LESSONS
Learning to play the bagpipes is a fun, challenging, and lifelong journey. I'd be honored to work with you, whether you're brand new to piping, an experienced player, or anything in between.
BOOK A LESSON
For more info about my background, methodology, or advice on buying a practice chanter or pipes, scroll down.
For lessons, whether in person or on Skype, I charge $30 for 30 mins, or $50 for an hour.
Here's what you'll need to get started:
a Skype account and a device with an internet connection
a practice chanter (if you’re not sure what to get, contact me so I can advise you) and pipes, if you’re at that stage in your playing
an idea of your piping goals.
Click the button below to select your preferred lesson length from my booking calendar – choose ‘free meet and greet’ if it’s your first time.
The fine print
If you want to book a series of lessons, please email me to set this up.
Cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to your lesson time will still incur a full lesson fee.
MASTER YOUR INSTRUMENT
There’s an old saying that ‘bagpipes are the easiest instrument to learn, but the hardest to master’.
This is absolutely true.
Bagpipes are arguably one of the most straightforward instruments in the world. They have one key, a scale of only nine notes, and a chanter that has no moving parts, so they’re relatively simple compared to other instruments.
However, they have a reputation for being difficult for a reason. Bagpipes can be a challenging instrument even for experienced musicians to learn, due to the balance of technique, maintenance, physical strength and stamina required to play them well.
Mastering the pipes is a lifelong pursuit, but pipers who take their development seriously see this as a steady, rewarding journey of continuous improvement, rather than a race to a fixed end-point.
That’s part of the fun!
Also, don’t be deterred if you’re a little later on in life. You can learn to play the bagpipes at any age – I’ve had students who started when they were kids, and when they were grandparents, and they have all made admirable progress.
Like any instrument, you’ll get out what you put in. Dedicated, regular practice always pays off, and nothing beats that feeling when you can hear the results of your hard work, and confidently strike in your pipes and play to stir the souls of an audience.
MY METHODOLOGY
Piping music can be a bit… different… to music for other instruments, which can leave students feeling frustrated or like bagpipes are some mysterious riddle that they’ll never solve.
It doesn’t have to be this way. I’ve spent two decades learning the ‘secrets’ of piping, and over that time I’ve developed a very logical, methodical approach to teaching these idiosyncrasies, which empowers my students to feel knowledgeable about their music and in control of their instrument and performance.
If you don’t know how to read music, don’t worry! You don’t need any musical background to get started. Bagpipes use the same musical notation style as many other instruments, and most students pick this up very quickly, even if they’ve never read a note before.
Your initial learning materials will be included in your lesson fee. I mostly use the Dojo University Bagpipe Tutor, with supplemental material from The National Piping Center (The Blue Book), Bagpipe Solutions by John Cairns, and Rhythmic Fingerwork by Jim McGillivray.
FURTHER INFORMATION FOR…
EXPERIENCED
PLAYERS
Eager to improve your tuning or maintenance? Want to build up your fingerwork or stamina so you can play catchy tunes confidently in public? Or are you ready to dominate the solo circuit? Either way, I can help you take your piping to the next level and beyond.
I’m a self-confessed piping nerd, so I’m passionate and knowledgeable about bagpipes and their music, community, and culture.
You’ll be amazed how quickly your confidence will soar with an experienced mentor to guide you.
I have a range of music and exercises available, so you can either bring your own tunes to work on, or I can suggest technique challenges and tunes in idioms you want to develop.
In your first lesson, we’ll discuss your musical background, piping history, playing and competition goals, and work out how I can best add value to help you achieve them.
From there, we'll set out a plan to get you there, and get started!
beginning
PLAYERS
Becoming a bagpiper is a truly rewarding experience. Pipers are often lucky enough to be part of the happiest and saddest days of peoples’ lives, and you’ll join a thriving, friendly, global community of fellow musicians who also love this instrument and its culture.
You’ll start learning on a practice chanter, which is an instrument in its own right, similar to a recorder with a reed, that helps students learn proper fingering techniques, scale navigation, and rhythmic accuracy.
It usually takes between 6 and 12 months of learning technique, rhythm and tunes on a practice chanter before you’ll transition to a set of pipes.
In your first lesson, we’ll discuss your musical background (none required, don’t worry – this is just to establish your level of knowledge), your musical and performance goals, and how I can best help you on your way to becoming a piper.
From there, we can set out a plan to get you there, and get started!
BUYING A PRACTICE CHANTER / BAGPIPES
** VERY IMPORTANT**
DO NOT buy a practice chanter or set of bagpipes unless you have been advised by a piper who knows what they are doing.
The market is flooded with very cheaply made, inferior instruments that will look great as a decoration on your wall, but will never tune properly or be playable.
To avoid a disappointing purchase, before you spend any money, please contact me – I can help you find a suitable instrument to get started, or advise you on one you’re considering buying.
Prices vary depending on the age, materials and quality of an instrument, but you can expect a standard plastic practice chanter to start at around $80, and a set of good bagpipes (basic ones) will usually cost $1000 plus, though you won’t need to buy a set for the better part of a year if you’re a complete beginner.