So, I am coming up on my one year anniversary of playing the pipes (the end of May). I would greatly appreciate some feedback as to how I am doing. Here is a link to a clip of me playing ‘The Girl in the Big House.’ The rhythm is a little shaky, and I have since picked up a couple of nice variations. I am playing a Hughes and McLeod 1/2 set. The regs are Chris Bayley
(not set up at the moment). Thanks. I could use the support!
Arbo
Gosh, that sounds good to me, Arbo! I’m no piper, but after one year, that sounds amazing!
Couple of - at this stage - small things. The rhythm is pretty good overall, but loses it sometimes on ornaments and, probably for some technical pipey reason, on bottom notes. I would say it’s something that would be sorted by more, and more, and more, really slow practice. Maybe over-emphasising the rhythm for a bit.
Well, I said a couple of things. In fact, that one thing is it from me. I have to say, I’m impressed, Arbo. Way to go!
Thanks! You may have noticed that I was playing with a band-aid on my F# finger? Also, I was packed up and ready to leave for NYC, so I wasn’t in the most relaxed state for playing… I am always unrelaxed when I try and make a video by myself…that aside, yes, I am playing tunes slowly and trying to incorporate the ornamentation into the tunes. Being new to me, it takes a lot of concentration and practiced comfort to get the ornamentation timed correctly. Hopefully, that will come in time.It has, and continues to be, a fun journey. I think most of this past year has been spent understanding the behavior of the reeds; how to adjust, when to mess with them and when to leave them alone, etc. If it were only a matter of playing tunes it might be a little less challenging!
Arbo
Goodness, Arbo! I hope you didn’t think I was being negative? Honestly, I thought that was great. And you certainly don’t need to make excuses (as it happens I didn’t notice the bandaid, and of course I wouldn’t know about the unrelaxed thing - you looked relaxed enough to me ). It was good stuff. Worked for me, anyway.
That’s sounding pretty good for a year, Arbo. You might try putting a little space between the notes, like back d and C#, e and f in the second octave, etc., just to tighten it up a bit so those notes don’t run together.
Yep, just play the notes individually. You needn’t literally play every note as tight as possible, but a little distinction between some of the notes is considered desirable by many. Obviously, notes within rolls are meant to be played legato. This will add an undulating interest to the rhythm, and provide an element of gentlemanly sophistication inherent in the framework of the piping tradition. I believe that this “clipping” of selected notes, (along with careful intonation and adherence to the meter,) is the hallmark of better piping.
). It was good stuff. Worked for me, anyway. 
