"but it all ended up sounding like a very distressed donkey."
With Thanksgiving approaching here in the U.S., the newspapers are always reminding us to think about what we are thankful for. I'm thankful that Calgary is far away, even by piping standards.
As a small consolation to Albertans everywhere, Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving six weeks ago, before having to listen to their very own distressed donkey.
I don't have any knowledge of uilleann pipers in Calgary - you may want to move sooner rather than later!
One thing: if you have not done so already, you should humidify your dwelling to about 45-55% relative humidity or your reed will DIE.
One more thing: the bellows is there to feed air to the bag; the bag drives the reed(s). Do not try to drive the chanter with the bellows. It's an all too common bad habit among beginners that is best avoided.
It takes a while to learn how to work the bellows independently of controlling the bag with your bag arm and playing the chanter. Do not attempt anything more complex than "The Dawning of the Day" until you are able to sustain long, even tones without fluctuations in volume or pitch.
Thanks for the tips... I have been trying to sustain notes at a regular volume and pitch and am gradually getting there with the first octave. I have also been trying to keep my pipes at a higher humidity level, but I'm worried that the reed may have suffered a bit in the few weeks the set was in transit.
My back D sounds very sharp so I've been sort of half-holing it to get the proper pitch. I'm not sure whether that's due to the due to the reed getting too dry or what - from things I've read, the back D seems to be a problematic note for a lot of pipers.
When you say the reed will DIE... will it really die, or will it work better again when exposed to more humid conditions? I was a little surprised at how much pressure I need to put on the bag to actually sound notes and wondered if it was a reed issue, but figured it probably had a lot more to do with me not knowing what I'm doing!
When I say DIE, I mean it will collapse and/or crack. If it collapses, you may be able to get it back into playing shape with humidification if it doesn't crack while exposed to dryness or cold. If it cracks, well...save the staple anyway. It could come in handy.
Sharp back D is not necessarily bad. Are the hard bottom D and the first octave A at 440? If they're sharp too, put some extra thread on the staple end and move the reed out slightly. Be careful replacing the chanter top.
If hard bottom D and A are in tune and back D is sharp, place a bit of tape on the top 1/3 of the back d tone hole; black electrical tape works fine. You can also put some poster putty in the top edge of the tone hole if you prefer that method. Both will flatten that back D.
Get out to a tionol and meet other pipers soon. It's very tough to diagnose problems at long distance. You may be doing things you don't even know are wrong and unless an experience piper catches it early you're risking the acquisition of a bad habit.
Yes, I would like to get out and meet other pipers... I hoped that by posting this I might unearth a piper around these parts, but it's not looking good...
I'm trying to order the first 'Art of Uilleann Piping' DVD in the hopes that I'll pick up some reasonably decent technique. I'm constantly reminding myself that I don't need to use a 'death grip' on the chanter - I can cover all of the holes on my low D whistle with very little actual finger pressure. I know it's no substitute for meeting real pipers, but I think that'll have to wait until I get back to my own part of the world.
Am I missing something, or are there pretty much no resources online for absolute beginner pipers? I learned to play whistle entirely online using a few different sites. I know Michael Eskin has videos of slowed-down piping tunes, but even these are too advanced for me right now (I could really use some videos introducing the fundamentals of bag, bellows and chanter technique). Am I out of luck until my DVD arrives?
Pipers in Calgary?
Pipers in Calgary?
Hi folks,
Are there any uilleann pipers lurking around here who live in or near Calgary AB? Or even anyone who knows a piper here...
I recently acquired a starter set of pipes and will pay good money to anyone who can help me squeeze something that sounds like music out of them...
I tried playing some scales, and then tried to play 'Inisheer', but it all ended up sounding like a very distressed donkey. Please help!
I'm going back to Ireland/UK in a few months so I can get lessons there, but if I could get a few pointers before then it would be great...
Cheers
# Posted on November 25th 2008 by Pat Mustard
Re: Pipers in Calgary?
"but it all ended up sounding like a very distressed donkey."
