The FAQ is intended mainly for beginners who are considering joining our band.
The FAQ is intended mainly for beginners who are considering joining
our band.
How long will it take to learn to play the bagpipes?
This depends on the individual. Some players get on to the bagpipes in under a year. Others take over two years. Still others can take a lot longer. Bagpipes are a musical instrument and require some musical aptitude. Age is definitely a factor. Younger students (10 to 16 is the ideal age to begin) tend to learn much quicker and have potential to become great players. Older students tend to take longer to learn and usually have limited potential.
Practice definitely makes a difference. You are training the mussles in
your fingers to behave in a new way. You are learning to read music
and translate what you see into a series of finger movements.
You are building up strength in your lungs and face mussles. Finally,
you are comitting tunes to memory. The rate at which you train your body
is increased with repetition. Beginners that spend half an hour a day
practicing can expect to progress very well.
The student begins with the practice chanter. The practice chanter is
much easier to blow than the bagpipes and not as loud. Here you'll learn
the basics of playing. Remember, the more time you put in on the practice
chanter, the easier the transition to bagpipes. Once you've graduated to
the bagpipes, you'll aways work with your practice chanter to learn new tunes
and work on your technique. Also, the band practices together with practice
chanters for about an hour a week This allows us to hear each other play
so that we can refine our performance as a group.
After you've learned the basics on the chanter, you'll be ready for the
bagpipes. Here, it will be like starting over again. You'll find that
blowing the bagpipes is more difficult than it looks (it that's possible).
Not only do you need to learn the technique of keeping the bag inflated
while maintaining a steady pressure, you need to keep all of the drones
in tune with each other and the chanter.
How long will it take to learn to play the drums?
The drum corp has three differenct drums: snare (or side), tennor and bass drum. The snare drum is the most numerous in the band and the following discussion targets the snare drum.
As with bagpipe, the time to learn to paly drums depends on the individual.
Beginners seem to be able to play a 2/4 setting after three to six months
.
The student begins with the practice pad. The practice pad is basically a piece of hard rubber. Here you'll learn the basics of playing. Once you've graduated to the drums, you'll aways work with your practice pad to learn new settings and work on your technique.
The learning curve for drums seems to be a little less steep than for bagpipes. Also, the transistion from practice pad to drums is usually much quicker than for practice chanter to bagpipes.
return to topHow long before I can go out on parade?
After you've learned to play your instrument well enough, you must now learn how to march in time and in formation. This is not too difficult and is usually picked up in about a month of weekly practices. Beginners are placed on the inside of the formation so they don't wander too far astray.
We want rookies to parade with us as soon as they can manage but not at the sacrifice of a good performance for the band. Also, the band must make the decision to outfit the member with a kilt etc. (see What does the band provide for uniforms?)
Pipers may be ready shortly after managing to blow their drones steady. In a parade situation, a rookie may be called upon to blow drones with the chanter plugged. We believe that it is a good experience to march along with the band even if not actually performing. The person gets learns to march while keeping the drones going. We also tend to play a given set several times in a parade, so familiarity of the tunes is also reinforced.
Side drummers are ready when they can play a basic 2/4 beating.
return to topLessons are always free. From time to time the band may bring in other instructors from outside the band, at the band's expense.
return to topThe band's sole source of income is from the parades and functions at which we perform. Therefore there are no dues required.
return to topWhat does the band provide for uniforms?
The bands uniforn consists of kilt, shirt, shoulder flashes, hose, flashes, shoes, sporran, cap and cap badge.(See dress for details).
Of these, the band provides the kilt, shirt, shoulder flashes, flashes, and cap badge. The band member provides his/her own hose, shoes, sporran and cap.
The hose, etc are generic enough that they can be worn with any kilt and shirt. So if you have your own family kilt for special occasions, you'll have the gear to complete your uniform. Most other bands also wear the same gear and expect their members to provide their own. So if you leave our band to join another (we hope this never happens, but we must face the reality), youl'll be able to reuse your gear.
The individual may also consider purchasing an inverness cape. These capes are designed specifically for playing bagpipes or drums in rainy conditions. Most parades and events take place in the summer when rain is less likely, so many members to not own a cape.
return to topI notice that you wear black shirts, aren't they hot?
No. The shirts are cotton and they are cooler than they look.
return to topWhat does the band provide for pipers?
Pipers provide their own instruments (practice chanter and bagpipes). The band provides chanter reeds.
return to topWhat does the band provide for drummers?
At a minimum, drummers must provide their own sticks and practice pad. At the time of writing, the band owns three side drums, two tennor drums, and two bass drums. These instruments are available to drummers on an as needed basis.
return to topWhat are the conditions for loaned equipment?
Band equipment issued to band members remains the property of the band. When you are issued band equipment you must sign for it. Minors must have a gardian sign. It is the responsibility of the band member to care for equipment and return it in the same condition as it was loaned or else make repairs at thier own expense as required.
What's the bottom line expense?
At the time of writing: