The Wandering Piper

Low D

2011-03-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

Well it seems the faeries were thinking of me on my birthday and conjured up a Chieftain V3 Low D whistle. How nice! I've been playing around with it since Friday and I'm getting more accustomed to the crazy finger spacing. Gonna be a long road, but I'm diggin it so far. I'll try to put up some samples soon...

Danny Boy

2011-03-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, I share this gem. I will no doubt be asked to play "Danny Boy" a million and half times this coming Thursday night.... and although it can NOT be played properly on the highland pipes, I will surely have to play a workable version to make the drunk masses happy! Funny, how such a sad song, written by an Englishman, is the most requested tune on this highly celebrated day.

The Scotsman's Ball 2011 Rocked

2011-03-07T10:35:00.000-08:00

Well, the weekend is over and I'm recovering well. Great time at this year's 4th Annual Scotsman's Ball - hosted by Clan Donnachaidh, Southern California. Was great seeing all the great people I've not seen since last year and of course meeting some new ones. The night was a ton of fun, filled with piping, dancing, haggis, a nice dinner, a performance by Highland Fusion and of course a short recital from piper Danny Burns.

Now a day of rest, then it's time to get ready for St. Paddy's Day! WhooWhoo!

Old Blind Dogs Rocks

2011-01-13T21:09:00.000-08:00

I know this is an older tune... but this is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands of all time. The musicians in this band are amazing, and to produce a song like this with very little in the way of instruments... has solidified my fandom forever.

Whistle?

2011-01-10T08:07:00.000-08:00

After many years of noodling around with penny whistles (or tin whistles if you prefer), I've decided that it'd be a great idea if I really got into playing them. I mean, if I can learn to play 2 of the most difficult instruments in the world... I can surely learn to play one of the easiest. So, along with my Uilleann Pipe adventure, I'm going to be starting a whistle adventure, right along side. Cool thing is, whistles are pretty inexpensive for the most part, at least for yer basic "D" whistle. They can get up there in price, but I don't feel those higher-priced whistles are really necessary at this point... if ever.

I might even go as far as learning to play the "Low D Whistle", which would be really kewl, though the finger spacing has frightened me in the past. We'll see.

So, off I go on my new musical adventure... 2011 is going to be a busy year!

Practice, Practice, Practice...

2011-01-09T20:56:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been almost a week since I started my quest to learn to play the Uilleann Pipes. I think I'm moving along nicely. Reminds of the early days when I was learning to play the Highland pipes. I feel really bad for the neighbors. Muuahahahahah!

Some time this week I will make a recording of my first week's progress. I plan on making weekly recordings to track my progress along the way. These recordings won't be anything special... just a snap-shot in time basically, so don't get too excited. ;)

..Till Then...

Video Test

2011-01-07T15:25:00.001-08:00

Check out this random video from St. Paddy's Day - 2008

Post # 2

2011-01-07T14:17:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm on a roll already. Whoo Hoo!!!!

Anyway, after 14 years of on and off again study of the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipes... known as "bagpipes" to most. I've decided to fulfill a long-time dream (which just so happens to also involve bagpipes) of playing the Irish Uilleann Pipes (pronounced Illen Pipes, for you non-Gaelic speakers). Yes, there are "other" bagpipes out there, not just the ones we see in parades and at funerals.. (These are what I play by the way). Yes, these pipes come all the way from Ireland. Yes, I know. Not that far away from Scotland, but a world of difference in how they are played, setup and of course, how they sound.

If you've ever seen movies like Braveheart, Titanic, The Devil's Own, then you've heard Uilleann Pipes. The pipes typically have a much quieter sound, more suited for indoor play, and I feel a more haunting sound. They are played with a bellows, as apposed to blowing into them like the Scottish Highland pipes, and have a 2 octave range, compared to the 1 octave range of the Highland pipes.

Anyway, that's enough of the technical specs. I just got started with a practice set, which is just a bag, bellows, and chanter. It will be some time before I'm jamming with the lads at local session (I'm not even sure if there is one anymore... but whatever), but so far, I am enjoying the early learning process. I will admit right off the bat. I have to constantly remind myself that my 14 years of experience in Scottish piping doesn't apply 100% to the Irish pipes. I tend to get a little ahead of myself sometimes.. and have to bring it back to reality. This is an entirely new animal.

Well, as soon as I don't sound completely awful. I'll start making some videos to post here. This way you too can track my progress in this new chapter of my life. Till then...

Cheers!

New Blog

2011-01-07T14:03:00.000-08:00

Well, now I've done it. I've created a new blog so I can update people on my piping adventures. Now I know that no one really cares about my piping adventures ;) but I figure I'll blog away, anyway. Besides, it gives me an excuse to work on making new videos and recordings.

Cheers!