I was interested to hear an item on the news today. Paisley Council in Scotland have banned a 12 year old from practising his highland pipes because of complaints from neighbours about the noise. This is in Scotland where the pipes are the national instrument! The news reader found the issue hard to beleive, but neighbours complained that the lad practised in the garden. His parents said that the neighbours would not allow them into the house to hear the volume! The lad has now bought a quieter smaller set (presumably not small pipes which are very quiet indeed.

I like the sound of the highland pipes but once went to a practice with a local pipe band who sought to expand to other instruments. The 4 highland pipers (in a small hall) played I think in B flat or near. I played with them in G, and a different tune as I did not know theirs, but they thought the effect was excellent (only because I was playing an accordian which, even at full power was totally lost to the volume of the pipes.)