The Pipe Band Practice Factory

I have been very fortunate to be able to teach the bagpipe to people all over the world during the last 25 years.  The majority of my students are people who have always wanted to play the bagpipe and have decided they are ready to do it.  The other group of students...

Playing the Bagpipe in Cold Weather

I play a lot of funerals on an annual basis.  It’s been a substantial part of how I have made a living for the last 25 years. Of course, people don’t wait for good weather to die or get buried. Sometimes it’s just plain miserable. Nevertheless, as a bagpiper, my job...
Get On Board “The Tune Train”

Get On Board “The Tune Train”

Who I am: An “elementary” bagpipe teacher.  My students are all new to playing the bagpipe.  I specialize in teaching beginners to intermediates. A Bagpiper is: A person who can play a list of tunes on the bagpipe by memory, can learn and develop their own music, and...

Another 15 Minute Set!

As a performer, having enough music is essential!  In the last 2 offerings I sent you 2 Scottish 15 minute sets.  Today I am going to share with you my Irish Set.  There might be tunes that aren’t totally Irish, however I have found that they fit with the other tunes...

More On The “15 Minute Set”

    As a student of classical music, I learned about Sonata-Allegro form.  This is an example of a type of musical form that classical music/symphonies follow. There are three parts: Exposition Development Recapitulation  The exposition is where the initial...

The 15 Minute Set

  I have been playing gigs on a full-time basis for the last 25 years.  Here’s what I have found:  People who aren’t prepared don’t stay in the market. They don’t have enough technical ability They don’t have enough repertoire.  When I started my “Bagpiper For...

Have You Plateaued?

Consider this scenario: For years, you thought about learning to play the bagpipe.  Finally, you got the courage to take the plunge.  If you were guided properly, you only needed to buy a practice chanter, a book and some lessons to get started.  You made a commitment...

So, Your Kid Wants To Play The Bagpipe.

I love teaching people how to play our great instrument.  I teach a lot of adults.  I don’t have to make them do anything because they just have a yearning to play.  Occasionally, however, I get a call from a parent who says their child wants to play the bagpipe. When...

It Takes Air!

I’ve had a few emails this week from people who are blowing their guts out and don’t have a lot of endurance. The problem could be two fold. 1) Their bagpipe isn’t air efficient. 2) They don’t know how to blow and squeeze. I am going to address...