Getting Started

I'm interested in starting lessons. I'm starting from scratch. Are you taking new students? What do I need to get started?

Great! I'd be happy to teach you, it's just a matter of finding a time that will work for both of us. If you live near or can travel to my home teaching studio in Seattle, we can do in-person lessons. Otherwise we can try some of my long distance learning options such as webcam lessons or lessons by tape.

The good news is that you won't need pipes to get started. Pipers start learning on an instrument called the practice chanter. It looks sort of like a recorder. It allows you to learn the fingering for the bagpipes while you learn the basics of reading music and keeping rhythm, etc. After 6 month or so we can talk about getting some bagpipes. A practice chanter is inexpensive -- under $100.

Working on Technique

I am a beginner piper, only been playing 1 year. I have an instructor that I see once a week. I practice about an hour every other day. I am currently working on Scotland The Brave. I am having trouble with the Taorluath, and C doublings. Have you recorded any drills to cover some of these embellishments that might help a beginner?

I'm working on some Lesson Downloads for the basics. In the mean time, check out Rhythmic Fingerwork by Jim McGillivray, the book includes a CD.