We’re excited to launch a new addition to the Bagpipe Makers Museum. G.S. McLennan was an extraordinary piper and composer. He also made bagpipes as early as 1914. The family recently contacted me so additional pictures and information will be forthcoming. There is excellent information elsewhere on the web that I won’t duplicate. The image […]
Author Archive for: Ron
Entries by Ron Bowen
The point of yesterday’s post… Play the tune as “musically perfect” as possible within your personal abilities. I am not advocating eliminating embellishments for every piper or from every tune. I’m saying that there are more important elements to the music than complicated embellishments that may compromise tone, tempo, timing, phrasing, etc. etc. Eliminating complicated […]
Before you know it St. Patrick’s Day will be here. Streets and pubs will be flooded with pipers and drummers providing various interpretations of tunes to celebrate the occasion. Unfortunately, you’ll hear some less-than-stellar renditions of favorites played by enthusiastic and well-meaning people. Today we’re going to look at The Wearing of the Green. All […]
Today we’re going to talk about note value. We’ve all heard the same; whole-note, half-note, quarter-note, eighth-note, etc. explanation of note values, but what does this mean? Is a quarter-note in one tune the same as a quarter note in another tune? Do we truly know how to understand and interpret all those dots ‘n […]
It’s important to understand that bagpipe makers of old didn’t have hydraulic tracers or CNC automation. Makers relied on either they own skills or the skills of their turners in the hand-crafting of bagpipes. Jack Dunbar was a wonderful source of information and opened my eyes to many realities of a maker’s workshop. A particular […]
I’m currently instructing Celtic Nations Pipe Band and last night was our regular Tuesday night band practice. PM Ken, SJ, and I arrived early and set up. Ken plugged a speaker his metronome. Tables were set up in a horseshoe with Ken and myself in the center. People arrived and we started formal practice five […]
We’ve covered quite a bit of ground in a short period of time. Today is a good time to take a breath before we forge ahead. Over the past couple of weeks we’ve focused on increasing both our understanding and discipline. Let me elaborate. We’ve peeled back a few layers to expose the essence of […]
I’m going to encourage those reading The Average Piper to incorporate these lessons into your daily practice regimen. Never practice without a metronome. Rip the tunes apart and understand exactly where the notes are supposed to land. Practice this over and over and over again. It you accept mistakes and errors in either technique or […]
Let’s wade into the deep end. The reality is that many Average Pipers do not know how to use a metronome effectively. The word I’m about to use are not intended to be mean. If another word was as descriptive, believe me, I’d use it. Many Average Pipers are oblivious to where notes are supposed […]
We’re going to get back on track soon, but I need to take a break and explain a couple of things. The Average Piper was created for you. I’ll try to respond to your specific wishes however I also need to remain faithful to the original goal and template. These short blog-posts are intended to […]
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