A (potential) new bagpiper

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: GUEST,999
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 01:37 PM

:-)

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: Dazbo
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 12:56 PM

At least I'm not learnng the bodhran:-)

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: GUEST,999
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 12:47 PM

Dazbo, ya better get used to the jokes.

A piper was sick of the band abusing him, and decided to start his own. He walked into a music shop, planning to buy the first instruments he saw. "Give me the red saxophone and that accordion!" he said. The assistant replied, "You play the pipes, don't you?" "That's right. Why?" "Well, the fire extinguisher I can sell you - but the radiator stays."

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A Canadian officer, pinned down with his unit in Italy in 1944, urgently signalled his CO - "Need reinforcements to rescue us. Please send six tanks or one piper."

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Best wishes with your studies. Fooling around aside, the pipes are a beautiful instrument.

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: GUEST,Dazbo at work
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 11:01 AM

Thanks everyone. I think it's time to end this thread and start a new one entitled "Brand New Bagpiper Seeks Advice" :-)

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 04:55 PM

Good luck.

Some of Julian's books are useful too. Material from a range of sources for bagpipes of limited compass.

Paws

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: Dazbo
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 02:42 PM

I must admit I was quite taken by some of Julian's pipes. I think I know someone with a set of his Leicestershire pipes but I would like (at some point in the dim and distant future) to have one of his double chanter pipes.

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: treewind
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 01:30 PM

I made the same decision about 10 years ago. I don't play them enough.
I also have a set of Julian Goodacre's Leicestershire Smallpipes in D, which is a fun alternative - a very different pipe from the Swaynes.

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: Dazbo
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 01:15 PM

Well, I've gone and made a decision. I'm going to get a set of Jon Swayne's student sets in G with two drones. I've gone for mouth blown as a) it's a lot cheaper and b) he didn't have any in stock.

So now I've got to learn to play them:-)

Thanks again

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: GUEST,999
Date: 13 Sep 11 - 11:30 PM

"A (potential) new bagpipe"

And he ain't too happy about it.

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 13 Sep 11 - 04:07 PM

Two drones. You get the essential harmony of drones which is half the point of bagpipes.
Be easier to sell on, too, I would think. Well set up pipes should not use much air.
Dry reeds (bellows) last much longer than wet blown (mouth) ones. Less replacement costs. Bellows can be transferred to another type if you decided to take up other pipes - and if you get hooked, you will!

Older pipers tend to run out of blow eventually - bellows are easier to manage in this situation. Might be an issue, but that's for you to say.

Paws

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: Dazbo
Date: 13 Sep 11 - 02:31 PM

Well it looks like I'm closing in on a choice. I'm impressed with what I've read and heard about Jon Swayne's pipes so I'm teetering a student set from him.

However, choices raise their ugly heads!!! would you recommend one or two drones? Two drones are more expensive and I presume uses air faster but sounds better than one. Would it be easier to sell on a set with two drones or one? Is it worth the extra for the second drone as a beginner?

What are the pros and cons of bellows? On the down side they add cost on the upside put dry air into the bag and are more hygenic. I think I would prefer mouth blown but what other advantages would bellows give?

Please keep the tips, suggestions and advice etc coming.

Thanks

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: Dazbo
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 12:57 PM

Thanks for the replies so far.

It was seeing Sean Jones at Towersey that finally tipped me over the edge. Thanks for the link to the Bagpipe Society, a useful resource and the link for the tip on Dominic Allan. I've been in touch with Jon Swayne this morning and he has some of his starter pipes available almost immediately.

Fortunately, I know a few pipers, mainly on NSP but I'm sure they can help too.

Please keep the tips and advice coming.

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 10:08 AM

I'd second the recommendation of Sean's pipes - I have some of his starter G's myself. You could also look for Dom Allan in Somerset

http://www.djallan.co.uk/

My top tip is that you should try to find a piper near you before you buy a set - the BagSoc should be able to help you out. If you're on Facebook you could look for the relevant page, or go to the website and contact Ian Clabburn, who deals with general inquiries

http://bagpipesociety.org.uk

And yes, the Blowout is well worth attending

Good luck!

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 09:08 AM

Bagpipe Society seconded! Also have a look at Sean Jones - his pipes are superb and very affordable. My partner Sophie owns one of his single-drone student sets and it's her favourite set of pipes. He'll be exhibiting at the International Living History Fair in Leicestershire in October and the Greenwich Early Music Festival in November. He's based in Biddulph in Staffordshire.

Also, if you'd like to catch us at an event and chat to Sophie about pipes you'd be most welcome! We get around a fair bit - have a look at Blast From The Past and see if we're anywhere near you.

Best of luck and I hope you have understanding neighbours! :-)

Subject: RE: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 11 Sep 11 - 04:55 PM

Get in touch with the Bagpipe Society - they cover all the instruments not included in the NPS, LBPS etc. Everything from English reconstructions through to musettes, and European bagpipes.

They're re-vamping their website ATM, but you could get in touch with JOn Swayne about pipes, or the Bag Soc. journal ("Chanter") editor - John Tose - john (at) pibydd (dot) fsnet (dot) co (dot) uk.

They have an annual Blowout weekend in Staffordshire, in June.

Good luck

Paws

Subject: A (potential) new bagpiper
From: Dazbo
Date: 11 Sep 11 - 04:35 PM

I'm seriously considering taking up the bagpipes as an addition to the melodeon (so I can piss off even more people:-) ). I'm not into highland bagpiping or similar and not (although I love listening to them) Northumbrian small pipes either. I'm tending towards Border or Flemish pipes, something with more than an ocatve range but not necessarily chromatic and have been advised it would be better to start off with a G set rather than D. I'm not prepared to pay silly money but can afford a decent starter/student set and I would like to play a mixture of English, French and Italian (Piemonte region for example) tunes. I've not made my mind up on mouth or bellows blown.

Any tips on learning, sources/makers of instruments, suggestions for other sorts of pipes and anything else you think a new piper needs to know will be gratefully recieved