The great highland bagpipe

Have you always loved the skirl of the pipes? The merry toe-tapping tempos of jigs, reels & hornpipes? The emotionally charged slow airs that can move even the hardest hearts to tears?
Then maybe it's time for you to learn how to play this incredible instrument!
The highland bagpipe when fully assembled is an indirect wind instrument: you force air into the pipe bag - a reservoir or holding tank for the air - through a blowstick, then using your arm to squeeze the pipe bag, you force the air out through four separate openings that sound four separate reeds. The pipe chanter itself is the part of the instrument that plays the melodies, the three drones that sit over your shoulder create the hum that fills the background and envelopes the music. When played standard, the pipes only sound nine different notes; there is no embouchure to complicate the quality of the sound leaving your pipes; and pipes themselves are only played in one key signature, flats and sharps are almost never written into the music!
Best of all, the highland bagpipe can be learned by almost anyone, children and adults alike!
When is the right time to learn the pipes? Well, now of course! In all honesty though, even young kids make great students. Because the bagpipes are actually learned on a "recorder" type instrument called a PRACTICE CHANTER, anyone can learn the basic fingering, scales, and techniques before moving on to the more challenging pipes.
The initial investment to start taking lessons is quite simply the cost of the practice chanter, which, around 2017 would generally be in the $100CDN range for a standard plastic practice chanter (and these plastic ones are nearly indestructible), which should last for years - if not decades - to come.
The pipes themselves are a complex instrument that have greatly evolved in recent years, offering more options than the "ole sheepskin" bag and cane reeds. Now, pipers have a variety of options to choose from in terms of pipe bag & reed materials. Pipe bags & reeds are now manufactured with a wide array of materials that embrace the technological advancements that exist today: lightweight GoreTex style materials for the bag, or combinations of hide & GoreTex to preserve the feel of hide without the maintenance, hydrophobic plastics that repel moisture or high-density resins with carbon-fibre tongues to replace finicky cane drone reeds. Complete moisture absorbent systems are often hidden in bags and have more tubing than the plumbing under your dishwasher; all with the goal of making pipes easier to care for, and more consistent to play.
Then maybe it's time for you to learn how to play this incredible instrument!
The highland bagpipe when fully assembled is an indirect wind instrument: you force air into the pipe bag - a reservoir or holding tank for the air - through a blowstick, then using your arm to squeeze the pipe bag, you force the air out through four separate openings that sound four separate reeds. The pipe chanter itself is the part of the instrument that plays the melodies, the three drones that sit over your shoulder create the hum that fills the background and envelopes the music. When played standard, the pipes only sound nine different notes; there is no embouchure to complicate the quality of the sound leaving your pipes; and pipes themselves are only played in one key signature, flats and sharps are almost never written into the music!
Best of all, the highland bagpipe can be learned by almost anyone, children and adults alike!
When is the right time to learn the pipes? Well, now of course! In all honesty though, even young kids make great students. Because the bagpipes are actually learned on a "recorder" type instrument called a PRACTICE CHANTER, anyone can learn the basic fingering, scales, and techniques before moving on to the more challenging pipes.
The initial investment to start taking lessons is quite simply the cost of the practice chanter, which, around 2017 would generally be in the $100CDN range for a standard plastic practice chanter (and these plastic ones are nearly indestructible), which should last for years - if not decades - to come.
The pipes themselves are a complex instrument that have greatly evolved in recent years, offering more options than the "ole sheepskin" bag and cane reeds. Now, pipers have a variety of options to choose from in terms of pipe bag & reed materials. Pipe bags & reeds are now manufactured with a wide array of materials that embrace the technological advancements that exist today: lightweight GoreTex style materials for the bag, or combinations of hide & GoreTex to preserve the feel of hide without the maintenance, hydrophobic plastics that repel moisture or high-density resins with carbon-fibre tongues to replace finicky cane drone reeds. Complete moisture absorbent systems are often hidden in bags and have more tubing than the plumbing under your dishwasher; all with the goal of making pipes easier to care for, and more consistent to play.
