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So you want to learn to play the bagpipe, eh? And you really want to know how we go about teaching the pipes... Okay, fair enough! I have taught many different students and have come up with a method which works. We have written our own tutor book incorporating these techniques and we would be pleased to give to you for no charge on a CD. We believe that everyone has a different learning speed, and has their own special way to learn something new. We will look for the instruction style that best suits the student so they can meet with success. I haven't run into the student yet that can't learn the bagpipes. Some learn faster than others, but all will learn. We believe in YOU! Don't worry, you don't need to know how to read music, we have an easy way of getting ANYONE to understand the basics of note reading, and I guarantee you can learn the basics of it. After all, there are only nine note locations to learn on the music staff, and 5 types of notes... remember, if someone like me could learn it, so can you!
If you are typical of most people, this is the way you will be taught: 1st lesson- Learn the nine notes of the bagpipe scale, learn to hear "crossing noises" and correct finger position. You also learn some of our philosophy of learning which we teach alongside the pipes. (we think this makes learning a lot less frustrating, and a bunch more fun; plus you learn faster to boot!) We will give you a bunch of learning and band materials to review at your leisure, and give you some ideas of what you can expect from us as well. 2nd lesson- We will double check that you haven't developed any bad habits in your fingering technique, and also check to make sure crossing noises and any other stray strange things haven't come up... Next you will learn the gracenotes G, E, and D. These first two lessons are the basis for everything you will learn on the pipes, for most of piping revolve on these two items: gracenotes, and melody notes. Future fancy bits (doublings and other embellishments) are built using the techniques gained in these two lessons. 3rd Lesson- If you have mastered the basics of playing gracenotes, (which you probably have) you learn your first embellishment, and will start your first song.. (If you haven't mastered the basics of playing gracenotes, we will rap your knuckles with a ruler! Just kidding! ) This is the point where our students diverge in learning speed and style. Everyone learns physical stuff at their own pace, and we want you to play correctly so you can be proud of how you play.
As I said above, students tend to diverge at this point in the speed in which they learn... we don't pressure you to learn faster than you are able, and accept whatever speed you can go at. We don't want this to be a pressure on you, because we don't "work" the bagpipe, we "play" the bagpipe. Playing and learning should be fun, not work.
So if you have thought about learning the pipes, drop me a line through the website here, and I would be happy to talk with you on the phone, or via email! |
