I’ve decided to jump into The Bagpipe Place “blogosphere” to share my experiences as a piper and, perhaps, even make a confession or two.
You see, I have finally decided to embrace and celebrate a solid truth: I was a 40 year-old beginner. Yes! I was 40 when I decided I had the time and the means to pursue a long-time wish to learn the bagpipe. My goal wasn’t to become a Grade 1 competitive piper. I simply wanted to play competently and enjoy what I was doing. Little did I know where that road would lead me (quite literally!) and what I would encounter along the way.
I truly thought I was going into it fully prepared. I had focused on music and music education in college. As all music students do, I had to learn to play everything. Each semester came with a different section (woodwinds, brass, percussion, etc.), a pile of rented instruments, purchased lesson books, and a syllabus with dates for the proficiency tests on each. The reward for passing this required course was: 1 credit hour! It was daunting and time consuming, but it was kind of fun, too. Through this process I was introduced to the bagpipe. My freshman year we were invited to attend a half day Master Class on piping and I was intrigued. I loved it! Everything about it was “wrong”! Unfortunately, it wasn’t offered at school so I made a pact with myself to learn it before I died; a/k/a I started writing my bucket list at age 18.
When that opportunity arose (22 years later) I wasn’t afraid to buy a practice chanter, a book, and teach myself. Although my career went in a different direction I was teaching private lessons and volunteered as the assistant music teacher at my daughter’s school. I had advanced reading skills and no problem learning a new fingering set.
I learned the scale and Amazing Grace the first day. Piece of cake. After a bit, I decided I should find an instructor because the book was confusing and didn’t follow the learning progression of a normal music method. From there a long and frustrating process ensued. At one point it was suggested that I consider quitting because I wasn’t “cut out for it”. I just wouldn’t have any of that and moved on. Needless to say, I stuck with it and I did accomplish what I set out to; but the path was quite crooked and required a pretty strong resolve.
I realize now, 10 years later, that my early experiences aren’t unique. As a matter of fact, I would say that they were more common than not. It’s sad, too, because I’ll go out on a limb and say that “late-in-life” beginners make up the largest segment of the piping community in the US. (I can’t speak for other countries but would love to hear from them!)
So with this blog I’m going to share what I can. I’ve created a list of learning “moments and realizations” that developed over the years. I’m not going to offer any determined advice or posit myself as an expert – because I’m not. However, I’m lucky and I do have the luxury of being with experts often. They’ve been incredibly generous in sharing their stories and knowledge; which in turn helped me to shape tools for myself. My hope is to make the journey awesome for others.
I look forward to hearing from people, here, you wish to pass on great information they’ve received as an adult beginner or request a topic they would like to know more about. As we call this “The Bagpipe Place” it really is a place to come together and learn more from each other. I welcome helpful discussion, ideas, and conversation!
~Sarajane
