New Lessons Downloads for Intermediate Level Exercises

We have prepared a series of Lessons to accompany the Exercise routine posted on the School of Piping site. The routine is based on scalic exercises and features a repetition of scales like many professional musicians play to build strength and consistency of technique, accuracy with beat and pulse and muscle memory. A great way to rapidly improve your playing, build your playing up before a contest, or just giving your technique a good spring clean! An article and manuscript is downloadable as well as audio lessons. They can be found on the Audio Lessons page of the School of Piping website by clicking HERE. We hope you enjoy the routine and find it beneficial. Articles on exercises, good practice habits and performing can be found in The Complete Pipers Handbook, available from the same site. www.schoolofpiping.com

VALE DONALD MacPHERSON We are sad to report the passing of piping legend Donald MacPherson. Aged 89 Donald was one of the most respected and successful figures in the solo piping world. Donald holds the record for winning nine Clasps at the Northern Meeting. He also won the Senior Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering 15 times, 6 former winners MSR at Inverness, the list goes on and on. Donald generously passed his knowledge to many students who have also had considerable success in the world solo piping scene. Through them and his many recordings his music will live on. We pass our sincere condolences to his family, we know he will be sadly missed.

Learn Bagpipes or Drums in Adelaide South Australia

The SA Youth Pipe Band provides high quality, very inexpensive tuition for young people who want to play bagpipes or drums in a Pipe Band environment. The band is run under the umbrella of the City of Adelaide Pipe Band. Tuition is provided by Brett Tidswell (National Principal of the Australian Pipe Band College), Andrew Fuller (1998 World Pipe Band Champion) and Olav Goud (World Solo Drumming finalist).



The SA Youth Pipe Band recently won both elements of the Grade 4 Pipe Band section at the 2012 Mt Barker Highland Gathering, highlighting the quality of tuition available through this prestigious organisation.



Practices are conducted at the Prospect RSL Hall, Wilcox Ave Prospect from 7.30PM on Tuesday evenings. Those young people wishing to participate should contact secretary@adelaidepipeband.com or phone 0435 272 313.

More can be discovered about learning Bagpipes in this article.

We look forward to a bright future in Pipe Banding.

Piobaireachd Tuition DVD-Rom

We are pleased to announce the launch of the "Piobaireachd Tutorial" DVD-Rom by P/M Bill Robertson. This is an excellent resource with an e-tutor running through all piobaireachd embellishments complete with video links breaking up each movement and demonstrating how it should be played.



The DVD also provides manuscript and audio lessons for 15 tunes and an authoritative historical story behind each of the tunes. Tunes covered are: McDonald of Kinlochmoidart no 1. The Little Spree. Lament for the Old Sword. Campany’s Lament. Too Long In this Condition. Old Woman’s Lullaby. Alastair Dearg. Catherine’s Lament. Salute to Donald. Massacre of Glencoe. Sir James McDonald of the Isles. Pretty Dirk. Donald of Laggan. Munro’s Salute. Rout of the McPhees.

We believe this to be the best resource of its type available and are proud to be associated with Bill's work. You will find the DVD on our Beginners Publications page by clicking HERE.

Bill was a prize winner in the BBC piobaireachd composition competition, winner of the Highland Brigade Piobaireachd medal and the Piobaireachd Society NZ Gold Medal. He has been a pupil of P/M Hugh Fraser, P/M Willie Ross and P/M Donald McLeod. Bill himself was Pipe Major of The Royal Scots.



In addition we also offer Bill's "115 Piobaireachd Turorial" DVD-Rom. A vast resource that is unsurpassed. You will find the DVD on our Advanced Publications page by clicking HERE.

The Reed Book Interactive DVD-Rom

“Probably the most comprehensive product about reeds ever published”. This DVD- Rom contains a 57 page PDF book with many step by step full colour photographs to help pipers gain a complete understanding about reeds. A large number of video files are also linked throughout the publication showing how to carry out testing and manipulation of drone and chanter reeds.