The drum corps
The drum corps is an integral part of the band: they keep the pipes on the beat (hopefully), accent the music, and add a key component of that bagpipes themselves are lacking - dynamic range (or the ability to play louder and quieter).
Within each pipe band are three types of drums:
- bass drum: the Big Kahuna, this drum tells us when the beats are, and can also be used to add depth to a score
- tenor drums: higher pitched than the bass, the tenors accent the music not just by the tones of their drums but also, in the case of flourishing tenors, they offer our audience something to look at as they spin, spiral, and wow the crowd with their flying flourishes
- snare drums: when you think of a snappy drumroll, it is usually a snare drum in action. The sticks move at lightning speed, vibrating against the drum heads to create the "rolls", they snap and crack to accent the music as well: it wouldn't be a pipe band without them!
With beginners, sticks or sticks and a practice pad for snares, are generally all that is required to begin learning any of these instruments. Tenors and bass drums focus on rhythm, syncopation and flourishes using sticks, while snares use the practice pads to help get the right feel (or bounce) from the snare head. (Parents, you'll be happy to know that a drum pad is not particularly loud or disruptive when used in a household, much like the practice chanter for pipes, it is significantly lower in volume!)
Within each pipe band are three types of drums:
- bass drum: the Big Kahuna, this drum tells us when the beats are, and can also be used to add depth to a score
- tenor drums: higher pitched than the bass, the tenors accent the music not just by the tones of their drums but also, in the case of flourishing tenors, they offer our audience something to look at as they spin, spiral, and wow the crowd with their flying flourishes
- snare drums: when you think of a snappy drumroll, it is usually a snare drum in action. The sticks move at lightning speed, vibrating against the drum heads to create the "rolls", they snap and crack to accent the music as well: it wouldn't be a pipe band without them!
With beginners, sticks or sticks and a practice pad for snares, are generally all that is required to begin learning any of these instruments. Tenors and bass drums focus on rhythm, syncopation and flourishes using sticks, while snares use the practice pads to help get the right feel (or bounce) from the snare head. (Parents, you'll be happy to know that a drum pad is not particularly loud or disruptive when used in a household, much like the practice chanter for pipes, it is significantly lower in volume!)
FREE LESSONS? yEP, FOR REAL
Our band offers free lessons to anyone interested in learning a band instrument, and we hope, playing with our band in future!
We don't charge for lessons for the simple reason that we want as many people as possible to participate!
This band is all about sharing: we want people to learn, take part and enjoy the sound of the pipes & drums for years to come. The band itself is made of volunteers who love the camaradie, fun, and thrill of competing at Highland Games throughout the summer.
While there are bands out there that don't compete, we use competition to continue to grow and improve our own instrument skill levels - many of our players compete in solo events - as well as improve our ensemble abilities to listen, learn, and play more together as a band. It takes dedication, hard work, and determination but encourages constant improvement from all players to ensure that we are reaching our goals of the highest level of playing ability that we can achieve.
It is also very important for us to share this incredible musical genre with anyone that would like to learn.
(We strongly advise you to reach out to us and CONFIRM that you will be coming - occasionally our practice location moves due to scheduling conflicts - so please double check with us before hand!)
Some instructors may have availability during the week, so please ask if you have a timing conflict.
We don't charge for lessons for the simple reason that we want as many people as possible to participate!
This band is all about sharing: we want people to learn, take part and enjoy the sound of the pipes & drums for years to come. The band itself is made of volunteers who love the camaradie, fun, and thrill of competing at Highland Games throughout the summer.
While there are bands out there that don't compete, we use competition to continue to grow and improve our own instrument skill levels - many of our players compete in solo events - as well as improve our ensemble abilities to listen, learn, and play more together as a band. It takes dedication, hard work, and determination but encourages constant improvement from all players to ensure that we are reaching our goals of the highest level of playing ability that we can achieve.
It is also very important for us to share this incredible musical genre with anyone that would like to learn.
(We strongly advise you to reach out to us and CONFIRM that you will be coming - occasionally our practice location moves due to scheduling conflicts - so please double check with us before hand!)
Some instructors may have availability during the week, so please ask if you have a timing conflict.