much easier than Garrett Barry’s, but here are few common ones to try out:
The Rambling Pitchfork
Coppers and Brass
Moll Roe (this is a slip jig)
Quantum leaps? Maybe not. Make sure your reed is as good as it can be in terms of responsiveness, ie, if you have to crush the bag to get any note, it’s too stiff. Keep your forearms relaxed and be sure to press the bag with your upper arm and elbow only.
I should have been more precise. I find that Heather Clarke’s arrangement of Garrett Barry’s, with the stacatto note runs, is a big jump from the prior tunes in the book.
I’m getting much better with second octave notes. I don’t find I have to crush the bag, as sometimes the notes are up there even when I don’t want them to be.
I’m just into the 3rd day of piping and do understand your comments of the second octaves. I’d problems reaching the 2nd octave on the first day; t’was afraid of bursting the bag. Then the 2nd day; second octaves reached but awkwardly. Today, second octave E, F#, and G come so easily with just a slight pressure
What i suspect missing is the ‘feel’ of the instrument. Especially the squeezing of the bag. Don’t you feel notes tend to sharpen with a little more squeeze?
Got to work that out on my own first. Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
The key is to listen to the music, particularly tunes you are going to learn, lots and lots.
Books and CD’s are great, but you need to get the music inside you…so listen, listen, listen…
you can practice a difficult tune with difficult ornaments omitted, just a few grace notes and rolls and then incorporate more difficult techniques when you’re ready -or maybe it’s possible to simultaneously work on 2 versions of the same tune, the stripped down one and the one with all the tricky bits so that at least you’ve got one version of it that you can play in a session
it does;nt really matter the first couple of years, as long as your playing all the time.even a scale, the more you play the better.but for an instrument like the pipes you have to hammer them {big time} i have been playing 15 years and the first 6 months i knew 1 tune.i just kept playing it for hours every day,in the end i was playing it wrong.but from all that practice i got better with new tunes.your arms get stronger ,your fingers,and remember 1 tune on the pipes is like 10 tunes on any other instrument.