Chapters have been included on the making of chanter and drone reeds so that the construction of reeds is better understood and therefore the principles behind many of the manipulations make more sense to the piper. Selection of reeds and cane are also topics discussed along with installing, setting up, refining, increasing/decreasing volume, altering tonal quality, problem solving etc.

Chapters include:
SECTION 1. CHANTER REEDS
CHAPTER 1. Practice Chanter Reeds
CHAPTER 2. Pipe Chanter Reeds
CHAPTER 3. Making a Chanter Reed
CHAPTER 4. Selecting a Pipe Chanter Reed
CHAPTER 5. Setting a Pipe Chanter
CHAPTER 6. Tools for Working with Reeds
CHAPTER 7. Manipulating Reeds
CHAPTER 8. Problem Solving
CHAPTER 9. Tuning a Pipe Chanter (basics)

SECTION 2. DRONE REEDS
CHAPTER 10. Types of Drone Reeds
CHAPTER 11. Making Cane Drone Reeds
CHAPTER 12. Understanding Drone Reeds
CHAPTER 13. Reed Selection
CHAPTER 14. Setting up Drones
CHAPTER 15. Problem Solving
CHAPTER 16. Tuning the Drones (basics)

SECTION 3. THE BAGPIPE
CHAPTER 17. Making Your Bagpipe Air Efficient
CHAPTER 18. Setting Up and Tuning the Bagpipe (basics)

Suitable for use on any computer with a PDF and DVD reader.

Now available from the School of Piping Shop.

Great price packages are also available including the Complete Pipers Handbook.

TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE YOUR BAGPIPE STEADIER

We constantly aim for better tone and stability of our instrument. Here are some simple tips that will help:

• Check that all joints and tuning slides are well hemped and that none move or rock on the joint.

• Test that your bag is airtight and your blow pipe valve is working properly.

• Ensure that you have a suitable Water Trap or Moisture Control System installed.

• If using a canister system replace the drying agent.

• Check all hoses to your Moisture Control System. Some hoses may leak, replace them. Some brands of hoses offer more stability and reliability than others.

• Some drone reeds will not last forever. If any are suspect clean the reeds and replace the bridles. You may also need to replace your reeds if you suspect tongue fatigue.

• Balance your drone reeds for strength (the methods are highlighted in The Complete Pipers Handbook).

• If your chanter reed is old and not giving the best performance, replace it.

• If too much moisture is building up on the reeds invest in a new Moisture Control System.

• Practice blowing exercises, as a lot of instability can be caused by poor technique. A Bagpipe Gauge is available from the School of Piping Shop which you can use to monitor your blowing.

• Do not assume that instability is caused by your blowing, I see so many instruments that are poorly set and pipers just assume it is their bad blowing.

• Get a good maintenance guide to help you to learn to set your instrument up.

Too often I see old equipment that has passed its prime or badly set instruments and pipers ignoring it. They either put up with the bad results or assume it is their own failure to blow steady. It is the Pipe Majors catch cry to have difficulty with an instrument and tell someone to blow steady! This might not always be the problem.

Give yourself a fighting chance and try the above points to get a better result from your instrument. The Complete Pipers Handbook is a great guide to help you to get a better result from your instrument. Also the School of Piping Shop has great deals on many reeds and products, and we are always willing to offer help and advice along the way.

VALE P/M ALASDAIR GILLIES

It is our sad duty to report the passing of Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies on the 27th August 2011 at 47 years of age. Pipe Major of the Queens Own Highlanders and one of the top piping competitors of the modern era. Winner of the Silver Star for former winners of the MSR at the Northern Meeting a record eleven times. Three times winner of the Glenfiddich Championships.

He won both Highland Society of London’s Gold Medals (Argyllshire Gathering 1989, Northern Meeting 2004)

The piping world will sadly miss Alasdair and his jovial nature. May we extend our condolences to his family and friends.