Learn to Play

Always wanted to play the pipes? Here’s some basic information to help you get started!

What You Don’t Need to Learn to Play the Pipes

• You don’t have to be Irish or Scottish.

• You don’t have to be big and have huge lungs.

• You don’t need to have played an instrument before.

• You don’t need to know how to read music (but it helps speed things along).

What You Do Need to learn to Play the Pipes

• You do need lessons – pipers who start out “self taught” usually spend a lot of time undoing bad habits.

• You do need time to practice. The usual question is “How often should I practice?” The answer – “Only on the days that you breathe!” If you want to do something well, you need to practice on a regular basis.

• If you want to play with CRC, you need to be available on Tuesday nights for rehearsals.

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What’s Involved in Learning to Play?

• You start out on a practice chanter (p.c.) which looks sort of like a recorder and sounds a bit like the buzzing of a kazoo – until you’ve mastered the art of producing a nice tone. (This is not to disparage kazoos and kazoo players.)

• You learn all of the fingering of notes, timing and expression on the p.c. before ever taking up the pipes.

• You will normally spend 6 months to a year on the p.c. – depending on dedication and aptitude. It could take longer. Remember – practice makes perfect – but you can slack off eventually and only practice on the days you eat!

• Before moving to the pipes you will have memorized many tunes. In fact, almost all pipers learn the music first on the practice chanter before playing the music on the pipes.

• After you have learned the basics on the p.c. you will move to the bagpipes.

• You start with all the drones (the 3 tubes resting on the shoulder) plugged (shut off) to make it easier to blow the chanter steadily. You will learn to assemble and control the pipes and how to breathe and blow steady. Once that is learned you can start adding the drones over time.

• Some people take to the pipes almost immediately and others struggle with them for years – again practice and dedication are needed. It is possible to begin on the practice chanter, move to the pipes and start marching with the band in a year but don’t count on it!

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Requirements for joining CRC:

• You will need to memorize and be able to play on pipes most of the tunes we play in parades and concerts (about 15 short tunes).

• You will need to be able to play with reasonably steady blowing, reasonably steady tempos, reasonably in tune and reasonably clean (well executed) fingering.

In addition, you will need to:

• Attend all or most band practices Tuesday evenings.

• Participate in most of the parades and concerts that take place over the summer. Also we are a competing band and you would be strongly encouraged to join a competition band.

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What supplies will be needed and the cost?

You can of course buy much more expensive stuff but what is listed below is an estimate for decent equipment. Also the need for some of these supplies will vary depending on the teacher’s requirements. Do not buy anything until you have a teacher!

Practice Chanter expenses:

• Practice Chanter – $50 -$100

• Extra p.c. reeds – $20

• Lesson Book – $50

• Recording device – $10 – $100

• Metronome – $30

• Note book and pencil – $5

Piping expenses:

• Pipes (complete set up) $1000 or as high as you want to go.

• Extra reeds (personal) – $50

• Case – $50 – $200

• Maintenance supplies – $50

• Electronic tuner – $30

Uniform expenses:

The band buys some stuff like the kilt and subsidizes some items. You will need to own:

• Jacket    • Gillies (shoes)   • Vest   • Shirt    • Tie  •Glengarry (hat)   • Hose    • Belt    • Sporran (bag that hangs from your waist in front)

If you don’t join the band but want a complete uniform you will also need:

• Kilt    • Flashes (hang from the hose)

Still interested in learning? Just submit the form at the top of the page and we will be in touch!