Age: 63

Where are you from originally? Amsterdam NY

Where do you live? Schoharie NY

On one of her many trips to Ireland.

What is your job or major if a student? Executive Director, Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie Workforce Development Board

Where did you learn to play? Through Jim McQuilkin, MiddleFort Pipe Band

Instrument: Bagpipe, semi-retired.

How long have you been playing? 17 years

What got you interested? When I was 8 or 9, my mother’s cousin who played in Schenectady Pipe Band dropped by with pipes and uniform. After hearing him play, I was sold – but I somehow ended up with piano lessons – after all it was the early 50’s and I was a girl. But I still always liked the sound of the pipes the best! The sound of the piano never raised the hairs on the back of my neck even when my mother who is a fantastic pianist played!

How did you go about learning/finding – private teacher, class, band, parent or relative? Jim McQuilkin had moved up from Kearny NJ and formed a local band. He took my son Pat on as a drumming student, and when I told him how much I had always wanted to play the pipes, he took me on as well. It was a small band with a number of adult learners, so I fit in well. He had a Certificate from the College of Piping so that was also a plus.

Teachers that had a big influence: Jim McQuilkin, particularly for tone and expression, but for perserverance as well. I learned a lot from Donald Lindsay, as well as instructors at pipe camp and workshops. One of the best workshops was a SFU workshop that focused on how to develop medley selections that would keep Granny’s toe tapping while wowing the judges. It was great advice and I’ve applied it to other musical applications as well.

How long did you take lessons? I’ve always taken lessons in one format or other, some private, some group, some with the band, and of course at summer camp and workshops. People might call me a professional student – I like to think of myself as a lifelong learner.

How long did you play practice chanter/pad before moving to pipes/drum? How long from start to marching with the band? I started on the practice chanter in the summer, moved to the pipes in January of that next year, and started going out in parades at St. Patrick’s Day. It was another year before I started competing with MiddleFort’s grade 4 band.

How long does it take you to get to practice? About 50 – 55 minutes.

Gail is still on the CRC governing board but not playing these pipes anymore.

Favorite bagpipe player or drummer? I’ve always been a fan of Ann Grey. It was a big boost for me to go to the Metro Cup and see her competing with all the male pipers. There are many others as well.

Favorite bagpipe band? A number of bands over the years but always including 78^th Frasers, SFU, Field Marshall Montgomery, Shotts and Dykehead, Victoria Police and I could go on…

What other music do you like? Cape Breton, most Celtic from trad to rock, and swing.

What other instruments do/did you play? Fiddle, piano (reluctantly), and a very basic bodhran.

What is the hardest thing about playing? I think the hardest thing is to carve out a specific time to practice, and I’ve always tried to practice only on the days that I eat. I think I’ve reached my optimal practice time when I wake up the next morning still playing the tunes in my head.

Do you compete? Not anymore. I started out with grade 4 in MiddleFort, moved to Tara Hall where I played in grade 4 and then in grade 3. When we became CRC, I moved back to grade 4. It was a very comfortable move for me. I retired from competing at the end of the 2008 season. I miss it very much.

What is the one thing you would tell a beginner about learning? Find a good teacher and a good band. If you don’t feel the fit is right, look for a better one. Remember, not only are you a musician in training, you are also a customer. If the fit isn’t right, no matter how hard you work, it may never be satisfying. And I can’t resist giving a second piece of advice – immerse yourself in the style – buy or borrow CDs of good bands, download to your iPod if you have one, listen to them in the car, at home, everywhere. You need to make the music a natural extension of yourself.

Do you play solo events like weddings and funerals? I rarely played solo events – my favorite was the band or a mini-band where I could play the harmonies I love.

What other hobbies or pursuits do you have? For the last five years I’ve been a fiddle student with George Wilson. I absolutely love it. My grandfather played the fiddle, and I still have his fiddle. I have to admit, the fiddle is also easier on my 63 year old infrastructure than the pipes are. Unfortunately, no amount of Recovery Act funds will repair my infrastructure. In addition I read a lot and visit Ireland twice a year, another addiction of mine.