With Thanksgiving approaching here in the U.S., the newspapers are always reminding us to think about what we are thankful for. I'm thankful that Calgary is far away, even by piping standards.
As a small consolation to Albertans everywhere, Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving six weeks ago, before having to listen to their very own distressed donkey.
# Posted on November 25th 2008 by GaryAMartin
Re: Pipers in Calgary?
I don't have any knowledge of uilleann pipers in Calgary - you may want to move sooner rather than later!
One thing: if you have not done so already, you should humidify your dwelling to about 45-55% relative humidity or your reed will DIE.
One more thing: the bellows is there to feed air to the bag; the bag drives the reed(s). Do not try to drive the chanter with the bellows. It's an all too common bad habit among beginners that is best avoided.
It takes a while to learn how to work the bellows independently of controlling the bag with your bag arm and playing the chanter. Do not attempt anything more complex than "The Dawning of the Day" until you are able to sustain long, even tones without fluctuations in volume or pitch.
# Posted on November 25th 2008 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: Pipers in Calgary?
In fact don't even try "Dawning of the Day" until you've got the long steady tones thing down first!
# Posted on November 25th 2008 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: Pipers in Calgary?
Thanks for the tips... I have been trying to sustain notes at a regular volume and pitch and am gradually getting there with the first octave. I have also been trying to keep my pipes at a higher humidity level, but I'm worried that the reed may have suffered a bit in the few weeks the set was in transit.
My back D sounds very sharp so I've been sort of half-holing it to get the proper pitch. I'm not sure whether that's due to the due to the reed getting too dry or what - from things I've read, the back D seems to be a problematic note for a lot of pipers.
When you say the reed will DIE... will it really die, or will it work better again when exposed to more humid conditions? I was a little surprised at how much pressure I need to put on the bag to actually sound notes and wondered if it was a reed issue, but figured it probably had a lot more to do with me not knowing what I'm doing!
# Posted on November 25th 2008 by Pat Mustard
Re: Pipers in Calgary?
When I say DIE, I mean it will collapse and/or crack. If it collapses, you may be able to get it back into playing shape with humidification if it doesn't crack while exposed to dryness or cold. If it cracks, well...save the staple anyway. It could come in handy.
Sharp back D is not necessarily bad. Are the hard bottom D and the first octave A at 440? If they're sharp too, put some extra thread on the staple end and move the reed out slightly. Be careful replacing the chanter top.
If hard bottom D and A are in tune and back D is sharp, place a bit of tape on the top 1/3 of the back d tone hole; black electrical tape works fine. You can also put some poster putty in the top edge of the tone hole if you prefer that method. Both will flatten that back D.
Get out to a tionol and meet other pipers soon. It's very tough to diagnose problems at long distance. You may be doing things you don't even know are wrong and unless an experience piper catches it early you're risking the acquisition of a bad habit.
# Posted on November 25th 2008 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: Pipers in Calgary?
Yes, I would like to get out and meet other pipers... I hoped that by posting this I might unearth a piper around these parts, but it's not looking good...
I'm trying to order the first 'Art of Uilleann Piping' DVD in the hopes that I'll pick up some reasonably decent technique. I'm constantly reminding myself that I don't need to use a 'death grip' on the chanter - I can cover all of the holes on my low D whistle with very little actual finger pressure. I know it's no substitute for meeting real pipers, but I think that'll have to wait until I get back to my own part of the world.
Am I missing something, or are there pretty much no resources online for absolute beginner pipers? I learned to play whistle entirely online using a few different sites. I know Michael Eskin has videos of slowed-down piping tunes, but even these are too advanced for me right now (I could really use some videos introducing the fundamentals of bag, bellows and chanter technique). Am I out of luck until my DVD arrives?
# Posted on November 25th 2008 by Pat Mustard
Re: Pipers in Calgary?
Hi - I've sent you an email of a fellow in Calgary. I didn't post it here, as I didn't have his permission.
Hopefully he's able to help you.
# Posted on November 25th 2008 by Merry Mary
Re: Pipers in Calgary?
Thank you
I will email him.
# Posted on November 25th 2008 by Pat Mustard