Name: Dillard Waring

Age: 37

Where are you from originally? Born in Trenton NJ

Where do you live : Hudson  ny

What is your job or major if a student? traffic observation engineering specialist

Where did you learn to play? Started playing in texas of all places trying to keep the rattlesnakes away.

Instrument: bagpipes

How long have you been playing? Started about 8 yrs old then stopped and started many times growing up but steady now for the past 12 or so years

What got you interested? My mother was british and my parents loved the pipes and the culture, so there were always bagpipe records playing in the house. also when my father played the pipes for show and tell in my 2nd or 3rd grade class in Texas and the principle asked him to play outside so the whole school could watch(couple hundred kids and staff) because they had never seen the pipes before, i’d have to say that stuck with me.

How did you go about learning/finding – private teacher, class, band, parent or relative? My father taught me, he learned from my uncle Hugh Stewart from PA.

Teachers that had a big influence: Nancy Tunnicliffe, Dan Curry,Jack Waring

How long did you take lessons? still do on and off

How long did you play practice chanter/pad before moving to pipes/drum? How long from start to marching with the band? I think about 1 year on chanter or so, marching with band took a while there were no bands in texas at time at least where we were, so till till we came to NY.

How long does it take you to get to practice? 30-40 minutes

Favorite bagpipe player or drummer? dont have one

Favorite bagpipe band? schotts I guess but always loved the 78th’s creativity and grew up with the old Red Hackle and the black watch

What other music do you like? country,metal,standards a lot of stuff – how can you beat a good mexican band with horns, but not big on the sixties hippie music.

What other instruments do/did you play? a little guitar

What is the hardest thing about playing? Solo? Band? all alone on solos, and not wanting to screw up in the band.

Do you compete? Level? grade 3 band last time I was still grade 4 solo years ago but contemplating a return

What is the one thing you would tell a beginner about learning? besides getting a good instructor and practice, get good finger technique,  that was beaten into me and its bailed me out over the years, no curls and bends that way your not fighting to find the holes and fingers move easier.

Do you play solo events like weddings and funerals? yes when ever i can

What hobbies or other pursuits do you have? sports, motorcycling, music maybe even farming again someday