I’m a policemen working late nights. When things get slow I park my patrol car, turn off the engine to save gas and similate playing by fingering my chanter without the reed.
It’s amazing playing the tune in your head and practicing works for me.
Nothing replaces the real practicing of the pipes but hey it works.
I got the idea reading about musicians that practice playing the tune in their head.
bob
Sorry Bob, but you didn’t invent this technique. Many people practice fingering this way. In fact, I know some who make up practice chanters with a bit of broom handle or copper tube with holes drilled in it. It’s good for practising technique like rolls or triplets, or even practising tunes you know well, but nothing replaces the real thing.
This is a wonderful way to practice. You might consider just making a stick that simulates the exact placement of the holes on your chanter, as well, to take along instead of your actual chanter. To prevent theft (I know – who would steal from a patrol car) or from environmental stresses (a/c or quick temp changes).
There’s a film with (I think) Christian Slater in it where he is a piano player (could be J. Depp) and totes around a piano practice keyboard that makes no sound (very old school), so this isn’t a new technique as PJ noted, but thanks for sharing it!
Hey Bob,
Yeah, you are not alone. I use the same technique for practicing my GHB chanter, in fact, sometimes I find myself substituting a pencil or pen and doing the same thing.
Nothing beats the real thing, but in your unique line of work, you probably need to be able to hear your comm system at all times, so it makes sense to practice without the reed…
Cheers!
Matt
Just a suggestion: try making your dummy chanter out of a large diameter drinking straw. This will help practise not only the fingering, but help overcome the deathgrip habit.
djm
I use this method first thing in the morning when I’m still in bed.
Ready made practise chanter is always at hand.
RORY
!!!
Smart.
I have found that I can do great finger work when I play the chanter in this way , its only when I connect it to a bag and bellows that my finger work is crap .
I think the action of pumping a bellows and applying pressure to the bag somehow interferes with the signals I’m sending from my brain to my fingers ,maybe I should get someone else to pump the bellows and squeeze the bag while I play the chanter !
RORY
Sounds like what you need is ePipes!! 