Help: tips/advice for beginning Uillean Piper

Subject: tips/advice for beginning Uillean Pipers
From: Big Mick
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 11:18 AM

I am in the process of teaching meself the Uillean Pipes. I am using "The New Approach to Uillean Piping" by H.J. Clarke. I have a practice set that I obtained from a fellow Mudcatter. I know we have a number of pipers on the Mudcat. How about it? How about sharing tips and knowledge with those of us learning? For example: What would you say is the most important tip (other than Practice, Practice, Practice) that a beginning Uillean Piper should know?

Thanks for the help you will give.

Big Mick

Subject: RE: Help: tips/advice for beginning Uillean Piper
From: Big Mick
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 11:20 AM

Oh yes, and you new pipers, be sure and post your questions here as well.

Here is another example that was asked of me recently. When one buys a practice set (bellows, chanter and bag only) s/he gets a chanter with no keys. What keys would go on the chanter and what do they control? Are they something one should put on early?

Subject: RE: Help: tips/advice for beginning Uillean Piper
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 01:03 PM

Brian Howard loves talking and makes pipes. Someone put a link to his page on the "were you at the Harlequin yesterday" thread - so you could try contacting him. Francis Feeley who holds a tin whistle class at the Harlequin is also learning pipes and I will let him know about your request when he comes back off holiday next week (think he is B.Howards neighbour too)

Roger

Subject: RE: Help: tips/advice for beginning Uillean Piper
From: InOBU
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 04:22 PM

Hi Mick:
My heart goes out to you, your family and nieghbors. Please accept my condolence at the loss of your peace of mind and sanity. As Willy Clancy said, it takes seven years to get the damn thing in tune ... and then the troble realy starts. Get a f natch and a C natch key (for the high c) and a lot of heavy duty pain killers. Learn to make reeds, learn to make reeds and learn to make reeds. It is harder to make reeds than play the damn thing. If your set is made my Tim Briton, burn it and get another, preferably from Seth Gallagher. When you decide to committ (or be committed) have Seth make you a set, I will post his web site. He has a long waiting list, but a few of us believe he is among the best living pipe makers, if not the best. Where do you live, out west isn't it? Well, good luck old man, you will need it.
Condolence and solidarity
Larry

Subject: RE: Help: tips/advice for beginning Uillean Piper
From: InOBU
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 04:24 PM

http://www.uilleann.com/links.html Seth's Site, say hullo from me, Mick, Larry

Subject: RE: Help: tips/advice for beginning Uillean Piper
From: alison
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 01:11 AM

The videos from (I can't remeber how to spell it)Na Piobaire Uilleann, in Dublin are pretty good for beginners... the 1st video is VERY basic, the 2nd includes drones.. and there is apparently now a 3rd which teaches regulators......

Hey Mick, pack yours up, jump on a plane and come over.... we can learn together..... *grin*

I am still learning but I have got past the point where Mark starts to laugh every time a note comes out... so I suppose that's an improvement.....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Help: tips/advice for beginning Uillean Piper
From: Brendy
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 03:04 AM

Good man, Mick.

I've played with some great pipers, and there is nothing as sweet as the sound of the pipes. And on slow airs.......well, what can I say?

Keep at it, whatever you do.

B.